Page 95 of Outside The Wire

“Yes, you will. You love me too much.”

“You’re right,” she sighed. “I do. Hurry home.”

“Don’t worry. I will.”

I ended the call, still laughing as Wyatt walked out of the office.

“You know, you disgust me with your lovey-dovey shit.”

“You’re just jealous because you wish you were me.”

He leaned back, barking out a laugh. “Desperately in love and unable to function without a woman? Not even a little.”

“One day, Wyatt…just wait and see,” I grinned. I’d set him up with Noelle and then we’d see if he changed his tune.

22

HOLLY

The worst ofwinter gave way to the early signs of spring. With the snow melting and sprigs of grass peeking through on my lawn, I had mixed feelings of eagerness for warm weather and the dread of how ugly it would look with all the mud coating the ground as the snow melted all over.

Asher had removed the plow from the front of his truck and stored the snowblower in his garage, insisting that we didn’t need to take up space in my garage. Not that I needed to worry about ever having a cold vehicle. Every morning, Asher would open the garage and start my SUV so it was nice and warm by the time I had to leave for work. I insisted it wasn’t necessary, but that never worked on him. My comfort was all that mattered to him.

And I had to admit, I liked that about him.

“I am so late!” I cried, running through the house in my boots, grabbing my keys as I tossed my purse over my shoulder and grabbed my work bag from the floor.

“Slow down,” Asher grumbled, still drinking his coffee.

“I told Noelle I would be there early, and I’m already late!”

“She has a key.”

“I know, but she never uses it!”

He held out my travel mug for me as he stood by the garage door, waiting with the door open. As my heels clacked on the floor, I grabbed the mug and pressed a kiss to his lips as I hurried down the steps to the garage, nearly tripping in the process.

Asher grabbed my arm, keeping me upright as my ankle wobbled. “Can you please slow down?”

“I am so late.”

“You’ve already said that much. Just don’t twist your ankle trying to get there on time.”

I would have saluted him if I had a free arm, but I didn’t, so I hurried to my SUV and tossed my things inside. Asher had already moved his truck since he knew I had to leave early today. He was thoughtful like that. I was on the road just a few seconds later, flying down the road to work.

I hit way too much traffic and nearly every stoplight along the way, but the real kicker was when I was on the highway and suddenly felt a decrease in speed.

“What the hell?”

I looked down at my gauges and cursed every other car still moving when I saw I had a flat tire. How was it even possible to not feel I had a flat tire? I pulled to the side of the road and turned on my blinkers, then got out to check out the damage to the passenger-side rear tire.

“Holy shit.” It was completely flat.

I knew how to change a tire, but hadn’t done it in years. I doubted I could get it done in less than a half hour. Truthfully, it would probably take longer. And I did have a big, strong boyfriend who would probably kill me if I didn’t call him first.

I hurried back to the driver’s side and hopped in, calling him.

“Baby.”

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