by Mia Caldwell
Why wasn’t she surprised?
Phae lowered the hood then crept by the sleeping man, gently shutting the door as she passed. She briefly reached into the truck bed before running toward Kent.
She shoved a beer bottle into one of the many pouches on her belt as she approached him.
“Let’s get out of here,” she said softly before jogging away.
Kent reacted slowly to her command. Certain facts begun combining into a startling conclusion: somehow, and he had no idea how, Phae had been aware that he’d been trailing her. There was no other explanation which could explain her reaction to his discovery. She was a cool-headed type, but she couldn’t be that cool.
How the hell had she known? And why was she heading away from town? To continue with this absurd outing?
He’d had enough of Captain Nice Guy for one night.
He raced after her, quickly overtaking her. Grabbing her around the waist and lifting her, he slung her over his shoulder and began tromping toward the woods.
It was time to go home and let the question and answer session begin.
“Put me down!” Phae hissed.
He ignored her. He was in charge now.
“I can make you put me down, you know,” Phae said calmly.
“I know you’ve got a black belt, but I don’t care. If you want to get away, you’ll have to hurt me. And I’m willing to bet that a woman who leaves cutesy notes on kids’ bikes won’t want to maim me.”
She sighed. “I don’t have a black belt. Do you have any idea how long it takes to get one of those? If it’s legit, anyway. But I don’t study that kind. And what makes you think you can carry me all the way back to town, assuming that’s where we’re headed?” Her tone was laced with sugary sweetness and she wrapped her arms around his torso.
He bristled. She had no right to be so infuriatingly chipper. He grunted his reply.
Phae plucked at his damp shirt. “I’ve got a small canteen in my belt. If you put me down, I’ll let you have a drink. Doesn’t that sound good?”
He lowered his head and continued his march through the forest.
“You know, Kent, you might get a hernia. Think about it. You’d be laid up for days, weeks maybe. Miss Eugenia would be so thrilled, she’d have a happy fit. You wouldn’t want to give your aunt a fit.”
Kent refused to react to her taunts.
“Just put me down,” she continued. “We’ll go get my car and drive home with air conditioning. Then we’ll talk about this whole thing in comfort. Come on. Let’s get my car.”
“Your car is out here?”
“Of course. That’s where I was heading when you snatched me up like Bigfoot.”
Kent told himself not to be stubborn. He had nothing to prove, and besides, the way he felt at that moment, the sooner he got back to Phae’s apartment, the better. He turned around and headed for the road.
“I’m glad you’re being reasonable,” she said. “But could you slow down a little? All this bouncing is making me nauseous.”
Kent clenched his jaw and slowed his pace. Phae remained mercifully silent until they reached the roadside and he shoved her off his shoulder.
She landed with a muffled thump on her butt. She stood and brushed herself off. “Thanks a lot, buddy. You’re a real tough guy, you know that?”
She stalked down the road like a cat that had been sprayed with a water hose.
Kent shrugged and followed her. He hadn’t meant to dump her like that, but damned if he’d apologize.
True to her word, her car was about two hundred yards down the road in a dilapidated, deserted barn. The car was covered in a pile of moldering hay, leaves and branches. He helped her pull the mess onto the barn floor.
When they finished, Kent demanded that Phae give him the keys. She sighed then reached into a pocket on her belt and handed them over.
He cranked up the a/c then slowly drove them out onto the road, fearing that the barn might collapse around them before they could get out. They soon passed Trapper’s Tavern, Leon still sleeping soundly in the parking lot.
Kent attempted to sound calm when he asked, “How long did you know I was following you?”
Phae turned her head away and looked out the passenger window. “If I tell you, you’re going to yell at me.”
“I’ll risk it.”
She turned toward him. “Before I say anything else, let me say that you did a good job for your first try. I’m certain I didn’t do half as well when I started.”
“Are you placating me? Don’t.”
