Deadly Dancing

by Nicolette Pierce

  My dad sighed at the sight of my mom squeezing Renee. He attempted to pry Renee loose from Mom’s python death grip.

  “Diane, please don’t squeeze her so much. We don’t need another injury.”

  Diane nodded and let go.

  Renee sucked in air and clutched her chest. “I thought I was a goner.”

  Sweet cheeks arrived with breakfast. It smelled greasy. Heaven! He did his best to squeeze in next to my bed. “Here you go. One giant breakfast with all the naughty, greasy stuff you could possibly eat.”

  I smiled and thanked him. I could see why Renee liked him; he really was a sweet cheeks.

  The door opened again, but I couldn’t see who it was. The room was filled to capacity.

  “Mars?” Kym’s head popped up next to my bed. Sweet cheeks gave a small start at her unexpected appearance.

  “Mars, what happened? Are you okay?”

  “I’ll be fine.”

  She sighed. “Not to sound uncaring, but will you still make it to the wedding?”

  “Of course,” I reassured her. “I wouldn’t miss it.”

  “What about dinner tonight? You don’t have to come if you’re not feeling good.”

  “I’m trying to get the doctors to release me as soon as possible.”

  Kym bounced and gave me a kiss on the cheek.

  The door opened yet again. I expected the room to burst at the seams at any moment. I didn’t have a clue how Brett could sleep through this.

  “Mars?”

  “I’m over here, Emmy.”

  Emmy made her way through. She only stepped on one toe. “Sorry!” she called back.

  “Emmy, my key is in my purse, but I don’t know where it is. Hang on.” I pressed the nurse’s call button. “The nurse can find it for me. Are you and Curtis going to be okay for the event tonight?”

  “Yes, we’ll be fine. Don’t worry.”

  “I’ll try to stop by. I know it’s going to be beautiful.”

  I couldn’t see the pixie nurse, but I heard her stern voice scold, “What is going on in here?”

  A dazed Brett jumped to his feet. He knocked my mom into my dad but caught their arms before they tumbled over.

  “Everyone needs to leave,” the nurse belted. She pushed Brett back into his seat. “Not you. You need more sleep, and I don’t mind looking at you.”

  “Wait,” I said before anyone could leave the room. “I need to give Emmy the key to my house.”

  “Here, take this one,” Brett said, slipping my key off his key ring.

  Everyone in the room raised an eyebrow. They cast a quizzical gaze at Brett and then at me.

  “It was in the rock,” I explained.

  Everyone nodded their heads like they completely understood my fake rock problem.

  My head sank back into the pillow. I need a new rock. My eyes were heavy. I could barely keep them open. Maybe just a little more sleep.

  I sat straight up. Brett was in the chair next to me. His face was hard and his eyes glared.

  “What time is it?” I asked.

  “Ten to four.”

  “How do you know it’s ten to four? You didn’t even look at your watch.”

  “I’ve been looking at it every minute for the past four hours.”

  “Are you waiting for something?”

  “Yes.”

  He was being difficult. I couldn’t get a read on him. Perhaps sleeping in a chair wasn’t the best idea.

  “Do you mind telling me what you are waiting for?”

  “Four o’clock.”

  This was becoming tedious.

  “Damn it!” I growled. “Just tell me what’s going on, or I’m checking myself out. I have two dinners that need me, and I’m starving. I need food and I need it now!”

  Brett’s expression didn’t change. “At four o’clock, you can be discharged from the hospital,” he explained, but his jaw remained rigid. “At four o’clock, I’m getting you the hell out of here.”

  “Good. I have things to do, and I need to change.”

  “That’s not what I meant. I’m taking you out of the state and putting you into hiding until I find the Hammer.”

  “No.”

  “No?”

  “You heard me.”

  “I heard you, but it’s not going to change anything.”

  “Brett, if that’s your name, I’m not going anywhere except to the two dinners tonight and then to the wedding tomorrow. If you take me anywhere else, it’ll be kidnapping. I hear that the police frown upon that. And if you really were a cop, you wouldn’t try it.”

