A flying branch smacked against the windshield.
She fell silent, and he knew she was thinking she should have gone alone. She didn’t want the guilt of adding another potential victim. He’d probably have felt the same way in her shoes, but he wasn’t going to let her walk into a firing squad by herself, even if she was determined to. She was coming into sharper focus for him, the vulnerability under the ferocious determination, the softness lurking beneath the silvery eyes.
What would it be like to be forever partners with a woman like Mackenzie? Exasperating, no doubt, with her will and her refusal to bend. But if she decided to love someone, there would be no end, or bottom, or edges to it. Fathomless. Wild. Soul deep.
He blinked and squeezed the wheel. This trauma-bonding stuff was really messing with his head. They drove past Kevin, who was still trussed in the back seat, seemingly having made no progress on freeing himself. Gideon gave him a thumbs-up.
Kevin’s eyes bugged out.
Mackenzie giggled. “Almost feel bad for the guy.”
“I don’t, and he isn’t trying hard enough if he hasn’t gotten loose by now. It would have taken me ten minutes, tops.”
“You have an unfair advantage, grasshopper eater.”
“Praying mantis,” he corrected. “The downside to driving is we’ll be easier for Al and Jerry to spot, but it’s worth it to be reunited with old Fluff.” Gideon grinned as he patted the dashboard and blasted the heater. “Missed me, didn’t you, girl? Sorry it took me so long to get you back.”
“Wait a minute. You named your Jeep Fluff?”
He arched a brow. “It’s short for Fluffernutter if you must know. Named after the world’s finest sandwich.”
She laughed heartily. “I never understood why you couldn’t use jelly on your peanut butter sandwiches like everyone else on the planet.”
“Because Marshmallow Fluff is sublime, and I’m not like everyone else on the planet.”
“Well, there’s no disputing that.” She unwrapped the purloined cheese sandwich.
“Too bad he didn’t pack two.”
Wet and cold as they were, it was also sublime to be in a moving vehicle with the heater blasting, bumping and jolting as they made their way along the trail. His quads spasmed and he wasn’t sure how he was ever going to pry his body out of the driver’s seat, but for now, it was agonizing bliss.
She divided the sandwich, and they each took half and tried to eat slowly, but the combination of mustard, pickles, and severe hunger had them finishing in minutes. He gulped his like a baby bird after a worm.
“Oh, that was so good,” she said.
“Almost as good as peanut butter and Fluff.”
She rolled her eyes. “At this point I’d happily eat that too.”
“Well, now that you mention it ... Grab the container behind your seat.”
She snagged the Tupperware and pried open the top. Inside were two neatly filled, squeezable condiment containers, one with Marshmallow Fluff and one with peanut butter.
Her mouth dropped open. “Are you kidding me? You actually carry dispensers of the stuff?”
“Yes. Jars are too bulky, and I don’t like to get my hands messy. This is my afternoon snack supply.” The box also held two sleeves of saltine crackers.
Her laugh was pure delight. “What? No bread for sandwiches?”
“I was traveling light. Besides, I like the crunch and the hit of salt.”
She seemed to appreciate the logic. “Shall I fix us an after-dinner treat then?”
“Please do.”
With dexterity, she balanced four saltines on her lap and added dollops of peanut butter and a marshmallow swirl to each one.
“Two for you,” she said.
