Page 117 of Steel

Violet recoiled. “It’s not that. I just…”

“You just what?” I snapped the seatbelt into place, planting my hand on the other side of her and leaning over. Her scent was delicious tonight, lightly floral with jasmine and a hint of vanilla. Wearing black jeans and a way too tight red tee shirt, the woman was completely edible.

Her lower lip quivered. “I failed him.”

With my head tilted, I gave her the full lifted eyebrow effect. “You didn’t fail him. You gave him life and more love than I’ve seen anyone give someone else. Stop beating yourself up.”

“I don’t know if I can.”

“You can and you will. Now, we are going out. A couple hours of adult time. Don’t you dare try and get out of this truck or so help me God.” As I placed the rough pad of my index finger against the tip of her nose, for the first time since Zorro was ripped away from his home, her eyes sparkled.

“Why, yes, sir.”

“Uh-huh.” Closing the door, I kept my finger pointed toward her as I walked around the front of the truck to the driver’s side. The moment I jumped in, the silly woman pretended she was going to try to jump out. At least when I yanked her arm, she was able to laugh. “Don’t you dare. I will pull you over my knees.”

“I’d like to see you try.”

With her laughter, I was able to take a deep breath while starting the engine.

“Where are we going anyway?” she asked after I’d made it out of the driveway.

“There’s a neat Italian restaurant in town if that’s alright with you.”

She fidgeted in her seat, tugging on the seatbelt. “If you don’t mind, can we go to Ziggy’s instead?”

“There are other places in town, you know.”

“I know,” she said, shrugging. “It’s just the people are so nice there. I feel like I’ve known some of them all my life. Plus, I need to thank them again. Do you know how much money they gave me?”

“It’s none of my business.”

She laughed. “It would seem you’re part of my life while in Missoula. Almost four thousand dollars. Since the Jeep was so old, the payout isn’t very much. With that money, I’ll be able to purchase a decent vehicle before I leave to head back to LA. I need to thank them for their generosity. I’ve never had strangers be so nice to me.”

The instant feeling of angst riding in my gut was worse than before. “I told you that Missoula is a good place to raise a family. They care about people.”

“So do you.”

I tipped my head, offering a single look. Which created another need to touch her. To be with her.

To ask her to stay. Damn it. That’s exactly what I wanted. I had no clue where this was going, but I also didn’t want what we shared to end. Not when I was finally enjoying my life again.

“You don’t have friends back home?” I asked. Or maybe I was trying to push her into making a decision she wasn’t ready for.

“Home.”

The sound of her voice as she repeated the term was hollow, her stare out the windshield unnerving.

“Yes, I have some friends. Mostly the people I work with. I work so many long hours that I rarely have time for myself.”

“Maybe you need to think about getting another job.” At least this was leading into the conversation I wanted to have with her.

“It’s funny you should say that. I’ve been thinking a lot about what I’ve always wanted to do.”

“Which is?”

“Don’t laugh. Write a book.”

“Why would I laugh? That’s fantastic. And I think you should. You’d make an amazing author.”