“Well, I suppose that’s okay,” Mom said.
“Don’t worry. He’s harmless.” Maybe.
Not that Lana believed he’d ever hurt her, but harmless didn’t seem the right word for Aaron.
“Your father is just worried for your safety, Lana. We both are.”
For my sanity, you mean? She wanted to say it, but didn’t.
Lana sighed. “I know. And I love you guys for it.”
“We love you too. Do you think you’ll have time to come out and visit us this summer? I mean…who teaches school in the summer?”
Lana had explained before. “It’s summer school. Kids making up classes. I might have some time at Thanksgiving.”
Lana also didn’t say that the time she’d spent with them right after the kidnapping had made certain she wouldn’t stay with them again for a long time.
“Good. We’ll discuss that in detail. Maybe you could go to that church dance they always have around Thanksgiving. The one for singles? Maisie Donalds met her husband-to-be there just last Thanksgiving. Remember, I was telling you about her. There are a lot of good men here in town.”
Lana rolled her eyes. “Lots of good old farm boys, you mean.”
“Now, Lana, be reasonable. There’s a lot of nice people here in town. They were so good to you right after the kidnapping. It’s not a bad place.”
“They were nice to me. But Colorado Springs is where I belong.” She’d only told her mother a dozen times. Lana didn’t want to deal with her mother’s machinations. “Mom, I’m busy this morning. Could I call you back tonight?”
“It’s all right. We’ll be at a church function tonight. I’ll talk to you next week.”
“Okay. Talk to you then.”
After they hung up, she smiled. Next week? Good. The apron strings might be loosening a little.
Before long the doorbell rang, and she rushed to the door like the apartment was on fire. She looked through the peephole and smiled when she saw Aaron. Today he wore a green T-shirt with a gold Celtic design on the front. She liked him in casual clothes, but she couldn’t help wonder what he’d look like decked out in a tux or suit. She unlocked the door.
“Hi. Come on in.” She gestured for him to enter.
Aaron walked in, and she noticed the way he gauged the place. As if he took the lay of the land before committing. Or maybe he was as surprised as she was that she’d allowed him in her apartment.
“I just got off the phone with my Mom. I’ll get my purse.” She went down the hall to her bedroom and came back with the purse in record time.
Aaron stood at her kitchen window looking out.
“Nice place you’ve got here,” he said.
“It isn’t too bad. I’ve been thinking about buying a house. I’ve been in this place a long time. Ten years.”
“Yeah, I’m not that fond of apartment living.” He walked toward her.
A strange mix of feelings awakened inside Lana. Having him near her, as always, thrilled her on many levels. Another part of her reacted to being totally alone with Aaron in this room. Something on her face must have changed.
He stopped next to her, his gentle touch on her shoulder making her flinch. “You all right?”
“Sorry, I just…this is the first time a man has been in my apartment. In years. After Costa Rica, the idea freaked me out.”
He released her shoulder like it was a hot coal. “I’m making you uncomfortable?”
She shook her head. “Just the opposite. I realized I’m not afraid. That’s a good thing.”
He smiled, obviously glad to hear it. “Very good. If at any time you want me to stay away or get out of Dodge, just let me know.”
“I don’t think that’s going to happen.”
This time his expression altered, and she thought she saw reluctance on his face.
She resurrected the old Lana. “Aaron, there’s something I want out in the open. If at any time you don’t want to help me with this driving thing…or you really think we’re spending too much time together or anything like that, let me know. Don’t pussy foot around it. Just speak up, okay? I’m not trying to reel you in or use you. I’m not a helpless female that needs a man to validate her or anything of the sort. I’ve always hated it when men brush me off and aren’t straightforward about why they’re doing it.”
His gaze intensified, but rather than looking shocked, he smiled. “That’s refreshing. I can’t remember the last time I ran into a woman who laid it out like that.”
“And?”
