“I did.”
“Too fucking late,” Dalton grumbled as blue swirling lights filtered in through the rear windows. “Jeep, get Wolf on that shit, stat,” he ordered. “I’m diverting,” he tossed over his shoulder. “I don’t want to lead them right to your damn house.”
“I think he’s mad.”
He nodded. “Lina swears he’s really a softy.” He didn’t feel bad about giving her hints about the man who would take point position after Tex on her safety. “Personally, I think she’s delusional. But what can you do? She married the man; she’s supposed to think he’s nice.”
“I am fucking nice.” The truck stuttered, and the engine whined as Dalton dropped a gear before swinging a hard right. “When I’m not running from the cops like a damn criminal.”
“Take the next exit, hit the gas, and flip the lights off,” Jeep ordered. “There’s an industrial complex coming up. Spin in there and see if we lose the PoPo. Give Wolf time to call ‘em off. We have to lose them before they call in the street chopper.”
“Copy.”
“Well, this is exciting,” Rose muttered. “Do all your family weddings come with police chases?”
He chuckled softly, relieved she wasn’t freaking out. “Stick with us, baby. We’ll keep you on your toes.”
“I’d give anything for a boring life in the middle of nowhere right about now.”
She didn’t even know how perfect she was for him. That statement alone… damn. If she was willing to move to… “Would you like to do a turn in Montana?”
“I don’t understand.”
He ignored both Dalton and Jeep’s curses and focused on her. “I might be able to arrange a week or so in Montana. Can you extend your deadline so we can figure out what’s going on?”
“Hunt.” There was warning all over Dalton’s growl. “Watch your damn mouth?—”
“Maybe he has a point.” Jeep interrupted their boss before he could rant. “If a stranger comes to our town, everyone and their mother will know about it before they stop at the traffic light; never mind make it all the way past the store.”
“Shit.”
He knew Dalton thought it was a good idea, too. The only person who could make the decision, though, was Rose. From how she stiffened against his chest, he didn’t think she agreed. “Just think about it, okay?”
The blue lights faded. “Did the cops stop chasing us?”
“Yeah,” Jeep answered. “Wolf called in a favor.”
That made things a little easier. He’d take it. “Good.” He didn’t even care that it was probably not the most legal move they could have made, but for Rose’s safety, he’d do the same again. They all would.
It didn’t take long before Jeep was once again giving the five-minute ETA to his place. Caleb braced himself for the process of moving Rose out of the car and getting her inside without anyone catching a glimpse of her. “Get ready, Rosey-Posey, as we’re getting out in a second, and there isn’t going to be much room because I need to get out first. You’re gonna have to squish against the front seats, k?”
“Not sure how much squishing is gonna happen,” she muttered drily. “I’m not the skinniest on the planet.”
“Don’t,” he warned. “You are fucking beautiful. Do not put down your curves. A man could get lost for days worshiping them.”
“It would take him that long to reach every one of them.”
Oh, hell no. Rage at the asshole who’d made her feel less about herself slammed into him. He tipped up her chin and peered over her shoulder to make eye contact with her as much as he could in the dark. “Don’t piss me off.” She would figure out pretty quick that he wouldn’t tolerate anyone telling her she wasn’t perfect just as she was… even herself. “You are a goddess, woman, and don’t you forget it.”
“Jeez, you are good for a girl’s ego.”
“I mean it, Rosey-Posey.” The growl rumbled out of his chest. “I always say what I mean.” The truck slowed to a stop, and he braced his hand off the back of Jeep’s seat to prevent them from rolling off. “Wait a second. They’ll open the door when we are ready to get out.”
She nodded but didn’t reply. If he’d upset or annoyed her by being mad that she was poking fun at herself, then too bad. On this issue, he wouldn’t give. She was stunning, and besides keeping her safe, his mission was to make her freaking believe it before their time was up.
The door opened at his feet. He raised his head and met Jeep’s gaze. His second in command nodded. “Move forward as much as you can, Rose. Because when I pull on Caleb’s legs, we don’t want you to come with him.”
She rolled out of his arms, one hand gripping the back of the seat in front of them, and she edged forward. “If I get stuck, it’s on you guys to get me out.”
