Page 36 of Outside The Wire

“Okay, so I think I have everything,” Holly said, coming out of the back with Noelle in tow. She was digging around in her purse for her keys as her hat dangled from her arm, about to fall to the ground. I snatched it right as it slipped, then tugged it down on her head.

She grinned up at me as I pressed a kiss to the tip of her nose.

“You need straps or something on that so you don’t lose it.”

“That wouldn’t be very cute. Besides, I love this hat. It has the pom pom and everything.”

It was cute. I grinned as I flicked the little ball on the top of her head.

“Aww, aren’t the two of you just so freaking adorable?” Noelle gushed. “I think I might actually need a barf bag.”

Holly turned and stuck her tongue out at her for good measure.

“Alright, let’s get you ladies home. We can’t have you freezing in the snow flurries.”

I opened the door, bracing against the cold wind as it hit us hard. Even the cat ran away from the door, crying out as the chill hit him. Holly ran out first, squealing as she rushed down the steps, not watching at all for ice, but Noelle stopped in front of me.

“I really hope you’re not a jerk.”

“What?”

“You seem like this really great guy, but if this is all an act and you break her heart, I’ll stab you with a needle all over your body until you slowly bleed out. And only once you’ve lost a significant amount of blood will I throw you to the bears to be eaten alive.”

I cocked my head at her. “Wouldn’t more fresh blood attract the bears?”

She thought this over, tilting her head up. “You may have a point. I’ll consult with you should the time come.”

“I look forward to it.”

“Shall we go?”

“After you,” I said, waving her forward. “You don’t have any needles on you now, do you?”

“Luckily, my sewing kit is at home.”

My lips twitched in amusement. “Well, looks like I lucked out.”

“Just this once. Tomorrow, I’ll make sure my travel kit is with me.”

“I can’t believehow bad the roads were. That was insane!” Holly said as we pulled into her driveway.

“Now you see why I came to get you.”

Her smile lit up my dim truck, warming my cold heart. Hell, I was at a severe risk of falling hard for this woman and never recovering.

“Well, I’m glad you did, even if you’re going to be extremely late getting home.”

“It was worth it, but we should get you inside because the ride home is gonna take forever.”

She bit her lip, her brows pulling down slightly. “You could…you could stay over. I mean—if you don’t want to drive home. Not that I’m asking you to stay over or anything like that,” she rushed. “Because we’re still…and it’s just so…not that it couldn’t ever go there. I’m just saying?—”

I pressed my fingers to her lips, silencing her garble before she worked herself into a tizzy. “I know exactly what you’re saying. And I won’t be staying the night. Not because I don’t want to, but because we’re not at that point yet. And I have to get home because I don’t have a change of clothes, and your couch isn’t long enough for me. Does that answer all the questions running through your head?”

Her eyes drifted up like she was running through the list in her head. “Yep, I think so.”

“Alright, then.”

I got out and walked around to her side, opening her door, thankful that she waited for me. Knowing her, she’d jump down and slip on ice.

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