Dax’s jaw drops. “Are you serious? Look at you. How could anyone not notice you were missing?”
I shrug again, exhausted. “I’m not really a priority for my dad.”
He blows out a breath. “Geez. Guess your plan to get his attention really bombed.”
I try to smile. “That’s an understatement.”
Dax motions in the direction I came from. “I thought your driver would’ve dropped you off.”
“He did. I just needed to go to the hospital first.”
“Such a goody-goody,” Dax teases.
“It was just a quick visit. Then I needed to buy something.”
His brow raises. “What were you buying in Logan’s Point?”
Queasiness ripples through me, and I tuck the bag behind me. “Never mind. It’s not important.”
“No, seriously, what did you get? There can’t be anything worth you walking this strip alone.”
I sigh and lift the small white bag. I open it and reveal the contents. “Just to prove how pushy I am, I bought you nicotine patches.”
Dax rubs his face, laughing. “Good lord, Sassy, you really want me to quit.”
“Do you hate me for doing this?”
He lowers his hand, his laughter simmering. “Hate you? No, this is the reason I want to keep seeing you. No one’s in my corner like you are.”
I pull the box out of the bag. “Do you want to try one?”
“Maybe later. Right now, I have something else in mind.”
“What’s that?”
“Any chance you’re still in the mood to shop?”
It takes me by surprise. “What do you mean?”
Dax slings an arm over my shoulders. “Well, you texted me saying you want to get back on the bike, right?”
I look up into his eyes, nodding as my heart pounds with anticipation.
Dax grins and playfully knocks on the side of my head. “Then we need to get something to protect your head. My helmet did the job last night, but, really, it’s too big for you.”
My teeth graze my bottom lip. “You want to buy me a helmet?”
He kisses my forehead. “Yep.”
I raise my purse. “Well, I’ve got enough cash to…”
He presses down on my hand so I lower the bag. “Don’t go flashing your cash around here. You shouldn’t even be carrying around a purse like that.” Dax leads me to the back of the motorcycle and opens the locker. “Stash it inside here. I got this covered.”
“You can take the money out of it,” I offer.
He shakes his head. “Keep it in here.”
I do as told, and Dax closes the locker.
