“We reserved some rooms back at the hotel,” Uncle John told him. “Reckoned after the day you’ve had, you’d want a beer, a bath, and a bed.”
“You read my mind.” And when a pair of taxicabs pulled up next to the fencing—their rides back to the hotel, no doubt—Wolf added, “Come here and let me kiss you.”
“Try it”—Uncle John held up a hand—“and you’ll be walkin’ funny for a week.”
“My house is on the way to the hotel.” Chrissy’s tone sounded as weary as Wolf felt. “Can I share a ride with you guys?”
“Whoa.” Wolf turned to her with a frown. “There’s no way you’re goin’ home alone.”
“Excuse me?” She huffed out a breath of indignation.
“We don’t know what today was about. We don’t know who those guys were orwhatthey were about. No way in hell I’m leavin’ you by yourself until we have some answers.”
When she smiled, it was all teeth. “Not even if I tell you that the reason I was beating feet a few minutes ago was because I need a break from your tender charms?”
His chin jerked back. “Me? What’dIdo?”
“You mean besides coercing me into granting you my forgiveness when I thought we were all about to die?”
“Here we go again,” Romeo grumbled.
“Fifty bucks on Chrissy,” Uncle John muttered, glancing back and forth between Wolf and Chrissy. If he’d had popcorn handy, he’d have been chewing with avid interest.
“No deal.” Romeo shook his head. “Women always win. Didn’t your mamma teach you that?”
Wolf ignored them both, pasting on his most contrite expression. “You’re right, Chrissy. That isn’t how I should’ve done it. My only excuse is I didn’t want to slip off into the great beyond with you hatin’ my guts.” He swallowed uncomfortably. “Doyou hate my guts?”
“Maybe.” She let her eyes roam over him. “But it’s hard to know for sure since the package they come in is pretty okay.”
Never had he been more happy to hear the phrase “pretty okay” in reference to himself. Also, he recognized an olive branch when it was extended his way, and decided to extend one of his own.
“You can take your forgiveness back if you want to.” He waited for her response with bated breath.
“No.” She grabbed her face, her thumb and forefingers rubbing her temples. “Today put things into perspective. I don’t want to waste any more time harboring resentments. What happened that night happened.”
He blew out a windy sigh of relief.
“Whatdidhappen?” Uncle John asked. “We’d all like to know.”
Chrissy went on as if John hadn’t spoken. “Neither of us can do anything to change it. But Icando something to change the way I smell. Fear-sweat and seven hours in a hot, humid interrogation room is not a good odor on me.” She dropped her hand. “I just want a shower, something to eat that isn’t a ham sandwich, and my own bed.”
“We can make the first two happen. But that last one is a no-go.” Wolf shook his head, trying to couch his dictatorial decision with a gentle tone.
“Don’t you think the police would’ve assigned us a security detail if they thought we were still in danger?”
She had a point. The truth was, whatever today had been about, whether it was the Baitfish Bandits or something else, all the bad guys were dead. The danger was probably a done deal.
It was theprobablypart that stuck in Wolf’s craw.
“The police have been known to make mistakes.” His eyes implored her to understand.
Hewouldget his way. He could be the most stubborn, domineering bastard ever born when he set his mind to it. But he hoped she’d see reason and not make him go there.
“Fine.” The look she gave him was tired and defeated. Then she turned to Romeo. “You didn’t happen to reserve a room at the hotel for me, too, did you?”
“Mi amada.” Romeo waggled his eyebrows. When they found themselves in the middle of a shit sandwich or when he was wooing a woman, Romeo often slipped in a word or two of Spanish. “You can bunk with me. I know just what you need to forget this day.”
Wolf heard himself declare “Over my dead body” in a voice he barely recognized.