“Fine. Since you asked, I knew almost immediately. I’d gone about a block or so when I realized someone was following me. I circled around and snuck up behind you. When I saw it was you, I didn’t know what to do. And then you went and got that dog all worked up. You sure did shoot out of there and race down the street.”
He heard amusement in her tone and had to suppress his annoyance. “Don’t push it.”
“Sorry. The same thing has happened to me more than once. Hey, slow down.” She leaned forward and pointed at the road ahead. “Is that a dog up there in the ditch?”
Kent slowed the car and looked. Sure enough, a small brown dog was digging around in the underbrush.
“I know that dog. Stop,” Phae said as they neared the animal.
“No more good deeds tonight, Phae. We’re going to your apartment.”
“If you don’t stop this car immediately, I’ll jump out.” She opened the door.
He slammed on the brakes, grabbed her by the arm and pulled her toward him. “Are you crazy? You could get yourself killed!”
Phae yanked her arm away and leaped out of the car. She turned around and leaned down to where Kent could see her hard, camouflaged features in the glow of the dome light.
Her voice was low and harsh. “Never touch me like that again. It hurt and I won’t allow it to happen again. Do you understand me?”
He flinched. Damn. He hadn’t realized he’d grabbed her too hard. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. I was upset. You could have fallen under the wheels of the car.”
The harsh lines of her face didn’t soften much. “Just don’t do it again.”
She turned and called to the dog in the ditch.
Kent realized he needed to calm the hell down. His frustration had been growing steadily all night. He breathed deeply as he listened to Phae cajole the reticent animal.
She picked up the dog and got back into the car. “It won’t take but a few moments to drop her off at her house, I promise.”
He eyed the little brown, furry dog. It yapped loudly and struggled in Phae’s arms.
“Shh, Frisky. It’s only Kent and he won’t hurt you,” she crooned. “Pet her, would you? She’ll calm down if you make friends.”
Kent stretched a hand toward the small animal, letting her sniff before patting her head. In no time, Frisky squirmed out of Phae’s grasp and lay between them, her head resting on Kent’s lap.
Phae smiled. “You have a way with her that I didn’t expect. Especially after the way you set off practically every dog in Zeke’s Bend tonight.”
Kent gave Frisky a final pat before continuing the drive home. “I didn’t notice much barking after that first house.”
“I’m just glad it was a full moon. Most pet owners know that dogs tend to bark more than normal when the moon is full. That’s the only thing that saved us. Well, that and my pouch full of dog treats.”
“Precisely what are you saying, Phae?”
“I’m saying that while you checked out my good deeds, or whenever you lagged behind, I calmed down all the dogs you’d excited.”
He frowned. “I didn’t lag behind. I was always right behind you.”
In his peripheral vision, he saw Phae shaking her head.
“No you weren’t,” she said. “You were only able to keep up because I let you. I could have lost you in a second. I only let you follow me because I wanted you to—”
“That’s enough,” he
interrupted, his anger reawakening. “Let’s stop talking until we get to your apartment.” That will give me time to get myself together again, he thought.
He assumed her silence was assent.
In a few minutes, Phae gave Kent terse directions to Frisky’s house, then said nothing else. Kent mutely found his way to the street and stopped the car.
Phae opened her door and picked up Frisky. “I’ll be back in a second. Turn off the headlights, would you? It’s a big gamble, being out in my own car this time of night.”
He complied with her wishes then watched her trot behind a house to his left. It looked familiar, but that didn’t surprise him. He’d seen nearly every house in town that night.
Phae jogged back to the car and hopped into the passenger seat. “Hit it, Clyde,” she said as she fastened her seat belt.
Kent looked once more at the house where she’d left Frisky. Then he remembered and groaned. “Oh no.”
“Don’t worry about it. Let’s get out of here before anyone sees my car.”
He started the engine and pulled out onto the street. “Please tell me there’s another dog in the back there. Some dog other than Frisky. A big, hulking, scary dog like a Rottweiler or a pit bull.”
