“I’ll get my keys and you can take my truck. You’re not driving that rattle-trap car anywhere else until I get someone to look at it.”
“But—”
“Shh.” He tipped her chin up with two fingers, placed his thumb over her lips. “My house is only a short distance down the road. It’s easy to find. I’ve got another twelve hours or so until my shift ends then I’ll be home. We’ll talk about everything then.”
“I don’t want to put you out.”
“You’re not.”
“I could see about staying—”
“No. You’ll stay with me.”
“Well, if you’re sure, but I can take my car.”
“Covington,” he growled as he lowered his face to hers, his eyes hard and uncompromising.
She leaned back but his hold prevented her from going too far. “Y-yes.”
“Take the fucking truck.”
Opening her mouth to protest, anything she might have managed to say was drowned out by a siren screeching through the building.
“Shit. That’s a call. I gotta go.”
Tris grabbed her hand and tugged her out of the office and back down the hall before pushing her into another room. This one had neat bunks and a row of metal lockers.
He gave her a nudge towards the far wall. “What?” she asked as she stepped further into the room.
“The locker with my name on it. Grab my keys and meet me out front.”
Before Covington could utter a word Tris was gone. She stood staring at the spot where he’d disappeared, confused and wondering if she should just wait until he returned. But the sound of running feet, shouting and the rumble of an fire engine coming to life snapped her out of her daze.
She found his locker easy enough. The keys were right in front beside his wallet—the one she’d given him last Christmas. Scooping up the keys, Covington shut the metal door with an unintentionally loud clang and pondered the absence of a lock.
The screeching alarm cut off abruptly and a split second later the wail of a fire engine siren took its place.
Rushing back into the hall she followed the noise to a large area where men and the woman from the bathroom were pulling on gear and climbing aboard the big red truck. The garage door had been rolled up and as Tris jumped onto the slowly moving fire engine he yelled over his shoulder.
“It’s the house with the green shutters about five minutes down the road. Eight-ninety-two.” He pointed to the right. “Text me when you get there so I know you’re safe. I’ll call when I can.”
Covington followed the truck as it rolled out of the station and stood on the driveway watching until it was long gone and the siren had faded to nothing but a memory. Glancing at the keys in her hand she thought about the last few minutes.
Seeing Tristan again hadn’t gone anything like she thought it would. For one thing, he didn’t seem at all angry with her. He’d offered her a place to stay and a reliable vehicle. He’d showed concern and given her comfort, told her everything would be fine.Promisedit would.
And she hadn’t told him he was the father of her babies.
Hell, she hadn’t actuallytoldhim she was pregnant never mind that she was carrying twins and they were his.
***
Tris dragged his weary body up the walk to the front door and tried to remember where his Aunt had always hidden the spare key. He hadn’t bothered to look for it since moving in because he had the set the real estate agent had given him.
Lauren Harrison hadn’t been at all disappointed to lose his business when he’d told her he no longer wanted to rent the place out. When she’d met him at the house three months ago she’d been exactly as she appeared on her TV show—and for all her cool sophistication she was surprisingly warm and welcoming.
He’d run into her a number of times since then and she always smiled and asked how he was settling in. His realtor wasn’t the only town member who greeted him with a smile and a chat.
Then again, the people of Hope Falls really did want to know how you were doing.
