They must have walked, hand in hand, for an hour before stopping for a late-night snack. Blaize bit back a yawn.
“You didn’t get much sleep last night,” she said. “You must be exhausted.”
“All I need is a power nap.”
“We can head back to the Jeep after we eat these tacos. I can entertain myself and keep watch while you close your eyes.” She checked the time on her phone. “We still have a couple of hours before closing.”
He bit back another yawn. “That might not be a bad idea.”
Booking a room north of Austin in Round Rock seemed like a bad idea now. He’d intended to keep them north so they could get out of traffic easily tomorrow morning. Being back in Maverick Pass these past days reminded him just how much he loved space. Not much could beat looking up at a Texas sky at night. The expansiveness. The sheer number of stars that he never got to see when he lived in the city thanks to light pollution.
With Cormac gone, he also found a sense of peace at the ranch. Blaize hadn’t been expecting to feel anything, especially not like he was right where he belonged. Raiden and Phoenix didn’t think the same way. Could he propose a plan to buy them out? Would the bank even give him a loan on the place?
Or could he get his siblings to bet on him? Give them a share if they didn’t force him to sell, then pay dividends once he got the place up and profitable? He tucked the idea away for later, hoping for no more unexpected twists in the meantime. Talk about surprises—Kit trying to force the sale had shocked the hell out of him. Had to be her pride talking or a misguided sense of loyalty to her grandsons. Every one of them would have to give up a career in order to move back to the ranch. Blaize’s mind was made up. He could start his own business doing what he loved, making custom saddles. He hadn’t talked to Phoenix, but according to Raiden their minds were made up, too. Would they listen to Kit?
It dawned on him that she’d called Raiden after learning about Lynn. It would be just like Kit to think of herself as an unfair burden.
Blaize wanted to do this for her. Kit was different from Lynn. Kit appreciated everything he did for her. She always had his best interest at heart. Lynn had become bitter. She’d been frustrated with how her life turned out, which he understood. He’d been a soft pillow for her to throw punches at. He was strong—physically, mentally, and emotionally. He could take it.
“Are you going to eat that?” Carys asked, staring at his untouched taco.
“Do you want it?”
“No. I could always order my own. I thought you were hungry, and you only ate one taco. I know you can eat more than that, so I’m wondering if you’re too tired.”
He picked up the taco and took a bite. “Torchy’s or Velvet?”
“Velvet. Obviously for their chicken tikka tacos.”
He laughed. The great Austin debate over the homegrown favorite, Torchy’s, versus the Dallas-originated Velvet had a clear winner. They were in agreement, and it was clear that there was no contest in either of their minds.
“Agreed.”
“This fried egg on top might be messy, but it’s chef’s kiss,” she said with a smile.
After polishing off the last of his taco, he washed his hands and headed back to the Jeep. All he needed was twenty minutes of shut-eye to grab his second wind. With the activity on the street, he figured they could get away with sitting in the Jeep out in the open without causing any type of disturbance.
Once seated, he leaned his chair back. Carys followed suit, turning onto her left side, facing him, while she studied her cell.
Blaize closed his eyes. A minute later, he drifted off.
TAP. TAP. TAP.
Blaize sat bolt upright. His leg came up, jamming his thigh on the steering wheel. Carys gasped.
A cop stood at the driver’s side window, face almost pressing against the glass as he peered inside the Jeep.
Slowly, Blaize lifted his hands and placed them on the wheel in the ten-and-two position so the officer could see them.
“Roll down your window, sir.” The cop was squatty, with a ruddy complexion and a serious expression.
With careful movements, Blaize rolled down his manual-crank window.
“I didn’t even see him come up,” Carys whispered.
A bright light nearly blinded Blaize. He squinted. The officer ran a flashlight over the interior of the Jeep, no doubt checkingfor weapons or a reason to arrest them like open containers or visible drugs.
“How can I help you, Officer?”
