Free Iron & Bone (Lock & Key #3) by Cat Porter Page A

strode back down the mall to meet Nina. At the salon, we found her paying the cashier.
    She sauntered over to us, her face beaming. “You like it? I look good, right?” She stroked her long mane, thick waves of golden honey. Her nails were painted a dark berry color with tiny skulls applied on the thumbs and shimmery stars on her fingernails. She had a fresh coat of pink lip gloss coating her lips.
    “You look great,” I said, suddenly feeling like the harried housewife. I needed a makeover and quick.
    “What’s wrong with you?” Nina made a face, as if she’d spotted a huge spider crawling on me. “Your chest is all blotchy.”
    “What?” My hand flew to my chest. “No, um…I’m just hot.”
    “In this air-conditioning?” She smoothed her shiny hair over a shoulder. “You should get a haircut, too, you know? I told you to get down here.”
    “You done?” Boner asked, his voice clipped.
    “I’m set,” she murmured.
    In the truck, I sat back in the cab this time and leaned my head against the cool window. Boner shoved the truck into gear, his shoulders taut. I didn’t think I could bear sitting so close to him just now, like I had on the way over with my body charging with nuclear molecules the entire ride. Now, I hummed with the erotic rocket he had launched inside me almost an hour ago, and there was no way to disengage it.
    The truck suddenly veered off the road and pulled in at a drive-through fast-food joint.
    “We’re getting food now?” asked Nina, fidgeting in her seat.
    “Jill should have something to drink. I still have a stop to make before we head home.” Boner glanced at me in the rearview mirror.
    My chest tightened at the serious tone in his voice, the flash of his eyes.
    “Order me a Diet Coke?” Nina asked as she toyed with an app on her phone.
    Boner placed the order for three drinks at the speaker stand.
    I leaned my head back against the headrest. I didn’t even have to ask, and I wouldn’t have. I hated asking for people to go out of their way for me. I hated it, and he seemed to know it. He knew. He always knew, and he was so damn thoughtful.
    How thoughtful was he with Mindy?
    At the service window, he handed over money to the cashier and got our drinks. Our eyes met as he passed me my iced tea, our fingers brushing over the icy cup.
    “Thanks,” I murmured.
    “Yeah.” He raised his chin at me.
    I settled back into my seat and clutched the cold tall cup to my chest and neck, sipping on it. He pulled out onto Route 44.
    “So, are you eating everything in sight these days?” Nina asked.
    “No, although I’ve been having all sorts of strange cravings lately.”
    “Like what?” she asked.
    “Yesterday, I saw a Burger King commercial on television, and this life-and-death urge came over me to have a bacon double cheeseburger. I’ve never even eaten one of those before.”
    Nina laughed. “Never? You’re kidding! Did you go get one?”
    “I grabbed my car keys, but I forced myself to sit on the sofa. I closed my eyes and rocked back and forth as I took deep breaths until it faded. Then, I chugged two glasses of water and chewed on an apple.”
    She groaned. “Did it work?”
    “Sort of. Luckily, there’s no Burger King near home, so I couldn’t indulge on the fly anyway.”
    Boner’s brows furrowed as he glanced at me through his rearview mirror. “You shouldn’t be out on the road in that condition.”
    “What condition is that? Hungry?” Nina asked.
    “Distracted,” he replied. “Next time you get one of those overwhelming urges, Jill, call me. I’ll bring something over.” He shot me a look. “Whatever you want.”
    Whatever I want?
    “Oh, I don’t want to bother you. I know you’re busy. Anyway, I get lots of urges.”
    Babble, ramble, shut up!
    His eyes shot to mine. “I’ll make the time.” He returned his attention to the road.
    I don’t think we’re talking about burgers anymore.
    “Is there a Wendy’s around here? Wendy’s is my