She snapped her head to his, her voice vehement. “No, town hall first. Momma said—”
“Okay. All right. Town hall.” He squeezed her hand. “But then home.”
He figured she was too tired to argue—which meant she wasreallytired—because she hesitated only a moment before she nodded, then settled into the seat, her head turned toward the window, and went silent.
By the time they pulled into the parking lot at town hall, he wasn’t sure if she’d actually slept or had just pretended to in order to avoid talking. He’d give her some time, but he wasn’t going to let her go around carrying this unnecessary guilt on her shoulders. Not when it was absolutely unfounded.
He followed behind her into the dark building, their steps echoing in the empty corridor. It was creepy as hell to be here at night when there wasn’t anyone else around, and the thought of her doing this without him made him uneasy as hell. He knew she could take care of herself, but try telling that to the part of him that was desperate to keep her safe.
“You don’t come here alone at night, do you?”
“Not usually, no. But I might have to start since Daddy’ll be off for a while now.”
“I’m not sure that’s—”
“I’m gonna laugh if you’re about to say safe.” She tossed him a look over her shoulder. “It’sHavenbrook, Hud. Besides, the police station is directly across the street.”
Logically, he couldn’t argue, but the part of him that was having issues with it didn’t give a fuck about logic.
“You—”
“Can take care of myself. Now, drop it. You’re not winnin’ this one.”
“Maybe not, but you wouldn’t turn down a bet, would you?”
She stopped dead in her tracks and slid her eyes to his on an exhale. “Terms?”
“Bet you can’t get out of a choke hold within thirty seconds.”
“I can get out in fifteen. And the prize you’re never gonna win?” she asked, her eyebrows raised.
“You don’t come here by yourself at night.”
“Mhmm, and when I win, you’ll shut the hell up about this and allow me to go on as I’ve been doin’ for the past almost twenty-eight years?” Her tone was drier than a desert.
“I guess so.”
“Fine.” She stopped in her tracks and spun around to face away from him. “Let’s go.”
“Now?”
“Yes, now. I’d like you to get over the notion that I’m incompetent as soon as fucking possible.”
“I never said—”
“As soon as fucking possible.”
He chuckled under his breath, loving that she’d finally gotten some of her fire back, if nothing else. Stepping up behind her, he stopped just before their bodies touched, and that last millimeter of space was killing him.
He dropped his head so his lips were directly next to her ear. Quietly, he said, “Some might say you have an unfair advantage since you know the attack is comin’.”
She shrugged as if she were unaffected by their proximity, but the shiver that stole over her shoulders proved otherwise. “And some might do anything to excuse their failure.”
“Love you feisty…” he murmured in her ear right before he locked his arms around her.
One minute he had her in a standard choke hold and the next, his arm was twisted behind his back and she was pushing it to just this side of pain.
She stood on tiptoes and nipped his ear. “Feisty enough for you?”
