Not surprisingly, the captain was off duty due to the late hour. Nikki left a message for him to call either Jarrod or herself as soon as he got in the next morning. "There’s nothing else they can do tonight anyway," she said as she hung up the phone. "What are you going to do about Bri?"
Jarrod still paced the room in frustration. "I’ll take Briana to work with me tomorrow. I can’t leave her with the sitter when I know that Chloe’s out there somewhere. Did you know that Davies has a record? Child molestation."
He shuddered as he stared at Nikki, his heart in his tortured eyes. "Why would she get someone like that to try and take her away? I don’t see how she could hate me or Briana enough to have been involved with this. Were they going to ask for a ransom? Or . . ."
Nikki stopped his words when she put her hands on his shoulders and gave him a gentle shake. "Stop it, Jarrod. This isn’t doing any of us any good. All we can do is make sure Bri is safe and see if Captain Edwards can put Chloe away. There’s still desertion and child endangerment charges against her, aren’t there?"
"Yes." Jarrod looked down into her eyes.
"Between that and the possible kidnap attempt or abduction charges, she should be put away for a long time."
"If they can catch her. They have to catch her first." His voice was bleak and revealed the depths of his despair. He wrapped his arms tightly around Nikki as if he drew strength and comfort from her.
They stood that way for a long time before Jarrod finally pulled away. "You’d better go home and try and get some rest. There’s nothing else we can do tonight. Keep an eye out for yourself. If she’s crazy enough to try and get Bri she might try and do something to you since you thwarted her plans."
Her heart lurched and she decided not to tell him she thought someone had followed her. "I’ll be careful. Call me after you hear from Edwards, I’ll do the same." She pulled Jarrod’s head down to meet hers. "I love you. It’ll work out, you’ll see." Her lips met his in a kiss that was desperate for hope and comfort.
They drew apart and he walked her to the door, the file folder of logo samples forgotten. He saw her safely into her truck, and gave her a lingering kiss before she drove off. He tried to smooth his sleep-tousled hair as he went back into the house while his stomach churned furiously.
Chapter 20
"What do you mean he’s escaped?" Nikki clutched the phone tighter, a spike of fear pierced her heart. They’d only figured out the night before that Chloe had been in on Briana’s abduction and now Davies had escaped.
She listened for a moment. "Sean, he was in prison, not summer camp. Behind bars, locks and keys, guards with guns, that kind of thing." She knew it wasn’t Sean’s fault even as she said the words, but she couldn’t not say them. She didn’t want to have to accept that Davies was on the loose.
"Chloe helped? Oh my god! Does Jarrod know yet?"
"Does Jarrod know what yet?"
The deep voice from less than a foot away made her jump and almost drop the phone. "J-Jarrod," she stuttered, her heart thumping erratically as she looked up at him.
He stood in the doorway of her office, one broad shoulder braced casually against the door frame. "Do I know what?" he repeated, a smile curved his lips. The smile disappeared as his dark eyes searched her face.
Wordlessly he reached for the phone. She gave it up willingly. She didn’t want to be the one to tell him his ex-wife had broken her lover, and Briana’s abductor, out of jail. The only question in her mind wasn’t if they’d come after Briana again, it was when.
She watched Jarrod’s face turn hard as Sean talked. Suddenly he thrust the phone at her then left the room. Mere seconds later she heard the front door slam, the Jeep start, and tires squeal as he peeled out of the driveway.
She lifted the phone to her ear. "Sean?" Her voice only shook a little, for which she was grateful. "Where’d Jarrod go?" she repeated numbly. "He went to get Briana."
Even though Jarrod hadn’t said a word, she was positive that was where he’d gone. Her first instinct had been to find Briana immediately. She knew Jarrod, as Briana’s sole parent, had to feel that way too.
Somehow she managed to thank Sean for the call, then hung up the phone with hands that trembled. Until Davies and Chloe were behind bars, neither she nor Jarrod would rest easy. They’d both be tense and waiting for one or both of them to show up again.
