NaturesBounty(27)

“I was just saying I think this shirt is a bit too snug in the chest,” she said, thrusting her boobs out for effect. “I know this isn’t your department, but I couldn’t find the salesgirl over in the women’s section. I don’t suppose you can help me figure out if you carry this top in a bigger size?”

To finish off, she peeled the blouse over her head. Before the fabric had even cleared her eyes, she could feel that Thaddeus’ had glued themselves to the rounded flesh that was barely covered by her string bikini. She grabbed the tag on the shirt and held it out. “This one is a size small. I think I need at least a medium.”

Several sounds that weren’t exactly words came out of the man, and with a nod, he led her back to the service desk. He got on his phone there without once looking away from her tits. While he spoke in a rush to the clothing department, she glanced over her shoulder at Nate, who shook his head. She waggled her brows at him before turning back.

“We have several sizes in stock,” Thaddeus said. “I’ll show you.”

She thanked the clerk profusely while he walked her over to the clothing aisle. Lydia delayed him for as long as she dared to give Nate time to finish his web surfing. After she finally got rid of Thaddeus, she grabbed her jogging pants out of the dressing room she’d abandoned earlier and looped them over her arm while she made her way back.

Nate found her first, and he didn’t look happy. He clutched the packaged phone, a powder-blue ski jacket he’d picked out for her, and some snack food.

“Let’s go,” he said stiffly.

“Why, you’re welcome for the ongoing use of my tits as a male distraction device,” she said as they headed for the checkout. “You know, I think that guy was about to ask for my number. I hope it was worth whatever you were looking for.”

“I found it.”

“And?”

He worked his jaw. “Asa officially fucked me hard. I’m wanted for aiding and abetting a felon.” He flicked her a hard glance. “Guess we are both fugitives now.”

She swallowed and followed him to the nearest open register. “So what now?”

He didn’t answer right away. He grabbed several prepaid credit cards from a hook by the cashier and divided his goods into two piles. Nate pulled the sales tag right off the ass of Lydia’s jeans so the checker could scan it. He paid cash for the prepaid cards and used a credit card for the rest.

On the way to the car, he finally spoke. “We need that evidence of yours, and I need time to think.”

“Do you think we can come up with a plan to deal with Andrew?”

“Right now, I figure your best bet will be to use the evidence to get your fair day in court. But I need to see the document first. And probably sleep on it as well.” He stopped in front of the passenger door to his car, where he glanced at her and pulled the newly purchased top out of the bag. “Either way, as soon as I use my card to gas up the car, that’s it. We go off the grid after that. You said the closest copy is in Flagstaff?”

She nodded and tugged the shirt back over her head.

“Then that’s where we’re headed. It’s more than an eight-hour drive going up the back way. That’ll put us in while it’s still dark. We’ll hit up a motel and get some sleep before retrieving that evidence.”

The word “motel” started two different alarms ringing in her head. She ignored the louder klaxons, which were blaring over the thought of her and Nate sleeping and showering together, and focused on the other issue instead.

“We can’t do that if we’re going off the grid,” she said. “They can track you by watching your credit card use. They’ll know right where we are.”

“Which is why I won’t be using my card after the gas station. I don’t care if they find out we stopped here to fuel up. It’s where we go next that will be our little secret.”

“Motels won’t let you rent rooms without credit cards,” she said. “Believe me, I tried. I couldn’t find a single place between here and Colorado that would work with cash only.”

Nate pulled open the door for her. “There are a few, but not enough to count on. That’s why I picked up these.” He reached in the bag and showed her one of the prepaids.

“Those will work?”

“Yep. One of the many tricks I learned chasing down skips.”

Her mouth fell open. “I never thought of that. I wound up sleeping in my car on the way.”

He dropped the card back in the bag and gestured for her to get in the passenger seat. “Go figure that I picked up a few things in my twelve years of hunting that you didn’t figure out in a week. I learned these tricks to outthink fugitives, though. Never figured I’d be one.”