“Sorry, Kent.”
“This may be the worst night of my entire life.”
“It’s not that bad,” she said in a cajoling way that only irritated Kent more. “I know from experience that when it’s dark and you can’t see, dogs can sound bigger than they are. Running away like you did is natural. And Frisky probably sounded pretty vicious.”
She did, Kent thought. And that only made it worse. What could the silly little dog have done to him? Nibble off a toenail?
Phae sounded thoughtful as she continued. “What I can’t get over is that Frisky somehow escaped her pen and managed to track you for so far. I thought I had her calmed down when I left her. She’s usually so placid. Hey, that ditch where we found her, was that one of the places where you hid from those cars?”
Kent pulled the car to a careful, calculated stop then turned to look at the chatting ninja.
“Do not say another word.” He kept his voice as low and threatening as he could. “Pay close attention to what I’m about to tell you. We are nearly at your apartment. When we get there, you are going to let us in and then you’re going to change out of that Mission Impossible getup and wash that paint off your face and neck—”
“You can’t—”
“Apparently, I’ve done everything you wanted me to do tonight, so now you will kindly do what I want. After you wash off that junk, you and I are going to have a long discussion. Wait. And take down that Judy Jetson hairdo you’ve got going on there. Then we’ll talk. But until then, not another word. I’m tired, filthy, sweaty and I’m completely out of patience. Please do me a favor. If you really do want to make me feel better, say nothing more and do as I ask.”
She crossed her arms over her chest and bit her bottom lip in consternation. Then she nodded and stared out the windshield.
Kent drove the rest of the way in blessed silence.
Chapter 13
PHAE STRIPPED OFF HER GEAR and stepped into the cool shower. As she re-pinned her hair, she recalled Kent’s Judy Jetson dig back in the car. He’d been downright surly.
She relaxed under the soothing spray. The face paint ran off her and swirled in dark clouds at her feet. An ominous sign?
After she finished and dried off, she defiantly dressed in a pair of old sweatpants and a t-shirt. She could hear Sylvie in the back of her head admonishing her for not pulling on something sexy, to soothe the savage beast. Or was that food? Music? Phae couldn’t remember.
To hell with that, she thought. If she had to seduce Kent to get him to stop acting like an ass, well then … wait, what exactly was wrong with that line of logic?
She did want him. No, she REALLY wanted him. Sweatpants and t-shirt suddenly seemed like a bad plan.
No. She didn’t know what was actually wrong about that line of thought, but it seemed wrong, and at the moment, that was good enough for her. She didn’t want Kent if all he was on the lookout for was sex.
“Here goes nothing,” she whispered as she headed for the living room.
Kent lay stretched on the sofa, one arm thrown over his face.
“Taking a nap?” Phae asked.
He jerked his arm away and lifted his head. “Good. You’re back to normal.”
Phae pointed to the empty glass sitting on the coffee table. “I’m glad you got yourself something to drink. Did you find the juice in the fridge?”
Kent shook his head and sat up. “Water’s fine.”
“I can get you some juice.”
“No, just water … please.”
Phae shrugged, picked up his glass and went to the kitchen.
Kent’s mood hadn’t improved much while she’d been showering. She tried to think of something to make him relax, something that would help him listen calmly to her explanations.
Pasting a smile on her face, she refilled his glass and returned to the living room.
She handed the drink to him then sat in the easy chair. “Are you hungry?”
Kent took a deep drink. “No.”
“Want some music?”
He gave her a funny look.
Phae hurried on and surveyed the man’s rumpled, filthy clothes. “I have a washer and dryer in the shop. Why don’t you take a shower and I’ll wash your clothes? You’ll feel better once you’re clean.”
“I don’t want to feel better. And I’m not going to hide in your bathroom while I wait for my clothes to dry. All I want is for you to explain why you spend your nights acting like a strange do-gooder ninja.”