  Brett’s brow darkened. “You know damn well what my name is.”

  “No, I don’t. I saw your license, but it could be fake.”

  “It’s not fake. I thought we were past this. I thought you trusted me.”

  “I do,” I said, and then corrected myself. “I did until I heard the tarantula goon was here to talk to you.”

  “I talked to him.”

  “Obviously. So, what am I supposed to think about that?”

  Brett didn’t say anything.

  “Who are you supposed to meet at eleven tonight?”

  His eyes widened in surprise. His jaw clenched. I really hope he’s not the bad guy. He could scare the begeebers out of anyone, including me. Brett stood, moving closer. I jumped out of bed, holding my gown shut. He was quick, cornering me before I could run away.

  He pulled me into him, lifting my chin so that our eyes met. “What else do you know?”

  “Nothing,” I hedged. I wanted to tell him that I knew all his secrets, but I couldn’t lie to him. He had a power over me that I couldn’t explain or understand. “I pulled out your phone to call Emmy and ask her to pick up the lockets. The message came in before I could call. I panicked and put the phone back in your pocket.”

  “You picked my pocket while I was sleeping?”

  “It was for a good cause, and I put it back.”

  He cracked a smile and gave a small laugh. “I’ll have to remember to keep my pockets away from you.”

  His fingers pulled the strings on my gown, untying them. His hands slipped into the opening, making the gown fall to the floor. He pressed me into him.

  “You feel amazing,” he groaned before scooting me into the bathroom. “Emmy brought clothes and bath things for you.” He took one last lingering look before closing the door.

  I grabbed the bag sitting on the floor and looked inside. She had brought my little black dress, heels, sandals, and everything from my bathroom, excluding the bathroom sink.

  I took a hot, steamy shower, letting the water beat down on my shoulders. Brett passed through my mind. I may be a fool, but I trust him.

  An image flashed. Brett in the shower, wet with soap bubbles sliding down his chest, gave me a jolt below the belt. I turned the shower knob to cold. Get out of my head, Brett. I shrieked as the icy-cold water hit me.

  Brett barged in, throwing open the curtain. “What’s wrong?”

  “Cold.” I shivered.

  He sighed and turned the knob to warm. He took a good long look at me . . . wet, soapy, and frozen-hard nipples.

  He groaned and slid the curtain shut.

  I wasn’t about to tell him that an image of him was the result of him seeing the exact same image of me.

  I toweled off and fumbled through the bag for underwear.

  “Oh, no!”

  “I’m not coming in this time,” Brett said outside the door.

  Emmy didn’t pack any underwear. I sighed. I didn’t need a bra. The dress was backless and the front was low-cut and form-fitted to hold up the girls. The panties could be a problem, though. The skirt of the dress had a fun, swishy flow. It hung about an inch or two above my knees. The only problem: one gust of wind and I’m flashing the world like Marilyn Monroe. Good thing Madison isn’t big enough to have subways or their subsequent air vents.

  I chose the sandals for now. I’d break out the heels later. I did a quick twist with my ha
ir and clipped it up. I packed up the remaining items scattered in the bathroom and walked out to find Brett smiling. His bad mood had disintegrated.

  I dropped the bag on the floor and pushed the call button for the nurse.

  “Can I go now?” I asked when she appeared.

  “Yes, I’ll get the wheelchair for you.”

  “I’m not going in a wheelchair. I’m perfectly fine.”

  “I know you are, but we have a policy.”

  I tapped my foot impatiently.

  Brett smirked.

  * * *

  “We need to go home,” I said as Brett drove out of the hospital parking lot.

  I heard the snap of handcuffs and felt cold metal enclose around my wrist.

  “What the hell?”

  “You gave me no choice,” Brett said simply. He snapped the other cuff on his wrist. “I’m officially kidnapping you.”

  Chapter 13

  I glowered at Brett as I pulled at the handcuff around my wrist, hoping it’d magically fall off.

  “We’re stuck together until I get you to a safe place,” Brett said.

