Page 29 of Mountain Defender

“Maybe we got off on the wrong foot,” she said.

Tripp’s jaw flexed as he chomped on his own piece. “Wrong foot? You mean wrong tire.”

“Ugh. You just couldn’t resist.”

“In my line of work, I never pass up an opportunity.”

She froze at his words. Could he mean… No, surely a man like Tripp wouldn’t slip up and hint that he’d taken the opportunity to kill his niece’s boyfriend.

Stealing a peek at his face, she found him completely unaffected by his pronouncement, which left her wondering if she was reading into it all too much. Just because hecouldkill a man who’d hurt his family member didn’t mean hedid.

When his phone buzzed, she half expected her own to ring too. It seemed like every time one of them was on the phone, so was the other.

Tripp held the phone out to her. “That’s Rafe.”

She eyed the device. “What do you want me to do with it?”

“I’d love to reply, but I can’t text and drive. I can’t have an accident in a government vehicle now, can I?” He arched a brow.

“You want me to text for you? Now I’m your secretary?”

“I prefer to think of you as my personal assistant.” He continued to hold the phone out.

“I’m not your personal assistant.”

He cocked his head. “Would you rather be my big, big helper?”

She snarled. “Have I mentioned…”

“You hate me? Once. Or maybe twice? I think I heard you mumble it under your breath back at the restaurant.”

Heaving a sigh, she snatched the device from him. She swiped the screen and was surprised when the phone opened.

“You don’t have a passcode lock.”

“Don’t need one. I don’t have anything to hide. Do you?” When he narrowed his eyes, she swore they smoldered. Actually smoldered.

“Of course not.” She skimmed the text message. “Rafe expects a check-in.”

“Tell him we’re five hours out.”

After she typed the response, she covertly scrolled through the conversation. None of the information was classified and didn’t even seem to be about ops. There was mention of a football game and…s’mores?

She moved to another text, this one with another member of the MT Ops team. Though she didn’t know the identity of the contact by the nickname at the top, the conversation seemed to be full of teasing and talk about someone’s next Friday night conquest.

Dammit, this was all so…likeable.

Why did Tripp get to be the nice guy that everybody likedandbeso happy in the mornings?

The phone buzzed in her hand, alerting her that Rafe responded.

Good morning, Alexia. I see Tripp is driving.

Her mouth popped open.How did you know?

Tripp doesn’t talk like this.

She glanced at the message she’d sent. It seemed simple enough. Clear and concise. What about “we are five hours out from the crime scene”alerted Rafe that Tripp hadn’t written the text?

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