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Curled on the sofa, Ariel watched the view of people busying around the hangar. Ben’s office had an exterior window that looked out on the mountains, but this space didn’t share that.
The lass locked on to my phone. “Your mom again?”
I lifted my chin.
“Want me to answer it for you?”
It was a challenge, based on the fact I’d taken a call for her last night where I’d aimed to solve a problem. But her facing off with Ma was anything but a good idea.
I shook my head in the negative and crossed the room.
“Sorry I yelled,” I said.
“You didn’t yell. You just decided exactly how to move me around.”
She mimicked plucking up a piece on a chessboard and setting it down on a new square.
I closed my eyes for a second. “You’re right. I did.”
Ariel’s gaze jumped to mine. She waited me out.
“The more of those fucking trackers I found, the more scared I got,” I confessed. “The thought of ye being in that car was an immediate ‘no’ in my brain. I can’t explain it any better than that, but I need ye to know I’m not trying to be controlling.”
“So you’re good with me driving it tomorrow?”
That same instant reaction was on the tip of my tongue, but I needed to rein it in or I’d lose her trust. “No, but I won’t get in the way of a plan we’ve all thought through and agreed on.”
Ariel watched me for a beat longer and sighed. “I have no intention of throwing myself Larson’s way. I just want this to be over.”
“I do, too.”
“I know. I’m finding it hard to be rational about any of this.”
“Same, little fox.”
Her lips curved, just a tiny bit. “I’ll try to keep that in mind. Like I said, you get under my skin.”
I sat next to her and took her arm, exposing the bracelet I’d welded on. “A tracking device under your skin would suit me, but this will have to do.”
She laughed, and it was like the fucking sun had come out.
Ariel got up and walked to the door.
I followed. “Don’t know why ye think I’m joking.”
“Weirdly, I don’t. Now are you driving me to Daisy’s so I can get painting, or do I have to hitchhike?”
We got into my car. I’d taken one of the hangar’s 4X4s on a circuitous route to and from the mechanic’s garage to avoid any risk of detection, but still, I drove to Daisy’s with one eye on the hills around.
“Are ye still grumpy with me?” I asked on the way.
“No. Forgiven,” Ariel replied from the back seat.
“How long do ye think you’ll be at Daisy’s?”
“A few hours. Will you pick me up?”
“Whenever you’re ready.” Then I made an offer, my breath catching in my throat. “I’ll cook dinner tonight.”
