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“I’m stronger than I look.”
“I know.”
She risked a glance up at him and found him grinning.
“What’s so funny?”
“I keep remembering this one time when we were doing rescue training, and Nick pulled my name in the draw for victim. He cursed a blue streak at having to haul my heavy ass all over the place.” His big body shook with laughter, and Natalie found herself fighting giggles of her own. Maybe it was the stress of what they’d just been through, maybe it was relief at surviving, maybe it was the contagious sound of his deep baritone chuckles. Whatever it was, she had tears running down her cheeks by the time they both fell silent. “I miss that guy something fierce.”
“Me too.” She swiped the back of her free hand over her damp cheeks. “But it feels good to laugh and remember him.”
“Yeah, it does.” Kyle squeezed Natalie tighter before letting her go.
They made their way to the opposite edge of the field, then stepped over onto the asphalt of the motel’s parking lot. The place looked fairly rundown, but as long as it had a bathroom and running water, she wasn’t going to be picky.
Kyle shoved his hand into the back pocket of his jeans. “Still got my wallet. I’ll check us in.” He limped off toward the lobby, his steps steadier now as he called to her over his shoulder, “Be right back.”
She waited while he disappeared inside. The sign out front said towels and fresh linens were provided. Always a plus. There was also a fast-food restaurant next door, so they wouldn’t starve.
Kyle returned a few minutes later with a room key dangling from between his fingers. “Room 204 awaits, milady.”
“Why thank you, kind sir.”
They climbed the stairs to the second floor and walked about halfway down the outdoor balcony to their room. Kyle held the door open for her. “After you, Duchess.”
The room smelled of old cigarettes and lemon furniture polish.
Brown shag carpet, mismatched furnishings, and beige walls completed the retro-style decor. Still, it looked clean enough. Only one bed, king-sized.
Natalie was so tired, she would’ve slept in a U-Haul if that’s all that had been available. The bathroom beckoned, and she raced across the room. “Be right back.”
“Sure thing, Duchess,” he called from behind her.
After she’d taken care of necessities and tidied herself up as best she could, she stared at her reflection in the mirror: bruised and scratched and about as attractive as a feral cat in a mud puddle, but there wasn’t much she could do about that. “Next,” she said as she returned to the main room.
“Hey, do you have my phone?” Kyle asked. Nodding, she handed it over.
Several minutes later, he returned, his phone to his ear. From what she could tell, he was talking to his team.
“Yes, we’re fine. No, I don’t know who ran us off the road, Spencer. Yeah. The Shady Lane Inn.” He cocked his head toward Natalie. “What town are we in again?”
“Huber.”
“You get that? Okay. Yep. See you then.”
He hung up and plugged the device into its charger. “The team will be here tomorrow.”
“Cool. Guess that takes care of how we’re going to get to Atlanta.”
“Yep.”
“Yep.” She curled her toes inside her sneakers. Awkward silence ensued. They both stared at the single bed in the room. Finally, she couldn’t take it anymore. “I, uh, I’m going to take a shower.”
“Great.” He looked at the ceiling, the floor, anywhere but her. “You hungry?”
“Not at the moment, but we’ll need to eat before we go to bed.” Heat prickled from beneath the crew-neck collar of her shirt. “There’s a fast-food place next door.”
“Yep. Saw it. How about I go pick us up some dinner and bring it back?”