* * * * *
It was several weeks after they learned of Chloe’s involvement in Briana’s abduction and Davies escape that Nikki finally heard from Saul. He had finally gotten a door for the ‘Cuda. The fender and door had been replaced and the paint job was done. It was ready to be picked up.
It had been a busy few weeks. New clients appeared virtually on a daily basis, she met Jarrod for lunch almost every day and spent most of the evenings with Briana and Jarrod. She hardly saw Lainey anymore, Lainey was always with Sean or out painting. Sean had been very impressed with her work and had encouraged her to paint more. He had some friends who owned an art gallery and he was determined to talk Lainey into a show. Eventually.
Captain Edwards had put an all points bulletin out for both Chloe and Davies. He’d also sent officers around the vicinity of both the gas station and Jarrod’s home to see if they could get a clue to her whereabouts. The only clues that had turned up had been cold enough that they hadn’t found them yet. No one, it appeared, had seen either Chloe or Davies since the escape. At least no one who was willing to come forward with the information.
Briana was always in the company of a relative or Nikki herself. Briana thought it was neat to do something different than going to daycare, but she was worried about her mom. Although no one had told her the full story of her mother, she knew enough to know her mother was not the kind of person she wanted to be with. Especially since she was keeping company with the man who had taken her away from her father. She didn’t want to be taken away from her daddy, the only parent she’d ever known.
Internal Affairs had asked Nikki to come in and answer questions and give testimony on Lieutenant Grover. On top of that, the prosecutor had called and wanted to see her about the Davies trial. If they recapture him. She had dealt with both cases, but she might be asked to come in again on either or both issues.
Nikki and Jarrod met for their lunch hour and spent it in Jarrod’s huge bed. As they got dressed Nikki told him her car was ready to pick up. He offered to come pick her up after work and drive her over. She agreed and sat down on the edge of the bed to put her shoes on.
"I think we ought to get married." Jarrod’s voice was matter of fact.
Nikki froze momentarily before she finished tying her shoes. Seconds ticked slowly past as she slowly raised her head and looked at him. Her face felt cold. She wet her dry lips with her tongue and swallowed. "What did you say?" she whispered in a hoarse voice
"I said, I think we ought to get married."
She paused, licked her lips again. "And why should we do that?"
"Because we love each other, we’re great in bed, you’d make a great mom for Briana, and our kids too. Why shouldn’t we?"
"Why shouldn’t we? Do you want a list?"
"If you’ve got one." Jarrod was dressed and leaned against the wall with his arms folded across his massive chest.
She slowly stood up and ran her fingers through her hair. "For starters, we haven’t known each other that long and I don’t feel ready to be married and a mom. Who says I would want to have children of my own anyway? Being great in bed, what a typically male excuse to get married. What a romantic proposal! I swear, it almost swept me off my feet." She was angry now, which was better than the fear that tied her stomach in a knot.
"Which is the real reason you want to get married? Because you want sex all the time? Because you want Briana to have a mom? Because it’d be easier to make sure she’s safe with me in the same house? Or is it because you want a son, someone to carry on the McKay name?" Her voice started to shake she was so mad.
"Tha
t’s not fair. You’re overreacting." Jarrod was angry too.
By the time they got downstairs, Jarrod was yelling in frustration and Nikki wasn’t speaking at all.
The front door slammed behind her as she went out to her truck. She unlocked it, got in, and started the engine. She reached for the door to close it but Jarrod stood in the way. "Move out of my way!" she said through her teeth.
"I’m not finished." Jarrod’s face was set and flushed with anger.
"Well I am. I’m won’t marry you, now or ever! Just because you’re good in bed is no reason to get married. We’re doing just fine as we are." Nikki’s jaw clenched and unclenched in frustration.
"Well, I don’t think so."
"Fine. Let’s call it quits then." Nikki stared coldly into Jarrod’s eyes.
Jarrod flinched as if she’d slapped him. "Is that your solution for everything? Quit?"
