“Hang on, did you just call me angel?” i asked.”if i did?i don’t like it.”he grinned. “it stays, angel.”

Is everything a joke to you? I asked. He dabbed his tongue to his lip again. Not everything. Like what? You.

I can’t imagine why you’re so interested.” he shook his head. “interested? We’re talking about you. I’m fascinated.

Im going to grab a cheeseburger, i told patch. Want anything? Nothing on the menu. I smiled. Why, patch, are you flirting with me?

I know you followed me. Don’t look so surprised. It’s called a rearview mirror.

…”good, because i need your help.” “help is my middle name.” i was pretty sure she’d already told me bad was her middle name, but i kept my opinion to myself.

I was tired of admiring your legs from a distance.

Youre not going to drive me home? I asked. A waste of breath, since i knew her answer. Theres fog. Patchy fog. Vee grinned. Oh, boy. He is so on your mind. Not that i blame you. Personally, im hoping i dream about him tonight.

Your name? I repeated, hoping it was my imagination that my voice faltered. Call me patch. I mean it. Call me

Im not stealing it. Were stranded. This is called borrowing. This is called youre crazy.

My most noticeable physical trait is, hands down, my hair. It’s big, unruly and curly, and you can spot it from a mile away… Literally.

You think the two of us and a slummy motel make for a dangerous combination?

I loved you long before you loved me. It’s the only thing i have you beat at, and i’ll bring it up every chance i get.

He grinned. Busted. Im a monster. Jev is my deceptively harmless and shockingly handsome alter ego. And im on top of it, she announced with witty triumph. Is that a freudian slip? His bluntness caught her off guard. A self-conscious blush rose in her face.

I’m not leaving until you tell me why you followed me. I know i’m a fascinating guy, but this is starting to feel like an unhealthy obsession.

Hank had left me his doomed army, and hed left marcie his inheritance. Unfair didnt begin to cover it.

Right now, i had everything i could ask for. It wasn’t a long list, but it was a very satisfying one, starting with the love of my life back in my arms.

He grinned when i didn’t protest, and lowered his mouth toward mine. The first touch was just that – a touch. A teasing, tempting softness. I licked my lips and patch’s grin deepened. “more?” he asked. I curled my hands into his hair, pulling him closer. “more.