Page 100 of Tangled up in You

To get them the hell off this rock so they quit ruining it.

“For your information, it’s a rental,” she shot back. “The rental agency screwed up and didn’t have the SUV I reserved.” She finally looked at Chris. “Is he for real?”

“Unfortunately,” Chris muttered, casting a sideways glance at Mark that cracked her up.

“Back to whyI’mhere,” she continued. “I wanted time to decompress before our trip.”

“Have you had lunch yet?” Chris asked.

That was an unexpected segue. “Not yet, why?”

“Chris, we have groceries,” Mark said, pointing at the cart. “Ice cream’s melting.”

She thought fast, not wanting to piss off one of her guides but also wanting to both irritate Mark as well as spend more time with Chris. “I could drive you home, if he wants to leave.” She shot a pointed look at Mark. “If you think my fancy-ass rental can make the drive, that is. Or are you worried about rumors he’s with a drug mule?”

Mark’s cheeks had the decency to flush red again.

Chris looked to Mark, then her, and back to Mark before his shoulders drooped a little. “No, he’s right. But go have lunch over at Melva’s.” He gave her directions to one of the cafes on the main drag. “Tell her I sent you, and ask her for my favorite special reuben. If you like reuben sandwiches, that is.”

“I love them, but what’s special about it?”

Chris smiled. “She makes it with her homemade bison pastrami.” Chef’s kiss. “Melts in your mouth.”

She nodded. “Okay. Thanks.”

“Where are you staying?” he asked.

“I’m at the?—”

“Chris, comeon,” Mark said, already taking a couple of steps toward a marked park ranger truck. “I didn’t bring the cooler.”

Chris rolled his eyes, whipped out his cell phone, and rattled off his private cell number. She texted him and his phone dinged seconds later. He texted her back. “You know, we have a guest room.”

She shot a pointed glare at Mark. “Thank you, but I suspect your partner doesn’t want me around as a third-wheel.” She didn’t understand the look they exchanged over that, either. “And I need to grab a couple of things, so I’ll let you guys go.” She stepped around Chris, noting that he turned while Mark continued to the truck. “Have a good one.”

“Bye,” Chris said. “See you tomorrow.”

“Yep.”

Figured her first and second interactions with one of the guys who were literally supposed to keep her alive turned adversarial.

Guess I need to have the neurospicy talk with them.

She didn’t look forward to that. Especially not now.

It was her preference to control when she revealed that. She’d learned how and when she revealed it played a role in how they received the information and then perceived her.

Well, this just complicated my life.

CHAPTER 7

MARK

“We going to talk about this?” Chris asked after they were waved through the park entrance.

“No,” Mark muttered.

Figured the woman he’d been tasked with keeping alive turned out to be an enormous fucking pain in his ass.

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