Page 67 of Hers to Call
He crowded her space, leaning over her mouth. “You beat me awake. Though not surprising, I barely got any sleep,” he whispered before nibbling at her lips.
He coaxed her lips open, his tongue thoroughly exploring her mouth. She was breathless by the time he pulled away. He nuzzled into her neck, chuffing against her skin. She liked the sound. It was the same sound his bear made when it was near her.
“I don’t have time for breakfast, riding fence line, see you for lunch?”
She shook her head. “I’m getting Zeke to take me into Selena’s. Got pastries to make. Selena’s getting grumbles from your bears.”
She tensed, waiting on him to restrict her freedom now that they were technically married.
He kissed her neck. “Please be careful, love,” he whispered in her ear, before he kissed her forehead.
“I made croissants, you can take them to go,” she said, relieved.
He grabbed a napkin full of croissants and headed towards the mudroom where he kept his boots. She let out a breath, finished glazing the donuts and set them on a tray. She’d take it to the barn for the ranch hands before she left. She texted Zeke that she was ready. Becca went around the kitchen, she assumed making breakfast for the other ranch hands, like she did every morning.
“Would you like help?” She offered.
“It’s my job,” Becca gave her a fake smile.
Calita sighed. “Okay.”
Zeke knocked a few minutes later. She gave him a tray of croissants and she grabbed the donuts. He smiled.
“These are not all for you. We’re dropping them off at the barn.”
“Boooo,” He opened the door for her.
“Can I drive today?” She asked as they made the trek to the barn.
He frowned, “You got your car back?”
“No, but my insurance called and the car is totaled, of course. I need to get my nerve back before I buy a new car.”
“That’s fine with me. Want to take one of the smaller cars instead of the SUV?”
She blew out a raspberry. “Definitely.”
A few minutes later, Calita sat behind the wheel of a small sedan, her hands gripping the steering wheel. Her breath was shaky as she stared ahead. Claustrophobia was settling on her shoulders, making her pulse pound loudly in her ears.
Zeke cleared his throat next to her. “I’m just going to turn the key so I can down the windows, no rush.”
She gave him a wan smile as he pushed the button to down his window. Fresh air rushed into the car, and it helped. She took another shuddering breath and turned the key all the way. She could do this. The little car purred to life, the radio shouting out rap music, startling her. Zeke turned it down without a word. Silence once again blanketed the car. Tears clogged her throat as she realized she couldn’t, in fact, do it. She couldn’t put the car in drive. The thought of the stretches of backroad, where no one would find her if she had an accident had her chest tightening.
“I don’t know if Simon told you this, but the cars from the ranch are lojacked.” Zeke’s voice cut into her panic attack.
“What?”
He settled in his seat, his shoulder against the door. “Yeah, so we can keep track of the vehicles. Alpha lets tourists use them sometimes and so we need a way to find them if they get lost out here.”
She swallowed, loosening the stranglehold panic had on her throat. “No, I didn’t know that.”
Her shoulders loosened next as the full scope of what he said registered. Even if she was driving by herself, Simon would be able to find her. She wouldn’t sit in a wrecked car with no help.
Zeke reached into his pocket and pulled out a small switchblade. Her hands shook.
“I want you to have this.” His voice was nonchalant, but his eyes watched her carefully.
“I don’t think…” Her thoughts drifted back to the night she was attacked.Would having a weapon have made a difference?