“I like it. Straightforward is good.” He turned fully toward her, and his gaze landed on her shoulder, or maybe her hair. He reached out and lifted one of her long locks. He rubbed the strands gently between his fingers. “I’m here because I want to be. I like you, Lana. A hell of a lot. I’ve already told you I wanted to kiss you since the moment I met you. Does that scare me? Hell yeah. Scares me spitless. Do I think it’s a good idea I want to kiss you every time I see you? No. I mean, we’re in this mess of a group together, and we’re hosed up. We’ve got issues.”
He wanted to kiss her every time he saw her? She couldn’t deny the rush that gave her. She reached for the hand toying with her hair and clasped her fingers around his. “We do have issues. Does that worry you?”
“Yes. But right now I want to be with you and help you out. I’d say let’s just be friends, but that’s not what we’re looking at here, is it?”
God, a guy who called it as he saw it. She loved it. “No.” She smiled. “Tell you what, since we do both have issues, why don’t we take whatever this is very slowly?”
“Good idea. I can’t promise I won’t try to kiss you. Is that slow enough?”
She grinned as a wild, uncontrollable bolt of arousal hit her at the idea of him kissing her again. “Yes.”
He released her. “Let’s go. My stomach is growling.”
As they left the apartment, she asked, “Where do you want to eat?”
“What about that new Italian place off Academy Boulevard? You know which one I mean?”
“Giacomo’s? Are they open for lunch?”
“I hear they are. I’ll meet you on the north side of Walmart. The edge of the parking lot there. We can go to Giacomo’s after that,” he said.
Equipped with that knowledge, they went to their respective cars. Without a hitch in the plan, without a tight throat or a sense of dread, she drove to Walmart. The drive went off without a hitch, and when she parked next to him in the lot, he got out of his car and came around to her side. She beamed at him as she rolled down the window.
He grinned back. “How did that feel?”
“Great. I feel totally normal.”
His eyes twinkled with genuine pleasure. “That’s wonderful. Want to try going into the Walmart?”
She shifted in her seat. “Um…even if I thought I could handle the crowd, I don’t think I’d want to go in there.”
His smile was lopsided. “Yeah. I know what you mean.”
A thought occurred to her. “Wait. Do you…do crowds bother you?”
His smile fled, his eyes suddenly haunted. “They didn’t used to. They do now.”
“Maybe we could try going in some time. Conquer crowds together.”
He nodded. “Sounds like a plan.”
They let each other go with plans to meet up at the restaurant, and she headed out before he did. Her happy feeling continued. That is until something she hadn’t thought through happened. Traffic was heavy, and it took a while to make her way onto the street that would lead her to Academy Boulevard. As she turned right onto Academy Boulevard, her breath started to shorten, and her heartbeat began a familiar palpitation that signaled fear.
Just a few short blocks. Not far at all.
Giacomo’s was right across from the mall, so it was easy enough to find. She could do this without Aaron right behind her. When the left turn arrow came on and she’d made the turn, she scanned the strip mall. Easy peasy. Giacamo’s came into view al
most instantly, and she made the turn smoothly into the parking lot. It didn’t take long to find a parking spot between two other tall SUVs. She turned off the car and sat there. Her respiration dropped and so did her heart rate. Thank goodness. A minor hiccup and nothing more. Happiness replaced the trepidation that had threatened. She’d done it. She’d driven entirely by herself to the mall and to the restaurant.
Her cell phone rang in her purse, and she dug it out. Aaron’s name flashed on the screen. What the hell? “Hey, Aaron.”
“Hey. I’m really sorry. Right after I made the turn off your street, those cars got in front of me and now there’s this wide load taking up the road. I’ll be a few minutes, I think.”
“No problem. I’ll get us a booth.”
“Okay. See you in a few.”
After he signed off, she got out of the car.
“Hey,” a voice came from nearby.
She started and swung around to see Magnus blocking her exit between the two vehicles. “Magnus.”
“That’s me.” He smiled and moved toward her, his stride full of swagger. She slammed her car door and hit the locking mechanism. She held the keys in her hand like a weapon out of pure instinct.
