Page 36 of Buck & Mari

“Are we okay to leave?”

The guard tipped his chin down to look through the window and Buck followed his gaze. Mari looked… beautiful.

She had an expression on her face that looked a little bewildered, but she was still smiling and waiting patiently.

At least one of them was.

The guard looked over at the gate, silently communicating with the other man on duty.

Almost simultaneously, they nodded and the guard closest to him gestured toward the car. “You’re good to go, sir.”

Buck moved to the passenger side of the car and opened the door. It was lower than he was used to. His team all drove cars higher off the ground, but he knew what kind of car she drove.

He’d walked her to it in the parking lot, so he couldn’t say he didn’t know.

But at the moment when she’d offered to come and give him a ride, he didn’t care.

Now, his only concern was getting in and out and not looking like an infirm, old man.

So he put his hand on the top of the open doorway and used his muscles to slide into the seat, hoping he didn’t look like he was struggling.

When he got into the seat, he turned his head and saw her smiling at him.

“Sorry about that.”

Damn. He was smiling back at her.

Like it was contagious.

“No problem. I should have told you about the gate.”

She shrugged. “No worries. We’re all good.” She leaned closer and reached out toward him.

“I…”

Her brow furrowed at him. “Your seatbelt?”

Oh.

Shit.

He forgot his fucking seatbelt.

His jaw tightened as he reached across his chest and grasped the seatbelt.

“Sorry,” she sat back in the driver’s seat, putting her hands on the wheel. “I’m a safety girl. That,” she grinned, her eyes narrowing slightly, “and those Click or Ticket fines are no joke.”

His seat belt clicked into place, and she put the car in gear. The guard at the gate waved her back onto the road and gestured for her to pull around into the exit from the base.

“Is it weird to say I was a little intimidated by the guards?”

Her voice was light, but he heard a slight tremor in it.

“I can see that. I’m just used to it.”

“They seemed a little intimidated by you.” He wanted to brush it off, but he heard a little hush in her voice as if she was impressed by it.

And the man in him relaxed a little.