  “I told you before; I’m going to the dinners tonight. I can’t walk out on Kym.”

  “I already told her that you can’t make it tonight.”

  My blood spit fire. “You had no right to do that,” I barked.

  “You’re right, I didn’t. But I’m trying to protect you from a serial killer.”

  I stewed.

  “What if we stay handcuffed and you take me to the dinners?” I negotiated.

  “No, I can’t protect you when your movements are being watched. I can only protect you when you’re hiding.”

  “What about money? How will I pay my mortgage if I’m not working?”

  “It’s covered.”

  “Covered?”

  “Yes.”

  Oh, God, not this again. “Explain.”

  “I’ll cover all of your expenses.”

  “How?”

  “With money.”

  “You’re being difficult.”

  “So are you.” His hands strangled the steering wheel.

  I needed more time to plan a strategy. He must have a weakness. I could trick him . . . possibly. I could hit him with a bat again. No, I’d feel bad. Sex? No, he’d just take me to the hiding place for more.

  “Take me home first. I have to pack.”

  “Everything can be bought for now.”

  I huffed, crossing my arms, jerking his handcuffed arm toward me. “How long will this take?”

  “Maybe a couple of days . . . maybe a couple of years.”

  My mouth fell open. He couldn’t be serious. Locked up somewhere for a couple of years?

  Brett’s finger glided across my bottom lip. “It could be a lot of fun.”

  “Not on your life!” I fumed. “If you’re going to kidnap me then you don’t get any fun.”

  Brett just smiled.

  “I’m hungry.” I said. “I’m going to pass out unless you feed me.”

  “I’ll stop at a drive-thru.”

  “Fine with me.” I wasn’t going to argue with him about food. I already foresaw many other arguments in my future.

  Brett ordered a double cheeseburger with fries and a giant soda for me.

  “Wait,” I said, leaning over Brett to talk into the speaker. “I also want fried cheese curds and two pies.”

  “If you keep leaning over me like that, I’m going to let you order all the time,” he said pulling to the window to pay.

  I ignored him, grabbed the bag, and stuffed my face. Brett watched wide-eyed as I annihilated all the food. I didn’t care. No one was going to come between me and my food. Swimsuits be damned. If this is what Kirby felt like when he got the munchies, I may have to be nicer to him.

  “I’m going to die,” I moaned in agony as I polished off the last pie.

  “You ate too much.”

  “Thank you, Einstein.”

  He raised a brow.

  I had no idea where he was driving. I had lost track while wolfing down the fried cheese curds. We had to be out of Madison. There were farms everywhere I looked. It was nearly five o’clock and both dinners were scheduled to start at six.

  Brett turned the car onto a narrow dirt driveway that ended in front of a charming stone house. The lights were on, and a soft glow fell on the porch.

  “Where are we?” I asked.

  “Home . . . for now.”

  I opened the car door. “I can’t get out of the car when I’m attached to you.”

  “Hop over to my side.”

  I remembered my lack of underwear. “You hop over to my side.”

  “I’ll end up crushing you.”

  “Then uncuff me so I can get out.”

  “You won’t run, will you?”

  “I have no idea where we are, and I’m wearing a dress and sandals. It’s not an issue.”

  He uncuffed me, watching me with hawk eyes. I slipped out of the car and stepped toward the house. It was small and cute with mossy stone walls and knotty old trees. I could envision the house hiding in the back hills of a Monet-style landscape.

  Brett caught my expression. “Don’t fall in love with this place. It’s only temporary.”

  He recognized the look in my eye that said “family.” I get that look every once in a while. It normally goes away when I hear screaming children or the latest idiotic stunt a friend’s husband has tried to pull.

  I toured the inside. The living room was filled with comfortable furniture that faced a stone fireplace. It had a dainty but functional kitchen and one bedroom with a queen-sized bed.

  Okay, this wasn’t meant for a family. It was meant to make a family. I eyed Brett suspiciously. I couldn’t see him wanting to make a family with me, but I’m sure he wouldn’t mind going through the motions.

