Blood & Rust (Lock & Key #4) Read Online Free Page A

have to, but I didn’t think it would be wise to have him suffer at your hands.” The edges of his lips tipped up, and he pulled out a chair, slanting his head.
    Butler’s aimed that cocky you-know-it’s-true-sure-as-hell-can’t-fool-me smirk of his. But that smirk was a more relaxed version from the acidic ones I remembered him constantly shooting my way years ago. I let out a small laugh and settled into the chair he’d gestured at, hanging my messenger bag around the back.
    “Oh, so he was the victim?” I asked. “That’s who you were saving?”
    His smirk broke into a dazzling grin, and I pressed back into my chair, absorbing its potency like a shot of espresso.
    “What are you drinking, Tania?”
    “Nothing, thanks. I’ve got to get back on the road.”
    “You heading home?”
    “Yes, finally on my way.”
    “You had mentioned it the last time I saw you and Maddie in Nebraska.”
    “Right. Maddie.” I rolled my eyes, letting out a laugh.
    Grace’s little disguise when we had ended up at the Flames of Hell clubhouse several months ago, of course, hadn’t fooled Butler, who happened to be there, but he’d kept our secret.
    “I went to Racine to finish some business a couple of months ago and to bring back a few things that I had in storage,” I said. “You?”
    “Me what?”
    “What are you up to? How did you end up here, ten miles outside of Sioux Falls? You look tired.”
    He rubbed a hand across his scruffy jaw. “I’ve been on the road for a few days now. Taking the scenic route.”
    “Oh, really? From where?”
    “Ohio.”
    “Holy shit. On your bike?”
    He let out a rough laugh. “Yeah, Tania. Of course.”
    “Where are you headed? Sorry, I probably shouldn’t be asking, right?”
    “Going to Meager, too.”
    “Really?”
    “Really.” His sky-blue eyes settled on me, and a giddy sensation fluttered through me.
    “Have you eaten, or did you just get here?” I asked, my hands smoothing over the paper tablecloth. “I ate. I was just about to pay my bill actually.”
    “I just ordered. Stick around.”
    “Thanks again for before, with that guy.”
    “Sure. Maybe we should stick together until we hit Meager, just in case you get yourself into more situations you need rescuing from.”
    “Shut up.”
    “Remember what happened last time you were on the road?”
    “Oh, I remember all right.” Kidnapped, almost sexually assaulted, found my niece, who was being held hostage… “Did you ever find Creeper, by the way?”
    “There’s something you shouldn’t ask me about.”
    The waitress brought over a coffee, plonking the steaming white mug on the table by Butler. He rubbed a hand up and down his arm, stretching his neck to the left and then the right.
    “You want a couple of Tylenol to go with that?” I asked.
    “You got a supply handy?”
    “Always prepared.” I unfastened my bag and fished a hand inside for the bottle. “I think you could use two.”
    “That good?” He chuckled.
    I unsnapped the lid of the medicine bottle and put two caplets in his open hand. He popped them in his mouth, chasing them with a gulp of water.
    “Thanks.”
    “Sure.”
    “How’s Jill doing?” he asked. “Last time I talked to Boner, he filled me in on her being a surrogate for Grace.”
    “Jill and the baby are doing really well. She’s almost four months along now. Grace is flying.”
    “Taking Jill in was really generous of you.”
    “She seemed like a good person to me. She was in a really tough bind, and she is the mother of my brother’s daughter. The best part is, my mom actually likes Jill, and they get along great, which is huge now that they’re living together and looking out for each other.” I toyed with the fork before me on the table. “Yeah, it’s all good.”
    “How about you?” he asked.
    “Hmm?”
    “You. How are you doing?”
    “Me?” My eyes met his. Blue quartz. Clear, inquiring, dazzling. My fingers pressed down on the thin handle of the fork.