green Beetle with a big smile on her face. Gage loved old cars too, and this spacious monstrosity certainly fit Darius’s old-school personality. Maybe Gray was just being a bitch.
“Did we pass Monterey?” he asked.
“A while back.” Darius nodded. “Passed San Francisco too.”
Whoa. “Where are we?”
Darius hummed. “Santa Rosa’s about half an hour inland. I thought I’d stop to get gas and some snacks soon, then make it to Mendocino within the next couple hours.”
“Oh.” Everything dawned on Gray, and he chewed on the inside of his cheek.
It was time to end this road trip. Darius was taking them home along the shortest route. Maybe it wasn’t the quickest if they were planning to follow the scenic highway along the coast, but there would be no more detours. They were on their way to Camassia now.
It dropped a rock of nerves into Gray’s stomach, even though he knew it was the right move. They’d stalled long enough. He had stalled long enough.
“You miss the woods,” Gray murmured.
Darius smiled faintly. “I do. More than that, I miss getting shit done.” He paused. “We gotta kick it up a notch with your training as soon as we get back.”
That caused warning bells to go off. “Have you heard from Willow?”
“Not today, but it shouldn’t be long now,” Darius replied. “She’ll find him soon.”
If “him” was in reference to Jackie or his buyer, it didn’t matter. Willow was getting closer, and that shot determination straight into Gray’s gut. They were going to rescue Jackie, one way or another.
Gray wouldn’t rest easy until they had.
Northern California was nowhere near as warm as Bakersfield.
While Gray had bought them some crappy food and snacks, Darius had gotten gas and parked off to the side where there was a cluster of picnic tables at the edge of a small forest.
“I miss home-cooked meals.” Gray sat down at a table and handed over two hot dogs to Darius. In a plastic bag, he had sodas, chips, and water.
“Me too.” Darius took a bite of his hot dog, which Gray had made sure was drenched in mostly mustard. It was how he liked it.
Gray glanced over his shoulder to make sure Jayden hadn’t woken up. He was too cute, hugging a pillow to himself, a blanket thrown around him, and his mouth open.
“You’re gazing lovingly at my car, aren’t you?” Darius joked.
Gray chuckled and zipped up his hoodie. “Don’t you have a car already?”
Darius shook his head and uncapped a bottle of water. “I have a heavy-duty truck. Perfect for building a cabin in the middle of the woods, less perfect when you gotta park it at the marina before work.”
After everything they’d been through, it was difficult reconciling the fact that Darius was a restaurant owner. He ran a fish camp in the marina in Downtown, a hot spot for tourists and those who could afford the rent.
“Are you a good cook?” Gray asked curiously. He unwrapped the sandwich he’d bought for himself and eyed the turkey critically.
Darius turned pensive. “I don’t know. I’m not adventurous in the kitchen, but I can hold my own—I think.” He wiped some mustard from his upper lip. “I use the grill when the weather allows it. Meat, fish, baked potatoes. And now I won’t have to use the shitty one I had on the rooftop of my old apartment. I built a new one as soon as the main house was ready.”
Jeesh. How many cabins did he have up there?
“You’ll probably be surprised at my everyday routine,” Darius noted with a smirk. “It ain’t your average household with modern appliances and comfort.”
Gray had figured as much, but he was still dying to experience it. “As long as I get to see you bake bread again, I’ll be great.”
Darius coughed through a chuckle. “I set a loaf to rise before bed every night. Then it’s ready for the oven first thing when I wake up, and it’s done when I’ve finished my morning chores.”
Chores. Good God. Gray couldn’t help but smile and feel all warm. “I’ve been half-kidding when I’ve mentioned your proper homestead, but it’s legit, isn’t it?”
At that, Darius lifted a shoulder. “It’s the goal, anyway. Being self-reliant is good.” He finished his first hot dog in a final bite. “What about you? Do you like to cook?”
Hmm. Yes and no. He hesitated as he tried to come up with the most truthful response. “I like taking care of people,” he said. “I’ve cooked with Mom my whole life, but