Page 30 of Untouchable

“Nah. I would have suffocated before I let you find me.”

Her eyes roll as she spins around, placing her hands on the ledge behind her. “Silly boys and their lack of brain cells.” She goes to pull herself up onto the ledge, and as soon as her ass hits the concrete my arm snakes around her waist. Even though our proximity is closer than necessary, I can’t seem to stop myself from trying to keep her safe.

My nose practically brushes her as I look up to meet her gaze. “Please, don’t.”

“I won’t fall, Ace. You can let go.” Damn those scythe eyes, making it impossible to look away from her.

“I’d rather not test that theory. Especially not today.” She finally nods in agreement, and I pull her down. Her hands rest on my arms only long enough to steady herself, but when they’re gone again, I can still feel her touch burning my skin.

“Yeah, I think we’ve both seen enough death to last a few lifetimes.” She takes a few steps past me, wrapping her arms around herself as my eyes follow her every movement. “How are you doing?” I pause when she looks over at me, unsure I’ve even taken the time to think about how I am.

“I’m fine.” I shrug, noticing the way she watches me.

Her voice is soft like she’s trying to hug me with her words. “No one isfineafter a loss like that, Ace. It’s okay if you haven’t sat with it yet.” She sighs, and I can almost feel the weight of whatever she’s feeling release into the air.

“I don’t need to sit with anything. I’m fine,” I reiterate, but she simply shakes her head at me.

“I know I just got back, but I can’t stop thinking about how much I want to get out of town. I just don’t want to leave so soon when my dad is going through a loss like this, you know? I just...Running has always been my coping mechanism, andtoday brought back a lot of memories I’d rather run from than sit with. But I know you can’t relate.”

Smart ass.

The look on her face screamsI know you’re not fine, you just won’t admit it, and damn her for being right.

“Maybe we should.”

Her brow raises. “Should what?”

“Get out of town.”

“Wewho?!” I smirk at the way her voice goes up an octave.

“You. Me.” I notice her cheeks redden as she tries to process what I’m saying. “Maybe Mikey and Bodine too?” When her mood shifts, I know I’ve made the right call. Katarina and I alone on a trip? Who am I kidding? That’s a recipe for disaster.

“Oh, um…” The hesitation in her tone causes me to panic, so I do the god-forsaken thing her father suggested, and I try my hand at beingcharming.

“What do you say, Katarina? Let’s hit a highway to nowhere, and you can teach me all aboutsitting with my feelings.” I smirk at her, giving my bestdon’t say noface. When she bites her lip to mull it over, my fingers itch to reach out and pull it from between her teeth.

“How the hell is the club supposed to run without the three stooges?”

“I’d consider us more like the three musketeers.”

Her eyes roll as she taps my leg with the toe of her boot. “Because they’re more adventurous?”

I frown. “No, because if we fucked around the way the other three do, two of them wouldn’t make it out alive.” Her mouth pops open, and her eyes pop.

“Violent.”

“Only when necessary.” I wink at her, and my eyes fall shut immediately after.

Shit. Stop it.

When my eyes open again, I can see her fidgeting with the hem of her skirt, and I choose now as the perfect moment to make my exit and give her no chance to tell me no about the trip. I head back to the ladder, getting myself on the other side before I speak.

“Pack light, Reaper. Not much room on the bike for big wardrobes.”

She rushes over to the edge and looks down at me with a smile on her face. “We’re taking the bikes?” I have to squint when I look back up at her, seeing the sun act as a halo around her.

“Well, we sure as hell aren’t taking your death trap with squeaky brakes.”

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