Everything went into the middle. He gathered the sides and hauled the blanket up. The damn thing was weighed down with rainwater. A third bolt of thunder sounded. This time, lightning illuminated the sky.
“Fuck it.” He set the bundle down. “We’ll come back for that later. Right now, I need to get you out of this storm. Do you have your phone and keys?”
She nodded. He took her hand and started to run across the sand. They kept up a steady pace, stumbling barefoot through the seaweed. The rain fell in sheets and tried like hell to slow their progress. But they reached the end of the rocks in record time.
“Jared,” she panted, her pace slowing.
But dammit, he could see the wooden stairs leading to the boardwalk. He stopped and bent low. He wrapped his right arm behind her legs and tossed her over his shoulder in a fireman’s hold.
“I’ve got you, princess.” His left hand rested on the wet fabric clinging to her ass. In his pocket, his cell shook against his thigh again.
It’s like the damn thing wants to send a message to my dick.
The phone vibrated again.
And it is fucking working.
But now wasn’t the time for round two. They needed to get out of the storm first. “Hold on tight and we’ll be at the car soon. We’ll be home in five minutes, and I’ll get you into some dry clothes.”
“Jared,” she called over the storm. “I need to drive to my place. Nicole needs our car first thing in the morning.”
“Why do you three share a damn Toyota?” he muttered. But he turned and headed for her car. He set her down by the driver’s side door, instantly missing the contact. He wanted to feel Lucy’s wet, warm skin against his right now, tonight, and tomorrow.
“This is our company vehicle,” she said defensively. “It’s a good car. Plus, this way we all save on insurance.” She fumbled with her keys, but still managed to unlock the door. Rain pummeled them, soaking through his clothes.
“I had another car,” she continued. “But it was in Barrett’s name. He leased it for me. Even though I made the payments, I had—”
Bang!
The storm cut her off. He didn’t want to hear the rest anyway. She’d lost enough to that cheating bastard. The fact that he’d taken away her car . . .
I fucking hate that asshole.
He pulled hard on the door. “Get in. I’ll follow you and take you back to my place.” She had the seatbelt drawn across her chest, but she paused before buckling it and looked up at him. “Afraid of the princess lair?”
“I have eight fully renovated bathrooms ready and waiting for a round of wild, tantric, shower sex.”
“Fireworks,” she murmured.
“Damn right. We wouldn’t want to frighten Nicole and Emma.” He took the belt buckle from her and secured it. “Drive carefully. I’ll see you at your house.”
He closed the door and then jogged back to where he’d parked his Jaguar. His cell danced against his leg for a fourth time. He frowned. Who the hell needed his attention right now? If one of the companies had an issue, they could call Finn.
Unless Mom needs help again. If she walked out of rehab . . .
Grinding his teeth together, he withdrew his phone. Two voicemails and three text messages, all from Finn.
What the fuck?
He hit the message icon and read the first message.
911.
Cryptic bastard, he thought. Then, he scanned to the second message.
Meet me at your house.
He glanced down to the third.