Nealy looked into the mirror and nearly drove off the road as Mat ducked through the door wearing only a baby-blue towel. He was anything but gross. His hair was damp and straight, but she suspected the hint of curl would spring back as it dried, and the electric shaver had temporarily tamed his pirate’s stubble. She took in that long expanse of tan, muscular male. He was so oversized for their small space that he should have looked ridiculous. He didn’t.

“I have to get my clothes,” he grumbled. “If you don’t like it, don’t look.”

“Mel Gibson’s got a lot better body than you,” Lucy said.

“And that’s supposed to bother me, why?”

Not better at all, Nealy found herself thinking, and Mat was taller. She didn’t have her mind on the road, and she had to swerve to avoid a pothole.

He grabbed the doorframe. “Will you watch where you’re going?”

“Sorry.”

“You’re all over the road.”

“The scenery is distracting me.” All six feet six of it.

“Well, pay attention to what you’re doing.”

As Mat headed for the back, Button held out her arms toward him and shrieked. He winced. Her pick-me-up message was unmistakable, but he closed the sliding door. She let out a howl. Lucy managed to distract her with the Beanie Baby walrus.

Nealy decided to enjoy the scenery before Mat insisted they get back on a bigger road. Sure enough, as soon as he emerged, he grabbed a mug of coffee, then told Nealy to pull over so he could drive.

She took in his worn jeans and gray athletic T-shirt. “I want Lucy to see the covered bridge first.”

“What are you talking about?”

“This part of West Virginia has one of the best collections of covered bridges in the state. The brochure I picked up at the campground said so. A lot of taxpayer money has gone into maintaining these bridges, and I think it’s important to her education that she see at least one of them.”

“I don’t care about Lucy’s education.”

“That’s exactly the kind of attitude that’s put this country’s public school systems into jeopardy.”

He stared at her, and she found herself wishing she’d kept her mouth shut. Then he shook his head. “Will you just pull over?”

“Stop being such a grouch. Lucy needs to broaden her horizons.”

“She’s going to spend her life as a convicted felon. What difference does it make if she sees a covered bridge?” He slouched down in the passenger seat.

“You’re not funny, Jorik,” Lucy retorted. “And She promised me I could see the bridge.”

“It’s not far,” Nealy said. “Why don’t you settle back and enjoy the ride? Or at least enjoy it as much as someone with a colossal hangover can.”

“You got something to say, just say it,” he grumbled.