“Huh,” he murmured as he left me behind to head to the courtroom.
I took up my usual spot right next to him, since we were the last ones to arrive like always.
He crossed his arms over his chest, and I inhaled deeply as his scent hit me.
The cigar smoke didn’t bother me.
It smelled like cedar and cocoa with a hint of spice.
I hadn’t realized cigars could smell so damn good.
But I sat there inhaling Odin’s scent as we listened to closing arguments from both sides of the lawsuit.
When we were dismissed to the deliberation area, Odin once again found a seat next to me.
“What are we leaning?” the head juror asked.
I shrugged. “Guilty.”
That was probably always going to be my opinion, but the so to speak “good guys” had done their homework and due diligence.
They’d made sure that there was no doubt which way this should go.
“Agreed,” Odin murmured quietly.
The rest of them took a little longer to answer.
By the time we’d all come to a unanimous decision, it was well past one o’clock and I was starving.
We delivered the decision, the judge delivered the news and his well-thought-out punishment for the defendant, and we were free to go.
As we left, the skies looked like they were about to open.
I eyed the bike parked behind my SUV and wondered if Odin was going to get rained on the entire ride home.
I didn’t stop for any food like I’d originally been intending, instead deciding to follow behind Odin to make sure that he made it home all right.
As the first sprinkles began to fall, Odin seemed unfazed.
My wipers picked up speed as it rained harder and harder, and soon it was raining so hard that I couldn’t see anything but Odin’s taillight in front of me.
Even worse, I was now driving on mountain passes in the pouring rain, hoping beyond hope that Odin made it safely.
The lightning struck, lighting up the world, and I gasped when I saw it land only inches in front of Odin.
“Oh my god,” I breathed as he slid to a stop, his muscular thigh going out as the bike started to skid on its side to a stop.
I gasped, put the SUV in park, and jumped out, hauling ass toward where Odin was setting his bike back up and staring in shock at the ground in front of him.
“Are you okay?” I cried out, instantly soaked from head to toe.
It was even inside my shoes.
Odin’s eyes met mine and he nodded. “Fine. I can’t hear all that well, though.”
I wasn’t doubting that.
“Do you want to ride back with me?” I asked, concerned despite the fact that I was still trying to keep my distance.
