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Heath leaned in and murmured in her ear. “She might need to be carried in. He can handle that.”

Mari turned to look at him and when she leaned in to reply, she brushed his beard with her cheek, enjoying the shivers that the contact sent through her body. “You want to come back to my place?”

She could hear how soft her voice sounded and how loud her breaths sounded in her own head.

Heath smiled and nodded before turning to his friend. “Reiko lives next to Mari, can you-”

“I can follow you back and carry her in.”

Mari gave Hoss a long searching look. “If you can do that, I can get her in bed.”

Hoss nodded. “Perfect.”

Then before anyone could say anything else, Hoss leaned down and hooked his free arm behind her knees and lifted her up into his arms.

“Wow.” Mari let out a slow breath.

Heath drew her closer and leaned into her ear. “I can do that, too.”

Mari smiled and gave him a quick sidelong glance. “I think she’s going to hate missing this.”

Hoss started walking toward the front door and Mari went back to grab the purse she’d hung over the back of her chair.

As she walked across the room, she heard a few cat calls from the bowlers who were still cleaning up their areas by the lanes. Hoss ignored them as he walked toward the door.

Mari started to move faster to get to the door first, but Heath beat her to it.

She watched him walk and smiled at how he moved. He was fast, obviously healing well.

He got to the door first and swung it open, holding it for Hoss.

After he walked through, carrying Reiko in his arms, Mari followed behind.

Reiko hadn’t brought a purse. She didn’t carry one.

All Mari could do was follow as quickly as she could to help Hoss get her into a car.

Even with her friend in his arms, Hoss moved like the wind was at his back.

Mari had to hurry to catch up. “Uh, Hoss?” She smiled at the name again, feeling like she was in the middle of a Western like her dad used to watch on TNT. “My car is over here.”

Hoss stopped and turned to see where she was pointing.

When he spoke it was a deep rumble of concern. “I’ve got my truck. It’ll be easier if I drive her home.”

Mari didn’t know what to say to that. “I… I’m-”

“Hoss can follow us back. I’ll go with you in your car.”

She turned to look at Heath, hesitating.

Heath put his hand on her shoulder, and she felt it move to the nape of her neck. “He’s a safe driver. I promise.”

Mari looked back at Hoss. “Where’s your car… uh, truck?”

Hoss smiled and leaving just the one arm under her legs, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his keys.

A moment later, the headlights of a truck at the far side of the parking lot lit up. But before she could say a thing, Hoss just kept walking and damn, it was impressive. A one-arm carry.