She didn’t like the fact he’d appeared out of nowhere. She kept on alert most of the time. “I didn’t see you earlier.”
“It’s all that Spec Ops training I have.” A smirk crossed her face.
She didn’t want to insult him, but was he serious? Plenty of Special Forces guys were unassuming men who blended easily into a crowd, but her instincts told her Magnus had never been one of them.
She decided to play this innocent. “You were in the military?”
He shook his head. “No, I’m just messin’ with ya.”
“Uh-huh.”
He continued toward her until he’d moved into the gap between her car and the next. “You live up this way?”
She stiffened up at his proximity. What could she say short of lying? “Yes. What about you?”
“Yeah.”
Since he didn’t tell her where, she’d leave it at that. She didn’t feel comfortable telling him exactly where she lived anyway. When he moved closer, she backed up and tightened her hand around the keys.
“Funny we’re here at the same time,” she said.
He shrugged. “Total coincidence.”
“Here for lunch?” she asked.
His gaze danced up and down her body, and her skin crawled. Ick. Unlike when Aaron gave her the once over, Magnus’s attention creeped her the hell out.
“You here alone?” he asked.
She took another step back, her stomach tripping over itself. “Aaron’s meeting me here.”
Magnus’s lips curled, his eyes less friendly. “Seriously? What do you see in that guy, anyway? He’s a muscle-bound blockhead with an ego the size of Mount Rushmore.”
Her mouth popped open. Oh, my God. What an idiot. Aaron wasn’t arrogant and muscle-bound didn’t describe him. Muscular and amazingly fit, yes. Confident, yes.
Magnus continued, hands on hips. “He’s dangerous and assaulted someone. He’s a violent killer.”
Her heartbeat picked up speed again. Was this guy for real? Just when she thought he wouldn’t say a more ridiculous thing, he came up with something new.
“Why don’t women ever go for a guy like me?” he asked.
Because you’re a creep?
“I’m going inside now, Magnus. We’ll see you at group.”
Magnus blocked her. Behind her was a high planter. She couldn’t escape that way.
When he didn’t take the hint, she said, “I’d like to get out.”
He smiled and took a few steps closer. It put him practically in her face. She held up one hand in automatic defense. “Magnus, what are you doing?”
“You know, you’re the prettiest woman I’ve seen in a long time. I’d hate to see you get hurt by a big idiot like MacPherson.”
Right then, she heard a vehicle coming and a few seconds later Aaron’s SUV pulled in across from hers. Relief engulfed her. She saw him glance in his rearview mirror and move fast. Aaron was out of his vehicle in one smooth action. The car door slammed behind him as he strode quickly in their direction. She couldn’t miss the stone-cold expression on his face. He looked like the dangerous man Magnus described.
Magnus turned around quickly. For a few seconds the hard, stone-cold anger burning up Aaron’s eyes frightened her. His fists clenched at his sides as he stood at the opening between the two SUV’s.
Aaron’s voice, when it came, was deadly calm. “You okay, Lana?”
“I’m fine.”
“Good. Then Magnus, I suggest you get the hell away from her.” Aaron stepped back just enough that Magnus could escape if wanted.
Magnus, being the idiot he was, couldn’t leave well enough alone. “She’s not your possession to do with what you want, MacPherson.”
Oh, crap. Lana feared Aaron would slap the shit out of Magnus, and then all hell would break loose.
“What are you going to do, MacPherson?” Magnus said. “Hit me?”
“As tempting as that is, Magnus, no,” Aaron said. “I’m not giving you the satisfaction of getting my ass arrested.”
“Yeah, yeah okay,” Magnus said as he held his hands up in what looked like surrender.
To her surprise, Magnus went toward Aaron and slipped through the escape route Aaron had left him.
Magnus turned around to look at them. “You’re asking for trouble with a man like him, Lana.”