  I sensed Brett closing in behind me. He rested both hands on my shoulders and pressed my back against his chest. “I’ve been waiting to get my hands on you since the day we met.”

  “Don’t tell me this was a ploy to have sex with me.”

  Brett spun me around to face him. “I don’t need a ploy.”

  He kissed me tenderly. It surprised me. I knew he could be passionate, but tender and loving was something new. My resolve weakened. I slipped my arms around his neck. He scooped me up in his arms, carrying me to the bedroom.

  “You’re mine tonight.” Brett gently put me on the bed. As he moved to slide on top of me, his handcuffs skimmed across my leg and up to my hip. A wicked idea blazed through. I had every intention of being his, but not right now. I ran my hands up his shirt. His muscles contracted as my hand glided over them. Vitality radiated from him.

  Time to put my idea into motion. I made a move to roll on top of him and straddle him.

  Oh, God, not a good idea.

  Sitting on him made concentration and self-control spiral out of control. Why did destiny give me this man to outsmart and outmaneuver? His hands ran up my thigh. Higher and higher. His hands roamed until . . .

  “Sweet thing,” he moaned.

  Oops.

  He had moved his hands high enough to figure out I was going commando.

  Perfect distraction.

  I heisted the cuffs while he explored. I slapped them on him and then on the bed frame. I quickly scurried off. His eyebrows shot up.

  “Sorry, I’ll be back tonight.”

  I swiped his keys from the nightstand and ran to the door. The Viper sat waiting for its owner in the driveway.

  “You’re mine tonight,” I told the car. I slammed it in reverse and peeled out.

  Nagging guilt did its best to try to force me to turn around. I felt bad for tricking Brett and handcuffing him to the bed, but not bad enough to go back. He’d have done the same thing to me if our roles were reversed. I’ll just have to take the punishment when I release him tonight. A silly grin spread across my face.

  I turned on a road I recognized. It didn’t take me long to fin
d my way to Kym’s rehearsal dinner. Everyone was already there. I was late, but not late enough to miss anything.

  Kym was sipping a cocktail near Jim when I tapped her on the shoulder.

  “Mars!” Kym cried out. “You made it. Brett said you wouldn’t, but I knew you’d come.” She gave me a bear hug. “Are you feeling better? I was so worried.”

  “I’m fine now,” I assured her.

  “What’s going on with you and Brett?”

  “I have no idea,” I said.

  Kym eyed me suspiciously.

  Kym’s mom tapped her on the shoulder. “Father Tom is here. He’s ready to start the rehearsal.”

  We stood in a private dining room for our makeshift rehearsal hall. It was perfect. Everyone could stay in one place, and we didn’t have to worry about extra driving between the church and the restaurant.

  Jim and Kym stood together, peaceful and happy. They held hands, listening to Father Tom. It wasn’t even the wedding day and I was already searching for a tissue in my purse. I was on the brink of dumping out my purse when someone handed me a tissue.

  “Thank you,” I whispered.

  “You’re welcome,” Brett hissed. I jumped as his breath tickled my ear. He slapped the handcuff back on before I could stop him.

  “How did you escape?” I whispered under my breath.

  He ignored my question. “Tonight, I’m going to try the same trick on you, but I won’t run away.”

  Uh-oh!

  Kym and Jim’s rehearsal ended. Everyone found their places for dinner. Brett installed himself next to me, resting his free arm on the back of my chair. His fingers teased the back of my neck. At least he wasn’t holding a grudge.

  With the copious amount of food I’d inhaled earlier, I wasn’t hungry for dinner. I ate a couple of bites and moved some food onto Brett’s plate to make it look like I was eating. Brett either didn’t notice or didn’t care because he ate whatever I gave him.

  I heard Kym at the other end of the table talking about their honeymoon plans. Jim had booked a hut on the shore of Tahiti. Kym pulled out a brochure and passed it around for everyone to admire. I stared at the romantic luxury hut next to the azure ocean. Someday, I thought, I’ll get the romantic honeymoon. I stopped my thoughts from continuing.