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riding on his shoulder threw back his head in uproarious laughter.
    Impossible, you fool. That’s why you cut her out of your life in the first place.
    She jangled her keys in one hand, then tossed them into the air. “You’re going to regret this.”
    Gage reached out and snagged the keys out of the air.
    Without even having to consider the consequences, he knew that she was right.

CHAPTER FOUR

    Harley gave in and let Gage drive, not that he’d given her any choice.
    He’d taken control, swiped the keys right out of her hand, and somehow squeezed his tall frame through the driver’s door opening and onto the driver’s seat.
    Fine, whatever, she thought as she stared out the passenger side window. She had bigger things to worry about, like keeping the emotional aftershocks of the evening bottled up.
    Because now that the adrenalin had started to dissipate, craziness was just around the corner.
    From the crushing weight in her chest, to the throbbing pain in her head, to the heat which refused to let up, Gage had been right about one thing. There was a whole lot of a mess clawing to get out.
    She huddled against the passenger door, kept her hands tucked under her arms, and wished her twin sister were still alive.
    Hannah would know exactly what she needed…a hug, a shoulder to cry on, and a place to stay until the memory of Henry and his rifle and fists faded into the background. But one night pretending everything was okay, sleeping in Gage’s spare bedroom, wasn’t nearly enough time for the fear to recede.
    And yet, somehow she had to make it through the next twelve hours without a meltdown, then the next week, the next month—
    A movement out the side of her eye made her raise her arms to shield her face from another blow. A scream clawed up her throat.
    Gage’s voice cut through her panic. “Geez, Harley, I’m sorry. I was just reaching for the air-conditioning button.”
    She sagged against the back of the seat.
    Gage was watching her as though he fully expected her to come unglued and he wasn’t too far off the mark.
    His calm voice drifted through the warm interior of the vehicle. “It’s okay to cry, honey. I won’t think less of you.”
    She raised her chin and through stiff lips said, “I’m fine.”
    As if she hadn’t said a word, he continued. “You’ve been through a traumatic experience tonight. In fact, I’m feeling a little shaky myself.”
    He didn’t look shaky. If anything, he appeared more in control now than the moment Henry had smashed her head into the wall. Gage had lunged to his feet, furious and wild and fearless.
    Right now, he sat scrunched in the driver’s seat, his six-foot-two frame wedged into her pipsqueak-sized car. He looked like a sardine stuffed into a tin can, the boots on his feet almost too big to manipulate the tiny pedals that easily accommodated her much smaller feet. His shoulders were hunched, his back curved, and his thighs cradled the steering wheel.
    He slanted another glance her way and when she didn’t say anything, turned his attention to the buttons on the dash. He poked at one, then another. “Man, it’s hot in here. Is the heat turned on?”
    Hoping he wouldn’t notice her hands trembling, she elbowed his arm out of the way and checked the controls. “Heat’s off.”
    “Don’t you have air in this thing?”
    He sounded put out and grumpy. Thankful for the distraction, she flashed him a sympathetic smile. “Only the basics. Tires. Seats. A steering wheel.”
    “No air. Gotcha.”
    “I do have air, sort of.” Cranking down the passenger window, Harley lifted her face to the breeze, the air movement cool on the dampness of her skin. Beside her, Gage followed suit. “I didn’t think it could get this hot. It’s got to cool down soon, don’t you think?”
    He grunted a noncommittal reply and kept on driving.
    End of conversation.
    Her hands were still shaking and her heart was still pounding. If she didn’t find a distraction, she’d