She snorted, but some of her exhaustion seemed to lift away as she nodded. Smiling, he sent a quick text, then took her hand and started for the truck he’d rented while in Wildstone. On the way to the destination he had in mind, he stopped and got Mexican takeout, which, in spite of claiming not to be hungry, Piper inhaled.

“Oh my God,” she moaned around her grilled-chicken-and-cheese burrito. “Amazing.”

“I like that you’re easy to please. It bodes well for me.”

She laughed, as he’d intended. “You can’t make me buy that you’re not cocky as hell,” she said.

“With you? It’s actually the opposite.”

She bit her lower lip. “For the record, ditto. But you always seem so sure and confident.”

He shrugged. “You know how it is out there on the job. You’ve got a decision to make, sometimes many decisions all at the same time, and often with less than a second in which to make them. You’ve got to think fast, and own your actions. Sometimes, I guess that ability wrongly comes off as cocky.”

She took another bite, chewing while she studied him thoughtfully. “To be fair, you’re the only one of the two of us putting your life on the line every single second of the day you’re on the job.”

“That’s not true. As a first responder, you put your neck out there, just like I do.” He glanced over at her, taking in the fading bruise along her jaw.

When their gazes met, hers was warmer now, no wariness to be found, and he felt like he’d won the damn lottery.

“Thanks,” she said quietly. “So where’s home base for you? Near your mom back East?”

“Yes, but she’s gone now.”

Her eyes flew to his, stricken.

“About ten years ago,” he said. “Accidental overdose.” At least that had been the official verdict, but he knew the “accidental” part was up for debate. She’d not been able to manage her mental illness, and she’d suffered so much that he wasn’t sure she hadn’t just given up.

Something else he blamed himself for. Because maybe if he hadn’t left for the Coast Guard, he could have helped more. He missed her, but he felt bad the most for Rowan, who’d never really gotten to know her.

“I’m so sorry.” Piper’s voice was soft. “So your dad . . . he’s your only living relative left?”