She walked toward Aaron, and he held his hand out to her. It felt perfectly natural for her to place her hand in his big palm. He gently tugged her into his side, his arm slipping easily around her waist. A sweet swirl of unbidden satisfaction awakened inside her.
“It’s not up to me what Lana does.” Aaron’s voice stayed even and deep. “She’s her own woman. But unless I’m reading her wrong, I don’t think she wants fuck to do with you.”
“You army guys think you’re all that,” Magnus said with a sneer.
Aaron actually smiled. “I was a Force Recon marine. Get your facts right.”
“Lana, I think you should come with me,” Magnus said. “This guy is dangerous.”
Her mouth popped open, but nothing would come out. Was he out of his mind?
Aaron kept his arm around her, but he asked, “You want to go with him?”
“No.”
“Well, Magnus, you heard her. If you ever come near Lana again without her permission, I do have plenty of friends in Force Recon and Spec Ops that would be happy to make sure you wish you were never born,” Aaron said with a deadly calm.
Fear crossed Magnus’s face for a few seconds, and he quickly headed across the parking lot. Aaron didn’t let her go. He turned toward her, his arm still snug about her waist. He smelled warm, a combination of man and musk that set off little sparklers inside her.
“Sorry.” He shook his head. “Are you really all right?”
A weak smile lifted her lips. “Yes. But he scared me a little. What a nut bag.”
“What else did he say?”
She gave him a quick rundown. “Like I said, a nut bag.”
“Look, I hope I’ve never given you the impression that I’m trying to control you in any way. As I’ve said before, if you don’t want me around, just say the word.”
“I do want you around. What he said is ridiculous.” She couldn’t help leaning into him a little bit more, her right hand landing on his chest. “Don’t listen to him.”
Aaron nodded slowly, his gaze turning hot. “There’s something I want you to know. When I saw him boxing you in, it did make me angry and crazy. Only because I was concerned he’d tried to hurt you.”
“You looked angry.”
“I was. And…” His gaze dropped to her lips. “It’s making me feel damned possessive.”
A moment later his mouth found hers, and those sparklers turned into thick, hot desire. Her palm came up to cup his
face, and his arms went full around her. His kiss was drugging, exciting. His tongue found hers, but with slow, seducing strokes. Her lower belly tingled with arousal. The kiss lasted but a few moments, yet as he released her and reached for her hand, her mind reeled.
He tore his gaze from hers. “Let’s get that lunch.”
As they walked, he scanned the parking lot. Suddenly a shiver of apprehension went over her. “What are you doing?”
His fingers tightened around her as he walked quickly. “Magnus is a wing nut. I don’t trust him.”
“You think he’d hang around after that?”
“Never take any chances with a guy like that.” He glanced at her. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to let him hurt you.”
“I believe you, but the idea of him skulking around scares me.”
They entered the restaurant. After they were seated by the hostess, she started to feel a little less apprehensive. A waiter took their drink orders; Lana asked for plain water, whereas Aaron wanted iced coffee.
After the waiter left, she plunged right into her concerns. “We have to tell Addy about Magnus. That was weird.”
“I agree. I don’t think she’ll do anything about him, though.”
She draped the red cloth napkin over her lap. “Why?”
“Because she’ll just say he needs help. Which he does.”
“Now you’re defending him?”
He shook his head. “I’m not defending what he did in the parking lot. Based on what he did, I have an idea for you. I’ll totally understand if you don’t agree to it, but…” He drifted off.
Curiosity actually made her lean forward a little. “What?”
“Your friend Jillie can usually get you to therapy on time, but she’s usually late picking you up, right?”
“Yes.”
“Rather than her picking you up late, why don’t I drive you home?”
Two instincts vied inside her for dominance. One, she wanted to say yes. Two, she wanted to drive herself. Two won the show.
“That’s very nice of you,” she said.
He nodded. “I’ll pick you up on Tuesday, then.”
She held up one hand for a moment. “Wait. What I was going to say is, yes it’s very nice of you, but no.”
Before There Was You Page 15