I swallow hard and start back toward my truck. “Get in the truck.”
After a brief pause, she sprints behind me. “So youdon’twant me to do the same to all the other carts? I can name one afteryou. How’s ‘Broody Ranger’?”
I reach into my pocket, spin, and give her the keys. “It’s yours.”
She pauses. “Wait, really?”
I look over her shoulder. “Doesn’t look like I’ve got a choice.”
She smiles giddily, her eyes lighting up her face. “And don’t worry, before I leave, I’ll paint her back to white.”
I turn and march to my truck. “Get in the truck, Rose.”
Confused, she follows and slides into the seat. “I can drive myself to work now,” she says tentatively.
I start the engine. “We’re not going to work.”
My response seems to be enough. Glancing down at her appearance, she lowers the visor and sighs. “Visors with no mirrors are just a cruel trick,” she mutters, then releases her hair from the tie. Dark silky strands fall around her shoulders, and I can’t look away.
I don’t even try.
Christ.ThreedaysandIdon’tevenknowwhoIamanymore.“You look fine, Blue.”
She turns her head to me. “What?”
I swipe my thumb across her cheek, smearing some of that paint off, and show it to her.
“Oh.” She pulls on the edge of her sleeve and wipes it off. “Did I get it?”
I blink, feeling like I’m under some spell.
“Good enough. Here,” I say gruffly. “This’ll keep you quiet for a while.” I hand her a coffee tumbler.
She stares at it, inhaling the aroma.
“Stopped by the house before coming to check on you. Dallas was up, mumbling something about his arm. Unlike me, he’s a heavy coffee drinker, so there was a fresh pot.”
She takes a sip with a relieved sigh. “Thank you.”
I relax at the sound. Finally able to think straight. Next orderof business is getting some color on those cheeks. And I don’t mean from the sun.
“It looks good,” I say after a long silence. “The Rose.”
She beams at my compliment. “You really like it?”
That organ in my chest swells. And like a jerk, I backtrack. “I don’t like that you did it all at once.”
“Where are you taking me?” she asks as we pass the open gates.
“To the sheriff’s office for vandalism.”
She considers it for a moment. “Sheriff, huh? Is he cute?”
I laugh. “You got a thing for badges?”
“I got a thing for men telling me I’ve been a bad girl.”
I had to ask.
