Page 56 of Her Passionate Hero

“So, how come you know all of this, Carlotta?” Zed asked as he snagged another tortilla chip. This time he took some guacamole dip too.

“He and I have gone out a few times. He likes women with degrees on the wall,” she gave him a sideways smile.

“Oh, there’s a lot to like. I just don’t need anyone crawling around in my brain,” Zed said.

“Honey, if you don’t think any woman you date isn’t digging around in your deep dark places, you are out of your ever-loving mind.” Zed’s chip paused midway to his mouth. “Oops, I guess I hit too close to home.”

“Keep it up, keep it up, Chaquita,” he warned as he bit into the guac covered chip.

“I’m far from little,” she frowned.

“It depends who you’re comparing yourself to. Compared to me, you’re tiny,” Zed smiled easily. He turned to Hunter. “Do we have time to make it to Aliana’s mother’s facility before Nicolas gets out of school?”

“Yep.”

“I’ll give Ernie a call so he can be around to ticket you, it’ll make his day,” Lottie grinned.

Hunter reached over and helped himself to two chips and an even bigger helping of guacamole dip than Zed had taken.

“I’m going to be in town for a few days, seems to me I owe you a meal,” Zed said as he got up off the bench.

“I don’t play that way. I’m dating Ernie right now. But thanks for the offer. Totally made my day.” She gave them both a salute.

Aliana got an A+ in friends.

***

Hunter and Zed walked away, and Hunter called Mrs. Jankovic’s house to see if Aliana was awake yet. Aliana answered the phone and sounded much better.

“I definitely want to go to visit Mom. We’re in luck because this is Shorinda’s shift. She’s in the know.”

Hunter didn’t quite understand what that meant, but figured he’d be in the know soon enough. Despite Lottie’s threat, they still made stellar time getting back to Aliana. Zed won again, and Hunter rationalized it was because he was riding Hunter’s Indian Chief Springfield motorcycle.

Aliana was waiting outside with Dalton and waved happily when she saw Hunter. It gave his heart a curious jolt. She walked over to him.

“You wear your hair down all the time now. You never used to do that,” he said softly.

“I don’t now, either. But wearing it up right now gives me a headache. I think it’s a side-effect of the concussion.”

“What if I told you I like it down?”

She bit her lip and winced. Then she licked it, and he winced.

“I suppose for the time you’re here, I could wear it down. Except when I’m at school, of course.”

“Of course,” he agreed solemnly.

“We can take my car,” she suggested. She pointed to the little hybrid under her grandmother’s carport.

“I don’t think so. Zed’s cranky enough without asking him to fold into that. We’ll take his rental.”

“Oh, okay,” she smiled. It was then he realized she thought they were going to be riding in Dalton’s truck. He chuckled.

“You ever ridden on a motorcycle?”

“Of course not.”

“After you’re feeling better, we’re going to have to change that.”