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“I did not,” he barked. “Youvolunteered.”
“I’m just fuckin’ with you, man.”
“Very funny.”
“Seriously, thank you for coming to look for me. I really appreciate it.”
“Yes, I do, too. Thank you so much,” the woman seconded with a smile.
“Happy to help. And trust me. You don’t have to worry about Blade. He’s a good man. He’ll get you home safe and sound from here.”
“Oh, I’m not worried.”
Bullshit. She was lying again. The angst rolling off her was thicker than mud. Dammit, I didn’t want her to be afraid of me. I just wanted some fucking answers. When Mack yanked the passenger’s side door open, I knew my interrogation would have to wait a little longer.
“Thank fuck, you’re alive,” Mack greeted with a heavy sigh. “When the weather radio went off in the barn with a tornado warning for Denton County, I ran to the bunkhouse, and flipped on the TV. It looked like it was heading right for you. I tried to call and warn you, but—”
“It wouldn’t go through,” Dalton finished for him. “Same thing happened to me.”
“Did you see it? Was it close?” Mack asked excitedly.
“Yeah, I saw it.” I nodded.
“Saw it,andfelt it,” the woman added. “That massive monster went right over the top of us, and took out everything but the ground.”
Mack poked his head inside the SUV and peered over my shoulder before glancing back at me.
“Who’s she?” he whispered.
There was no getting around saying her name this time. I drew in a deep breath, then forced the words off my tongue. “Mack Boone, this is Aubrey Holden. Aubrey Holden, this is my friend and foreman, Mack Boone.”
“Pleased to meet you.” She smiled innocently.
“Hold—”
“It was the craziest thing,” I interrupted with a subtle shake of my head and a warning scowl. “She was driving down the road as the twister took aim at us. After she pulled into the parking lot, we hunkered down in the storage room of the old club.”
“Ahh.” Mack nodded, eyeing her suspiciously.
“As you can see, she got pretty banged up. I’m gonna take her inside, change her bandages, then drive her home.”
“Gotcha. Well, since you’re all in one piece, I guess I’ll get back to work. You gonna be at the club tonight, Dalton?”
“Damn right, I am.”
“Sounds good. I’ll see you there.” Glancing at the woman again, Mack tipped his hat. “Pleasure meeting you, Miss Aubrey.”
“You too.” She innocently smiled again.
Mack shot me a puzzled look, then turned and strolled back to the barn. I knew he had a million questions, just like me. Unfortunately, I had no answers…yet.
Claiming her ankle was much better—which was likely yet another lie—the woman adamantly refused to let us help her into the house. After she gingerly eased from the SUV, we waved goodbye to Dalton as he drove away. In case she was fibbing, I stayed close beside her while we slowly made our way to the front porch stairs. Though her expression remained neutral, the sweat dotting her forehead told me she was in pain.
My palm itched. And every cell in my body screamed to plop down on the stairs, drag her over my knees, and spank her sexy, obstinate ass purple. Grasping the white, wooden railing in a death grip, she cleared the first step. But when she went to take the next one, her ankle buckled. As quick as a rattlesnake, I snagged her around the waist before she face-planted on my porch and hoisted her into my arms.
“Why are you so fucking stubborn?” I growled, hauling her up the stairs while that crazy current hummed through me.
“I-I’m sorry. I’m not trying to be difficult. It’s just…I don’t like relying on others,” she whispered while a tiny tremor quaked her body.