"When it’s the only sensible solution, yes." Her eyes were frosty now. No one would be allowed to push her into something she didn’t want to do. She’d worked too hard for her freedom and peace of mind, no one could take it away! Even though she chose not to admit it, her father still had a major effect on her life. She wasn’t ready to put herself in the vulnerable position her mother had been in. The fact that there was no comparison between Jarrod and her father wasn’t enough. Not to the scared little girl deep inside.
He sighed and scraped his fingers through his hair roughly. "Look, this isn’t accomplishing anything. Why don’t we talk about it later." He shut the door of the truck. "I’ll pick you up after work and take you to your car. We’ll talk about it some more then."
"No thanks. I’ll make other arrangements."
"No. You won’t. I said I’d pick you up after work. I’ll pick you up after work." He clenched his hands together tightly and tried to regain control of his temper as he spoke through gritted teeth.
"It’s my life. You don’t own me. I’ll do whatever the hell I want to do." She revved the motor, shifted into reverse, stomped on the gas pedal, and roared out of the driveway. The tires screeched to a halt in the street, she shifted into drive, and left skid marks down the street as she drove away.
Jarrod rubbed an unsteady hand across his jaw and wondered how on earth a proposal of marriage to the woman he loved could have gone so disastrously wrong.
Nikki blinked back the tears and scrubbed her eyes with a hand that trembled violently. Their first fight had been a doozie. And possibly their last.
She drove out to the river and parked. The cellular phone in her purse started to ring. She grabbed the phone and tossed it on the floor of the truck. She stopped to grab her purse, lock the truck, then headed for the water.
The walk on the shore with the water splashing over her toes finally calmed her down. She walked back to a sandy spot and sat down. With her arms wrapped around her legs and her chin on her knees, she stared at the turbulent water.
What was she going to do? She loved Jarrod, but that marriage proposal was something else. He couldn’t have made it more unromantic if he had tried! Did he really want her for herself or because it was convenient? A live-in baby-sitter and sex on demand? This situation with Chloe and Davies had messed everything up.
Besides, it was too soon to get married. If she had married Richie after the same amount of time she’d known Jarrod, it would have been a disaster. Who was to say that this wouldn’t be the same? Look what had happened to her mother when she’d gotten married quickly.
She sighed deeply. She knew in her heart that Jarrod wasn’t Richie . . . or her father. She knew that she’d overreacted to Jarrod’s proposal because she was scared to death. That still didn’t mean she was ready for marriage. With another heavy sigh, she got up. She may as well face the music.
Jarrod had undoubtedly called Erika and they would both be worried about where she was. She walked slowly back to the truck, as she tried to put off the inevitable. Erika’s car was still in front of the duplex when she finally pulled into the driveway, even though it was past her normal work hours.
She walked into the house and Erika met her in the living room. "Are you okay? Jarrod’s called every five minutes for hours."
"I’m fine." Nikki walked into the kitchen and dropped her purse on the counter. She opened the fridge and pulled out a diet soda. She drank half the can and looked up to find Erika staring at her, blue eyes wide with worry.
"He said that he had a fight with you. He said he needed to talk to you." Erika looked at her anxiously.
"What about what I need? What I need is to be left alone." Nikki’s voice was harsh and bitter. She felt like everyone was doing their best to push her into a corner. The corner being Jarrod and marriage. One of the things she’d never been able to stand was being pushed into anything. It made her feel claustrophobic even if it was something she had wanted to do originally.
Erika flinched at her tone. "I’m sorry. Is there anything I can do?"
"Yes. I need a ride over to Saul’s to pick up my car. It’s finally ready." She emptied the can and set it on the counter.
"Sure, I can take you. Just let me close out the computer."
"Fine." Nikki walked down the hall to her room and shut the door. She leaned against the door and sighed in tired frustration. She straightened then went to her closet and got out her favorite pair of jeans and a red and white striped cropped top.
She changed quickly, brushed her hair then went to find Erika who had just come out of the office. "I’m ready if you are."
"Fine. Let’s go." Nikki spoke only in monosyllables in response to Erika’s attempts at conversation on the short trip. Erika finally gave up halfway there and was silent the remainder of the short trip.
