“I’m sure you do.”

“That’s all right. You just think of me as all brawn, saving that cute ass of yours from thugs. What was it, once, twice? After the airport. A shootout at the motel. I’ll be your hero.” He nudged her shoulder, anything to touch her again. “If that’s how you see me.”

“Well, don’t forget the gas station.” She bumped her shoulder back against him. “I’ve had a very tough day. The least you can do is remember all my near death experiences.”

“Of course. It slipped my mind.” He nudged her for a second time. Christ, what was this? A grade school playground? Should he pull her hair next? He laughed, his smile teasing. “Let me get this right. Not many people are kidnapped, gassed, shot at, and grabbed. Basically, rescued over and over.”

He winked at her through the darkness.

“Yeah, my day sucked. But it’s a typical nine-to-five for you?”

This drive flew by when she was awake. Hell, it did the same when she slept. He’d never had an entertaining operational road trip. Nor had he ever shared. Fessing about his daughter was mindboggling. He never admired a victim before either. She handled it all, airport to gas station, unlike a wimped-out casualty.

“I think you’re strong, Mia. Way stronger than I gave you credit for at the airport, when you looked all librarian-like.” He waited, knowing there was more to be said, and it would kill the mood. One knuckle at a time, he made them crack, then shifted in his seat.

“What aren’t you telling me?”

How did she read his mind? “Why do you think I’m keeping something from you?”

She faced him, but he kept his eyes on the broken white lines. “You know guns, and I know body language. Spit it out, big boy.”

He checked the rearview mirror again.

“Colby.”

“All right, I’ll level with you.” She was a mind reader of sorts. That could pose probs. “We’re in the middle of nowhere, and there isn’t another town for a hundred miles. Only truck stops and motels line this highway.”

“Stop with the tour guide routine. You aren’t telling me anything I haven’t noticed. I thought I was full of aplomb and stuff like that. Please, go on. Tell me.”

He needed more time to feel her out. But if she thought she could handle it…he guessed he agreed. Fine. Whatever. He’d give it to her straight.

“We picked up another tail a while back. I’m surprised it took them this long to find us, but they did. And so this is what we’ve got to deal with now.”

She didn’t check the side view mirror. Smart girl. Nor did she panic. Her breathing didn’t change, and as best he could tell, she remained calm.

“Why didn’t you just tell me that?”

“I didn’t want you plastered to the windows like I promised you Gucci was falling from the sky. If you did that, you might as well have hung a sign up that said we see you.”