Page 74 of Rowdy Hearts

“Only to your sanity, Tressy Meyers.”

Another laugh, louder and with that distinctive hitch at the end.I would know that laughter anywhere. It was so familiar. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d heard it before. Which made me look at her more closely, trace her features and wonder why she felt so familiar.

Then she shook her head, took my hand and tugged on it.

“Oh, I already figured that out. So where are we going?”

I tookher out the back door, so we didn’t have to run the gauntlet of the entire restaurant. If we had, we’d still be trying to make it out.

It wouldn’t take long for everyone to realize we were gone. This town’s gossip network worked without a hitch. I liked to bitch about it, but then I’d think about how it had once saved the life of the town’s grumpy widow, Mrs. Travers, when several people, whom the old woman literally hated, had realized she hadn’t taken in her mail or paper that morning. They’d descended on her home and found her on the kitchen floor with a broken hip from a fall.

That’s the kind of town this was. Tressy didn’t have to worry about Krista spending the day with Mandy. Just like she didn’t have to worry about whatever secrets she was still keeping. They’d be safe here.

“We have to make a quick stop at my place,” I said, sliding her a glance. The raised eyebrows I got in return made me grin. “But don’t get your hopes up. We’re not staying long.”

“Then why are we stopping?”

“You’ll see.”

When I pulled up to my house a few minutes later and shut off the car, her lips curved. “Not stopping long, huh?”

Leaning over, I kissed those grinning lips because I couldn’t not kiss her. But I didn’t linger, even though she tried to follow me back over the console.

“I meant it, we’re not staying. And none of your womanly wiles will change my mind.”

She was still laughing when I got out of the car and headed around to her side to open her door.

“So what are we doing here?”

“Switching vehicles. Your sneakers are behind my seat. Grab those before you get out.”

Her nose wrinkled. “Why do I need my sneakers? And when did you get them?”

“Hey, I gotta keep some of my secrets. Come on.”

She let me help her out of the truck then followed me to the garage. I’d already hit the remote to open the door and walked in to give my baby a pat.

“Hello, old girl. Ready to go play?”

“Um, you’re not talking to me, are you?”

I turned to wink at Tressy then nodded for her to come closer.

“Nope. This is my first love. Tressy, meet Betty. I bought Betty when I was sixteen. She’s a ’73 Jeep CJ-5 Renegade. Old Mr. Dietrich left her sit in his barn for years, and it took me months of work to get her to turn over the first time. Now, she’s strictly for off-roading.”

Today was a perfect day to take her out. Not too hot. Not too cold. No wind. No roof.

“Off-roading?” Tressy sounded sceptical.

“Where we’re going, we don’t need roads.”

It took her a second, but she laughed at my “Back to the Future” reference, shaking her head. “I kind of think you need roads to drive on.”

“Some of the best places aren’t on a street map. Come with me and I’ll show you one of them.”

I grabbed the ball cap I kept in the back for Rain and held it out to her.

“You’re gonna need that. Just pull your hair through the hole.”

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