Page 142 of River & Rue

The crazy one.

After a furtive glance at the empty hallway, she whispers, “Take me upstairs.”

Luckiest man in the world.

part 4

rue

TWO YEARS LATER

“You want to go for a walk right now? It’s a billion degrees outside, and…” I rack my brain for a plausible lie. “I said I’d help make lunch!”

River chuckles and grabs a sunhat from a hook by the front door. He plops it on my head and taps my nose.

“Nice try—Wilder’s making lunch, and we both know he doesn’t let anyone but Eva help him in the kitchen. Besides, it’ll be nostalgic. I don’t have a joint, but I can piss on a tree if you want.”

My eyes roll, then narrow. “Just tell me this isn’t one of those ‘big conversation’ walks because humidity breaks my brain, and I might accidentally hurt you.”

The sparkle in his eyes is suspicious, but he nods easily enough.

“No big conversations. Got it.”

He opens the door. I flinch from the full-body slap of wet heat, but he grabs my hand before I can backpedal.

“Come on, my delicate flower. We won’t go far.”

“Bleh.”

My weak protest prompts a smirk. He knows I’ll follow him anywhere. And it goes both ways—in our travels over the last couple of years, I’ve dragged him down quite a few questionable alleys, hunting hidden bookstores and cafés.

As soon as we reach the driveway, we veer toward the shade of bordering trees. It’s approximately one degree cooler, but at least the sun isn’t frying my bare arms and legs.

I pull my hand from his and wipe my palm on my shorts. “Sweaty.”

“I like you sweaty.”

The low timbre of the words raises my body temperature even more. River chuckles as I yank off the hat and start fanning myself.

“And I love making you blush.”

“It’s just the heat.”

“Sure it is.”

River stops suddenly and tilts his head toward the nearby waters of the Puget Sound. Recognizing what his focus means, I perk up.

“Three… two… one.”

Leaves rustle, and a blessedly cool breeze washes over us.

“Damn, that feels good.”

He smiles softly. “The heatwave is breaking tonight. Scattered rain tomorrow evening.”

“Best news ever.”

More cool breezes find us as we keep walking. I don’t say anything about how only the trees near us seem to be affected, and he doesn’t say anything about the three cats following us.