“I’m trying to be civilized, but you’re not helping matters with your attitude. Go take a shower. I’ll find something for you to wear while you wait for your clothes. Think of how nice it will be to feel clean again.”
He frowned. When he began a serious study of the rim of his glass, Phae knew she had him.
She rose from the chair and walked toward the hallway, hoping Kent would follow. “Come on. Let’s find something for you to wear.”
He heaved himself up off the sofa and followed her. In her bedroom, Phae opened one drawer after another, trying hard not to think about how close to her bed they were, and how big and close Kent was, standing beside her.
“I know it’s in here somewhere,” she babbled as she rifled through drawers. “Dad accidentally left behind a pair of sweats after he showered here the last time he visited. We work out together whenever he’s here. I saw them a few days ago when I cleaned house. They’re in here somewhere. Wait. This is them. Here you go.” She held them out triumphantly, convincing herself she wasn’t being a rambling twit.
Kent held the gray sweats in front of himself.
“Well,” Phae said, “They’re a little too short, and a lot too wide, but they have that drawstring. It’ll work, don’t you think?”
Kent mumbled what she thought was an affirmative.
She tossed him one of her largest t-shirts. “The bathroom’s across the hall. Towels are under the sink. Toss your dirty clothes into the hall so I can get them started.”
“I don’t suppose you know how to remove gum from jeans, do you?”
“Gum? Where? Oh, I see. How did you get gum on your—” She stopped short, noting the dangerous glint in his eyes.
“So? How do you get rid of it?”
“Go take a shower already.” She pushed on his shoulder, finding him to be an unmovable goliath of hard muscle.
Without a reply, Kent stalked off and closed the bathroom door.
Phae sighed and tried to remember he was tired and cranky. And didn’t he have a right to be a little angry? All of this must be a shock. She certainly knew how shocked she was at having been discovered.
When Kent tossed his clothes into the hall, Phae gathered them up and quickly went to work. She tried using ice to pry the gum off his
jeans, but it was too mashed into the fabric to pull off cleanly. She did the best she could.
After shoving everything into the shop washing machine, she relaxed into her easy chair, a tall glass of orange juice in her hand, and waited.
It wasn’t long before she heard the water shut off. He’d bathed quickly, not a good sign for her sooth-the-cranky-beast plan.
“Don’t be nervous,” she told herself. “Be honest. Remember, it’s like at the fair. He didn’t run away. He’s still here.”
She propped her feet on the table, sipped her drink and waited. A few short minutes later, Kent came into the living room.
She’d expected to see him wearing the clothes she’d given him, so she wasn’t prepared for what she saw.
Kent wore nothing but one of her bath towels wrapped around his hips. She swallowed hard. Day-umm. He looked good. Better than good.
Droplets of water still shimmered on his wide, tanned shoulders. His hair was damp, mussed and spiky in attractive disarray.
Phae tried not to stare at his impressive six pack and bulging biceps as he walked past her, but once he was past, she got a nice long look at his tight butt snuggled under the towel, and his thick, muscular thighs.
She swallowed hard again and had the crazy thought of, “What if he’s trying to seduce me the way I should have tried to seduce him?” If so, it was working. She almost laughed out loud.
Kent didn’t look at her as he seated himself on the sofa. He picked up his water, took a drink then turned to her. “You were right. I feel better.”
“I’m glad. Are you hungry now?”
“No. The first thing I want to know is why you supposedly let me follow you tonight.”
“Guess we’ll get right down to it, then,” she said wryly. “There’s no ‘supposedly’ about it. When I saw you were tailing me, I realized I didn’t have any choice. It’s not like I could turn around, go home and pretend I’d been out on a midnight walk wearing all that gear.”
He didn’t smile or respond in any way, so Phae continued stoically. “I noticed you following me almost immediately. When I saw it was you, I knew that you had to have been hiding at my house because there was no way I could have run into you accidentally. Now it’s your turn. What made you suspect me?”