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“Aye.” He slid his fingers into the hair at her temples and leaned down until his lips hovered above hers. “Every bit.”
“For luck, then,” Tait muttered as their lips met. She’d need it to keep a lock on her heart when she wanted so much to open it.
Chapter 7
Tait peeked past the hotel-room drapes as Marcus left for a quick survey around the motel and to check out the cars and people attending the car show. But if the two men pursuing her knew she was here, she thought they’d have made a move by now.
Even so, she wasn’t fool enough to think they’d stopped searching, and concern that they’d somehow up their game lay like a stone beneath her ribcage.
Despite all Marcus had done to help her, the risk of being caught seemed even higher. And now his life was also in jeopardy.
Their kiss still lingered in her mind, making it hard to believe she’d barely known him twenty-four hours. Somewhere in that time he’d stopped being a stranger and become more. Much more.
“Stop, Tait!” she chided herself. “Youcan’tcare for him. Anything that might exist between you is as false and temporary as the name you’re using. He deserves far more than you can offer.”
Jerking the drapes closed, she paced the room, refusing to indulge in another mind game about whether he’d return. Of course he’d come. For the van, if nothing else.
Unless he was spotted or had been caught. But he’d never lead anyone back to her, she was sure of it.
“Tait.”
A whisper and a small tap on the door had her rushing to unlock it. “Marcus!” She didn’t bother hiding her relief as she threw her arms around him.
“ ’Tis okay, lass,” he said ushering her inside to shut the door. “I dinnae see anything o’ them. Which doesnae mean they’re no’ still out there. But I ken our chances tae get away are as good right now as they’re goin’ tae be.”
Tait nodded. “I agree.”
“One more thing…” he glanced away before looking back at her. “Ye should know, I have identification and a passport and such, but I dinnae have a drivin’ license.”
She wasn’t sure how to respond. She probably should have suspected as much, but it still took her off guard. “That makes two of us,” she admitted, worriedly. “My identity—the new one they gave me—is in my purse, in the wrecked car.”
“Dinnae fash about that. ’Twasnae my intention tae have ye drive, anyway. Ye need tae be able tae hide in the back, or if necessary…run.”
“But what if we’re stopped by a cop for something? Remember what I said about Evan not knowing how deep the betrayal might go? If we get a ticket for no license, our names will show up on a report somewhere and they’d have our location.” She felt sick.
“Nae, lass.Imight get a ticket, but the men chasin’ ye have only seen me. They dinnae ken my name or anything else about me. So,myname appearin’ on a paper willnae mean anything, as long as ye dinnae divulge yer real name.” He reached out and touched her auburn curls. “ ’Twill help that ye changed yer look.”
When he shifted his hand to her cheek and brushed his thumb over her lips, it was hard not to lean into his warmth. “ ’Twasnae my intention tae add tae yer worries, lass. I just wanted ye tae ken the circumstances…in case.”
“I know,” she muttered, stepping away to grab the sack full of fridge items. “And you’re right. But we should go. We’ve been here too long. West Yellowstone isn’t that big. They’ll find us sooner or later.”
“Aye,” he gathered his things from the bed. “Ye’ve decided which route ye want tae take tae…?”
“Salt Lake City. In Utah.” She held the sack to her waist. “IfI testify.” She looked away, sensing Marcus’ questioning gaze, but didn’t look at him. “You know…I could just…disappear. Find some out-of-the-way place to settle down under a different name. Lay low. Try to live a quiet, invisible life.”
“Ye mean hide. Like ye’re doin’ now. Is this what ye want? How ye wish tae live?” he asked quietly.
“Of course not!” she snapped. “But it beats walking into a public place with a bullseye on my back.”
“Aye,” he said, quietly—almost to himself. “I ken how frightened ye must be. And deservedly so. Facin’ a battle ye ken ye cannae win, is no’ only daunting, ’tis foolhardy. Even when ye believe wi’ yer whole heart in what ye’re fightin’ for.”
“Well, I haven’t decided yet,” she countered, suddenly feeling defensive.
“How long before ye’re supposed to be there?”
“Three days,” she mumbled.
“Do ye ken what our options are, and which of them they’d least expect us tae take?”