Erika pulled up by the front entrance and stopped. "Do you want me to wait for you?"
"No. The car’s ready. Go on home. Thanks for the ride. I’ll see you on Monday." She waved as Erika pulled away and sighed in relief.
The first thing she saw when she walked into the shop was her newly repaired car, freshly washed and waxed, in the middle of the garage. A group of men stood around gawking at it.
She walked up to the nearest man. "Where’s Saul?"
He looked her over with lascivious eyes. "He’s in the office. Can I help you."
"No," she answered abruptly, she resented his lecherous look, and headed for the office. She knocked on the open door and entered when Saul waved her in.
"Hey, how’s my favorite computer-type lady? You look hot today."
Nikki gave him a tiny smile. Saul would flirt with his own grandmother. "I’m fine."
"Did you see the car?"
"What I saw was a bunch of men who were drooling on the fresh paint." She made a face.
Saul laughed. "Yeah, they’re jealous that it isn’t theirs. Come on." He walked around his desk and threw an arm over her shoulder. "You know, you’re more beautiful every time I see you."
"Yeah right, you tell all the ladies that."
"So, it happens to be true." Saul grinned cockily at her and she laughed.
When she looked up she saw Jarrod walk toward the entrance of the body shop. She swore silently at Erika. Why couldn’t she just mind her own business instead of calling Jarrod as soon as her bedroom door had shut? Erika would hear about this on Monday.
Jarrod walked inside the doorway and stopped abruptly. He saw Nikki smile and laugh with an attractive blonde man who had his arm around her shoulders. A sharp knife-like pain went through his heart. Is this why she didn’t want to get married? Was she any different than Chloe or were they cut from the same cloth after all?
Chapter 21
His lungs started to burn and he realized he’d forgotten to breathe. He let the stale air out with a heavy sigh and inhaled deeply. He took another deep breath then walked toward Nikki and the pink car.
Saul and Nikki were already bent over the car when Jarrod stopped about fifteen feet away. One of the men who stood there eyed Nikki as much as the car. "Hey, baby, you can
take me for a ride anytime."
The double entendre made his blood boil. Nikki looked at the man with a flat expression, pointedly ignored Jarrod entirely. "Not in this lifetime. I’ll never be that desperate."
A chorus of guffaws and hoots of laughter echoed her words. "Man, she told you." "I told you she wouldn’t have anything to do with the likes of you."
Jarrod took a step forward. "That’s enough, boys," Saul’s voice interrupted the conversation. "The lady’s going to take her car now. All of you go home, it’s after hours. She’s too good for any of you anyway."
The crowd dispersed slowly while Nikki and Saul talked quietly and looked over the finished work. Nikki hunkered down on the balls of her feet, ran her hand along the freshly painted door. She nodded in satisfaction and stood up.
Her tight jeans showed off her bottom and long legs to perfection. The cropped top lifted just enough to catch a glimpse of pale skin. Jarrod shuddered and ran a hand through his hair. What if he’d lost her for good by trying to hurry things?
Saul handed over the car keys. Nikki took them from his hand and gave him a big hug. Jarrod’s heart stopped and then started again. Saul turned to leave and Jarrod started to walk toward Nikki.
She opened the door and threw her purse onto the passenger seat. When she sensed Jarrod behind her, she stiffened and turned around.
"Hello."
She crossed her arms over her chest and nodded once in acknowledgment. Jarrod’s heart sank. He’d known it wouldn’t be easy, but this would be more difficult than he’d thought.
"I’m sorry about this afternoon. It didn’t go like I’d planned. I don’t want to fight with you." He looked at her but she wouldn’t meet his gaze.
"Is that all?" Her voice was so cold it could have had icicles attached.
"Honey, please." He took a step toward her and she took a step back. "I just want to talk about it. Get things straightened out."
She shook her head. "This isn’t a good time. If you insist on a talk now, it will be the last time we talk."
He froze. It felt as if something had died inside him and he wondered how something could hurt this bad. "So is this one of those don’t call me, I’ll call you scenarios?"
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