She sighs. “Just the Sallies, and you know they’re harmless. They’re just convinced we’re made for each other.”
“Four old bats who make money as amateur PIs and would sooner create gossip than actually solve mysteries?ThoseSallies?” I can’t help it, I snicker, then chuckle. By the time Mags joins in, we’re both straight out laughing.
“OK. So first, I think we need to make our first road trip rule,” she announces once we’ve recovered.
“What’s that?”
“No thinkin’ about home and what we’re on this road trip for when it’s early mornin’ and we’re both low on caffeine?”
My brows bunch. “That's a lot of qualifiers. Early mornin'? I agree. No decisions should ever be made without a few hours under your belt. We’ve both already had coffee today though…”
“Yeah, but we’ve only had one. It’s almost ten. I’d be at least three deep by now if I was workin’.”
“OK. Fair point,” I say with a nod. “You’re hell on wheels without your caffeine fix, so the safe thing to do right now would be to smile and nod and agree with you.” My smirk earns a narrowed glare in response.
“Anyone would think you know me well,Ernest…”
“Call me that again and a lack of coffee will be theleastof your problems,Margaret.”
After that, it feels like we’re back to normal, all the remaining tension and strange feelings fading away.
“You said there was somewhere you wanted to go?” she asks a few minutes later. “Is it on the way? Or do I need directions?”
"Mile marker 70 on this highway. Maybe about twenty minutes more. An old buddy of mine from the tour is workin' at a wildlife conservation center and I thought it would be good to catch up and see the work they’re doin’ there.”
Mags sends soft eyes my way. “Scopin’ out the competition?”
“Nah,” I say, jerking my chin. “Just seein’ what they do well and how we can do things better back home. We might be in the business of breedin’ future champions, but I also like the idea of bringin’ in other animals who need somewhere to live the rest of their lives in peace and comfort. You know?”
“Dammit, Red. Why you gotta be such a good man. Makes it hard to be mad at ‘ya for callin’ me out earlier.”
I quirk a brow. “You were mad at me?"
She glares at me and for a second I think I’ve put my foot in it again. Then she cracks a grin and starts giggling. “I had you goin’ there for a second.”
“I’m startin’ to rethink this whole taggin’ along idea of mine,” I mutter.
“Take that back, Redmond. I’m a delight. Just wait till I change the music and put my playlist on. It’ll become the best trip of your life.”
I can’t help it, I smile. An honest-to-goodness, feel-it-deep-inside grin, clearing my mind of anything but her.Thatis her superpower. She has always been able to do this to me.
“Hmm. OK. I might let youtryto move me over to the musical dark side.”
"I have good taste in music, thank you very much.Great, even. And I won’t hear you or anyone else tell me otherwise,” she says, and I swear she’d be crossing her arms over her chest if she could.
Rubbing my chin, I turn in my seat so I can look at her. “You sure ‘bout that? You seem mighty defensive over there. It makes me think someone’s said they don’t like your music…”
“No… OK, well Char isn’t the biggest fan. Which probably meansAustinisn’t either.”
"Pfft, what would those two know anyway," I muse, loving the way the corner of her mouth tugs up. She truly is a looker. I’ve always known she was beautiful, but away from the diner, out of town, and seeing her more relaxed than ever, she’s stunning. Which means I’ll have to beat the rodeo men off with a stick on this trip.Or I could just make her wear my hat, that would work too…
“So, where’s this music of yours? Might as well get the torture over and done with.”
She lets out a little growl before shaking her head and squaring her shoulders. “Just you wait, Redmond. Just you wait.”
11
MAGS
