Page 20 of Shielded Hearts

Colt sat like a statue behind the wheel, hardly moving or speaking over the past hour they’d been driving.

“Where are we going anyway?” Curiosity bubbled inside her. The Black Heart Ranch was well-kept, which took money. But she couldn’t imagine Colt would know a good place if it jumped up and bit him.

As they passed a gas station lit like a fluorescent oasis, he slowed and then rolled through the parking lot. Instead of stopping at the pumps, he parked in front of the convenience store.

He eased the truck into park. “You hungry?”

She stared at the front of the building. “I don’t see a restaurant.”

“This is a travel concierge gas station.”

Narrowing her eyes on him, she attempted a glare while battling a laugh. She twisted her head before he could catch her being amused.

“You like hot dogs?”

She wrinkled her nose. “As much as corned beef.”

His gaze traveled over her face, lingering on her lips before lifting back to her eyes.

“Surprise me.” She waved a hand and went back to scrolling for elite properties off the beaten path for her client’s next getaway. She had so much work to do if she was going to keep this client happy. Pleasing people like this billionaire would only help her business remain at the top.

When the truck doors locked, she realized Colt had locked her inside.

A little tingle sparked through her. Her mind jumped to that moment back in the cabin when he reached into his waistband and put his hand on a weapon she didn’t know he was carrying.

It all made sense—the SEAL in him was a protector by nature and prepared to face down any danger. It was hot.Veryhot.

If she had to be stuck with a stranger traveling through the mountains, she was glad it was a man who had her safety in mind.

Not to mention his looks. Did she say he was hot?

She stared through the big wall of windows, watching Colt interact with the clerk at the counter. Whatever he said made her laugh and toss her head in a ripple of blonde hair.

So Colt Malone wasn’t always broody.

The pair chatted for a minute while the clerk moved around behind the counter, out of Aspen’s sight.

When he accepted a bag and a box the clerk pushed across the counter, he paid and exited the store. He unlocked the truck doors and slid behind the wheel, thrusting a box at Aspen as he did.

She stared at the red and white box. “Pizza?”

“Not just any pizza. See here? Famous Pizza from the Romano brothers.” He tapped a finger on the box over the name.

“I see. Are we planning to eat in the truck?”

“Yup. Hand me a slice, princess.”

The box rested on her thighs, making her aware that grease was probably soaking into her white pants.

She lifted the lid and looked at the pizza. Oily pools gleamed on the sauce and cheese. It was speckled with about ten different kinds of meat.

“Hope you like meat lovers. Drinks are in the bag.”

She didn’t, but it had been a long time since the dry granola bar she had for breakfast. She was starving.

She started to reach into the box and stopped. “Did you get napkins?”

He popped the console and reached inside, pulling out a thick wad of napkins collected from different drive-thrus. She was surprised that small town Colt lived in even had a restaurant, let alone one with a drive-thru.

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