Page 21 of Shielded Hearts

She took the whole stack from him. A small packet fell out, right onto the pizza.

With a groan, she looked down.

“Uh.”

“Oh damn. Sorry. Forgot that was in there.” He reached over and plucked a condom off the pizza. He used a napkin to wipe it off before dropping it back into the console and shutting the lid as if nothing at all happened.

Aspen shook her head and picked up a slice of pizza for him. He took it, folding it in half lengthwise and gulping it down in four big bites.

Apparently, the man did get around enough to carry condoms in his truck. He was good-looking—hot—and she imagined women swooned over him.

“You looked friendly with the clerk.” She lifted a slice to her own lips. As soon as the flavors hit her tastebuds, she swallowed back a moan. Gas station pizza wasn’t supposed to begood.

Maybe the Romano brothers know their stuff.

“Let me grab another slice.” He flipped open the box lid and helped himself while she waited for a response to her statement. None came.

“Well? Did you know that woman?”

He paused mid-bite. “What woman?”

“The clerk!”

He grunted. “That’s not a woman. That’s a young girl.”

Aspen straightened. At least he had standards. But that made her wonder how old he was. Maybe Aspen was a lot older than he was.

Who gave a damn?

“Can I ask how old you are?”

“I’m thirty-three. How old are you?”

Normally she’d give some coy answer that a lady never shared her age, but it was only fair since he’d told her.

“I just turned thirty. I spent my birthday in Paris.”

What a birthday it had been too. A milestone she always thought she’d spend with loved ones had been spent entirely alone. She almost hadn’t even taken the trip, but her dear friend’s words echoed in her head.Your mother would want you to enjoy your special day. Celebrate life.

Suddenly, the pizza felt stuck in her throat, and she barely managed to swallow the lump along with her food.

Shehadto get out of her own head if she was going to survive what was turning out to be the second longest day of her life.

Colt reached for a third slice. “Well, happy birthday, princess.”

Her throat thickened. He had no way of knowing that he was the first and only person to wish her happy birthday this year. He probably didn’t think it was a big deal to say it since he had a big family. After doing some checking into the Malones, she knew they were a large bunch with several siblings she’d seen at the weddings.

Been in photos with.

She inwardly groaned but her pizza went down a little easier. After they finished their meal, Colt took the empty box to the trash can outside the store.

Aspen snuck a look at the console. What else did he have in there? He carried a concealed weapon in his jeans and condoms in his truck.

He returned before she could steal a peek. Soon they were on the road.

After a short drive, he took a turn. A sign flashed past her vision.

She twisted in her seat. “Did that sign say airport?”

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