Page 8 of Romero and Juliette

Mustang_Ranger: Exactly.

FleetwdLvr05: Can’t sleep. My brain won’t shut off.

Mustang_Ranger: Try counting sheep.

FleetwdLvr05: Tried. The sheep started judging me.

Mustang_Ranger: You sure you weren’t counting goats? They’re bastards.

FleetwdLvr05: You sound like you’ve got experience.

Mustang_Ranger: I’ve met a few.

FleetwdLvr05: You ever have trouble sleeping?

Mustang_Ranger: Most nights.

FleetwdLvr05: Same. I think too much.

Mustang_Ranger: Thinking’s overrated.

FleetwdLvr05: Spoken like someone who’s running from it.

Mustang_Ranger: Maybe I am.

FleetwdLvr05: Maybe I am too

Mustang_Ranger: So, what are these thoughts that keep you up

FleetwdLvr05: Mostly running through things that happened during the day. Things I should have said. Things I shouldn’t have done.

Mustang_Ranger: All regrets?

FleetwdLvr05: No. Just tired of always playing it safe.

Mustang_Ranger: Then stop doing that. Tomorrow, do one thing that scares you.

FleetwdLvr05: I will!

I hope she reports back and tells me what she did.

chapter

four

Cruz

The garage smells like old coffee and hot metal. A box fan rattles in the corner, doing a whole lot of nothing against the Texas heat. Despite the fact that technically it’s Fall. Texas didn’t get the memo.

Wrenches hang on a pegboard in soldier-straight rows, floor striped with cords and shadow. If I had sense, I’d come at dawn, drop the van, and avoid the one person who makes me forget every good intention I’ve stacked like sandbags.

But I evidently don’t have any sense. Bringing Flynn along isn’t helping; he’s already distracted, talking to Jude about a security upgrade. Tech nerd.

Juliette Winslow is half-folded into the engine compartment of a lifted F-150, one knee on the bumper, grey-grease-stained coveralls tied at her waist, revealing a clingy black tank.

She doesn’t see me. Good. I should back out. Go talk to Jude myself and not stand here staring at her ass.

“Need something, Romeo?” she calls without turning. Bright voice, full of sunshine and a grin I can actually hear. She heard the guys calling me that once, and it’s been her name for me ever since.