Rocky Ride (Thompson & Sons) by Vivian Arend

Mackie and I went through them, we found the bills of sale were correct, and there were only a couple digits slipped in other places.”
    Mitch nodded. “And if it had been a normal day, with a normal parts drop, that kind of mix-up would have meant nothing. We would have found the mistake when Denis and I went over the papers, compared them to the bills of sale, and fixed things. Done.”
    “It was the raid that complicated matters.” She was glad they had found all the missing details. “You guys picked a good salvage yard for selling off parts,” Anna teased lightly.
    He shook his head. “Years it’s been that we’ve used that place. Denis has been rock solid for years . I can’t figure out what the hell he was thinking setting up a chop shop.”
    “Tight times means people sometimes make stupid mistakes. Or greed—thinking it’s easy money.” She squeezed his thigh. “I’m sorry you got caught in the middle of it.”
    “Anyway, I don’t want Katy to know. I’ll obviously tell Dad we need a new salvage yard, but she doesn’t need more on her plate right now. Not with everything she’s dealing with after the accident.”
    His devotion to his family caused a lump to rise in Anna’s throat. She deliberately bumped him with her shoulder. “Tell her what?”
    Finally a laugh escaped him, even though it was a small one. “You’re golden. Thanks.”
    “Hey, all charges were dropped, which means it never happened,” she pointed out.
    Mitch draped an arm around her shoulders and hauled her in as close as possible. “Sorry if I was a little abrupt back at the station. I swore I’d never get into a situation where I’d be arrested again, and I never have. Hated to get caught up just because of a mistake.”
    Anna offered another squeeze. “You didn’t do anything wrong. That was proven. Try to forget it.”
    He fell silent, only this time it was a more comfortable silence. Anna turned up the radio, cuddled into his side and got lost in her thoughts.
    They drove for over an hour before making a pit stop for gas and drinks. Mitch cracked open his coke while Anna twisted off the cap of her drink and peeked under the lid. She snorted in derision before she could stop herself.
    “What’s so funny?” he demanded.
    “It says ‘You will journey to your heart’s desire’. The only journeying I currently have planned doesn’t involve my heart’s desire.” If she could even figure out what that was. Anna shook her head then took a long drink of the sweet orange liquid.
    “Hey, don’t knock it,” Mitch said. “Maybe you’ll get a chance to go to some great conference for work.”
    While interesting, she doubted that was her heart’s desire. “If it’s held in Hawaii, I’m game.”
    “Maybe you’ll win some hot-shot constable-of-the-year thing for all your hard work. They appreciate you at the station.” Mitch stroked her shoulder lightly. “I think you’re pretty awesome.”
    His touch was doing things that shouldn’t be allowed with so little effort. “Mitch. Eyes on the road.”
    “Just checking my rearview mirror, Constable.” He wasn’t looking out the back window though, his expression turning lustful. “Your tits are showing.”
    Anna laughed, and suddenly the tension drained away like they’d pulled a plug, splashing anxiety and fear behind them as they closed in on Rocky Mountain House.
    A wicked urge hit, and she loosened off her coat, dropping it on the passenger seat.
    Mitch kept his gaze forward, both hands back on the wheel, but the glances to the side increased in tempo. “What’re you doin’?”
    Anna pulled her hair loose from the ponytail she’d had it in, fluffing out the long strands. “Getting comfy.”
    Next, two buttons on her shirt slipped through easy enough, and if he’d caught a glimpse of cleavage before, there was now a lot more for him to enjoy.
    “Jesus,” Mitch muttered, but other than that, he didn’t respond.
    She leaned in, resting her breasts