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The flashing blue lights drew my attention as I lifted my head, glancing from side to side. There were at least eight police cars as well as an ambulance. They’d found me. They’d rescued me.
“Sheriff. We’re bringing him down,” another man shouted.
“Come on. Let’s get you in the car,” the sheriff told me, his tone soft and comforting.
“No. No! I want to see him in handcuffs.” I was determined, pushing away from the large man, dragging the edges of the blanket tightly around me. I glanced at my bare feet. They were bruised and bloody from running through the woods. But I’d managed to get away. I’d found a way to get away from the freak. I held my head high, watching as a group of men walked from the thickest portion of the forest.
Then I saw his face. He was shackled just like I’d been, led by the group with no possible chance of getting away. And I stared at him. I refused to blink or give him any indication he’d managed to break through my defenses. The asshole didn’t deserve another whimper or plea. Never.
The bastard scanned the area, locking eyes with mine. Then a smile crossed his face, his eyes twinkling in the bright sun.
“Get him the fuck out of here!” the sheriff snarled.
The deputies escorted him in a wide arc away from me, but he made certain to maintain eye contact. Then just as they’d delivered him to one of the deputy’s cruisers, he threw his head over his shoulder.
“Just wait, my little pet. Our time together isn’t over. I will come for you again.”
“Get him out of here. Goddamn it!” The sheriff refused to let go of me. I almost lunged forward. I almost allowed him to see he’d managed to get to me.
But I stood strong, refusing to back down now. It would never happen again.
As he was tossed in the back of the car, I finally allowed myself to smile.
The nightmare was over.
* * *
“I’m running just a little bit late,” I told Shelly, making the call as soon as I was at the end of the driveway. I’d been shocked that my alarm hadn’t awakened me in time, but the extra sleep had felt so good. I was in much better spirits, anticipating I’d get a call from the hunky man who had a soft as a creampuff interior. The thought gave me all kinds of wicked images.
“You’re fine. Your first appointment doesn’t arrive for almost an hour. And you know who the patient is.”
A tiny ripple of happiness floated into my system. “I have a feeling he’ll show today.” My core was already heated, my panties damp just thinking about him. Him. My God, the man was larger than life, his hunger to experience danger titillating.
“Interesting. I still suggest you take your time,” Shelly told me. “Big night?”
“Stop it. I just had some trouble sleeping.”
“You are such a terrible liar. I’ll see you when you get here.”
I ended the call, tossing my phone onto the seat. It was a glorious morning, barely a cloud in the sky. I’d refused to allow the ugly dreams from the night before to dampen my mood, sitting on my favorite Adirondack chair while I’d enjoyed coffee. Then I’d allowed my mind to shift to several naughty places. Who needed breakfast when I was basking in the afterglow of such an incredible night?
After making a turn, I checked the rearview mirror. The traffic was light this morning, the few people on the road seeming in no hurry. Maybe they were tourists gathering in God’s country for a late spring break getaway. I took a deep breath, still tingling all over. There was nothing like feeling special in a man’s eyes, no matter the circumstances. Snake had been chivalrous yet demanding, a combination I found irresistible.
And he’d known exactly what I’d needed, both body and soul. Still, I had to wonder about the girl he’d tried to save in Kandahar. Was she real or even alive? What if I could track her down? Would that erase some of the horror, eliminating his nightmares? I made a mental note to find out even more about the horrific event. If I could help in any way, it was well worth my time trying to do so.
After all, I was beginning to want to do as much for the brooding, sexy man as possible.
A giggle popped to the surface, and I rolled my eyes as I made another turn. When a truck came zooming by, crossing the double yellow line, the rumble of his powerful engine could be heard over the satellite radio station. The asshole was exceeding the speed limit as many of the cowboy wannabes did in the area. My first thought was to roll down the window, flipping him off. At least the rational side of me screamed that wasn’t a good idea. You never knew how people would react nowadays. The slightest thing could set them off.
The area was far too mountainous, the drop-offs terrifying. The last thing I wanted to do was play chicken with some aggressive asshole. My car was much smaller than his big, old Ford.
Besides, at the high rate of speed that he was going, I knew I wouldn’t run into him again. I tapped on the steering wheel, wondering whether I should call Snake, just to see if he was going to make it today. Another wave of heat skittered straight to my pussy. At least we were going to the art show after work. I was so excited I’d wanted to take a sick day in order to prepare.
“Girl. You’re pathetic.”
I laughed from saying the words out loud. I hadn’t been this timid in high school. I’d been the girl to ask the guy out more often than the reverse. Of course, since I’d been the nerd girl with huge glasses and absolutely zero shape, I hadn’t been successful very often. Not even for my prom. Oh, well, I’d blossomed.
Maybe I would give him a call. Why not? We were both adults. We obviously enjoyed each other’s company. As I reached for my phone, it rang and the tiny shiver that coursed through me added a skip to my heartbeat. “Hello?”
