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“Mind telling me where we’re headed?”
She sighed. “To the beach. But sadly, not in the way either of us would like to go to the beach.”
“That’s not elucidating.”
“We’re roughing it.”
He groaned.
“Tell me about it,” she agreed. “But it’s the perfect spot. Nobody’s going to expect us to go tent camping at Cape Henlopen State Park on the Delaware shore in early April. We can hunker down, go through Grover’s files, and find out what the devil is going on.”
“From a suite at the Savoir Faire to tent camping. Oh, how the mighty have fallen.”
“Please don’t remind me. If I think about that bathroom, I might start to cry.”
* * *
The night airhad turned from cool to cold by the time Ryan and Leilah had struggled with Chelsea’s tent and gotten it more or less set up. He started a fire with the overpriced logs they’d bought from an unattended roadside stand with an honor box. She headed to the bathhouse to freshen up, and returned moments later, grim-faced and shivering.
“That bathhouse is listed as being heated on the map. But either the state park’s staffed by dirty liars or the heat is broken.” She rubbed her hands together over the fire.
“It’s going to be cold tonight,” he warned her. “Even with all of Chelsea’s gear.”
She shrugged and put on a brave face. “We’ll survive.”
“The odds are better than they would have been at the county lockup,” he agreed.
“You’re such a ray of sunshine.”
“While I’m spreading joy and happiness, you should know that Chelsea packed one sleeping roll. So …,” He trailed off and watched her expression in the firelight.
She swallowed and met his eyes. “So that’s good because we’re going to need to share our body heat to stay warm.” Her voice was husky.
Despite the circumstances, his body responded. He forced himself to remain composed. “I won’t take advantage of the situation,” he promised.
She stalked around the fire like a cat and stared up at him, her eyes shining. “What makes you think I won’t?”
She brushed her lips against his neck, and he tensed. “No, Leilah. Not like this.”
“Yes, Ryan. Exactly like this. Your friend is dead. Scratch that, two of your friends are dead. Someone’s tried to kill you. Twice in one day, as a matter of fact. We’re on the run from the Talbot County police, the Department of Defense, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and heaven knows who else. You need—we need—to do something life-affirming, something hopeful and beautiful. And also, warm.”
He needed very little convincing, but her words were more than adequate.
She took his hand and led him to the tent.
He stopped and gave his head a sad shake. “I don’t have anything. Protection, I mean.”
She laughed. “Did Chelsea pack a bag with hand warmers and foot warmers?”
He threw her a puzzled look. “Yeah.”
“Was there an envelope labeled ‘full body warmers’ in that bag?”
“Yes, but it’s a letter-sized envelope, so I don’t think—”
“Those are condoms. Chelsea believes in always being prepared.”
He stared at her for a moment, then threw back his head and roared with laughter.
