Billy chuckled. It was a nice sound. A deep, rumbling sound. The kind of sound that Wolf knew women went goo-goo-gah-gah over.Grrrr.“My dad was shorthanded drivers today. I’m just filling in.”
“You always were the sweetest guy in our class.” Chrissy’s tone was low and…flirty?
The green-eyed monster on Wolf’s shoulder gained ten pounds and started poking him in the ear with a razor-sharp fingernail.
Luckily, before Wolf could prove himself a prick of epic proportions by giving into the beast’s provocations and saying something like“Stick a sock in it, cabby, and put the pedal to the metal,”Chrissy turned to him.
“Wolf, this is Billy Morris,” she said. “We went to school together. But he’s since moved to Asheville where he’s a bit of a local legend when it comes to what people from your neck of the woods would call pickin’ and grinnin’.”
Speaking of grinning, Billy had turned in the driver’s seat to smile his toothy smile back at Chrissy.
Wolf bared his teeth in response and watched the light in Billy’s eyes dim.
Chrissy was oblivious and continued with, “Billy, this is Wolf Roanhorse. He’s living out on Wayfarer Island and excavating theSanta Cristina. He’s my…friend.”
The hesitation had been slight. Miniscule even. But Wolf heard it.
Was he an idiot to feel a flicker of hope? Was her hesitation because, when it came to the two of them, the word was distasteful to her too?
He stared hard at her. Hard enough that a line appeared between her eyebrows. “What?” she asked. “Do I have gravel stuck to my forehead or something?”
She reached up to touch her face and winced when her fingers met the small scrape on her cheek. Oh, what he wouldn’t give to cover it with his lips. To kiss the hurt away.
Instead, he shook his head. “No. You’re as beautiful as ever.”
She rolled her eyes. “Then why are you looking at me like that? Didn’t you hear me make introductions?”
For her benefit, he managed to grind out, “Nice to meet you, Billy.”
“Likewise.” The cabby touched a finger to the brim of his imaginary baseball cap. “You’re part of the crew excavating theSanta Cristina,huh? I didn’t think she’d ever be found. You must be so excited.”
“Burstin’ with it,” Wolf deadpanned.
Billy cocked his head and made a face of commiseration. “Yeah. I heard you guys haven’t found the mother lode yet.”
Was it Wolf’s imagination, or was there a hint of smug satisfaction in Billy’s tone? Before he could respond, Billy’s gaze snapped back to Chrissy. Like the bastard couldn’t help himself. Like Chrissy was a honey pot and ol’ Billy boy was a hungry bear fresh out of hibernation.
Wolf was overcome with the unmistakable urge to poke the man’s eyes out of his head with a pointy stick. He might have too, had there been any pointy sticks handy.
“News of what happened last night is all over the island,” Billy said to Christy. “I’m so glad to see you’re okay.” He hesitated a bit, his smile fading completely before he added, “Winston?”
Chrissy shook her head and Wolf would swear he could feel the tension enter her body. She’d been relaxed against the cushioned seat, but now she sat as straight as a backwoods preacher. Even her fingers were rigid where they rested against her cotton-clad thigh.
Just that easily, his jealousy disappeared, replaced by concern. Before he knew what he was doing, he took her hand, gently massaging the stiffness from her fingers.
Part of him expected her to jerk away. It was a rare occasion when she let down her defenses enough to accept his comfort.
Thankfully, this was one of those times.
She gave him a grateful little smile before telling Billy, “He’s still in a coma. But he’s a fighter.”
“One of the toughest sonsofbitches I ever met,” Billy agreed. “I still remember the time in ninth grade when he took a fastball to the face. He grabbed his two front teeth off the ground, turned to Coach Taylor and said,‘Coach, I think I need to have my mom take me to see a dentist.’”Billy shook his head and chuckled. “It was the damndest thing.”
“He’s going to make it.” Chrissy’s voice was soft, as if she tried to convince herself as much as she tried to convince Billy.
Wolf squeezed her fingers and felt ridiculously happy when she returned the gesture.
Billy’s eyes pinged down to their joined hands, and he tried to play off his obvious disappointment by being the professional. Turning in his seat, he put the car in gear. “Where to?”
