Page 15

Mac waited for a ‘but’ that usually came with that tone. Instead, Jodie leaned forward and programmed her address into his phone.

“There. But…”

Here it comes.

“…I’m buying you dinner.”

Mac looked over at her. “I thought I was getting bail money.”

Every last trace of Jodie’s glumness disappeared. She counted off on her fingers as she spoke. “That was before you carried me seven miles down a mountain, punched Dale, drove me to urgent care, and are now apparently running a one-man roadside-assistance service.”

“Two men. Colin’s helping.”

“Fine, I’ll buy him a beer.”

Mac grinned. “And me dinner?”

“Yes.”

That sounded suspiciously like⁠—

Nope. I am absolutely not going to blow it and think the word date.

“Okay, deal.” He put the truck in drive and headed for the parking lot exit.

Jodie settled back into the seat as he pulled out onto the street. A minute later, she yawned. Mac thought it was adorable the way she tried to hide it. He pretended not to notice.

“I think the pain meds are kicking in,” she said, her words ever so slightly slurred.

“Good.”

“And I think I’m hitting the adrenaline wall.”

Mac glanced at her. “You can sleep.”

“I’m not going to sleep in your truck.” Her eyes were at half-mast.

“Why not?”

“Because I might drool.”

“With the amount of drool Toque has christened this truck in, I think she’ll survive.”

He waited for a laugh that didn’t come. Her eyes had drifted shut.

“Still embarrassing,” she murmured.

“Go to sleep.”

One eye fluttered open. “Bossy.”

“Yup.”

The eye closed again. Her breathing evened out.

Mac turned the air-conditioning down a little and drove toward her house, thinking about the day’s turn of fate. He’d started the afternoon hiking alone. Now Jodie was asleep beside him, trusting him to get her home, with a promise to buy him dinner—which of course he wouldn’t allow her to do.

He’d pay, and he’d take her to the nicest place in town, just to make her feel like a goddess again.