Sweetest Obsessions - Anthology

by Anthony, Jane

  Wanting to end this quickly, she bounced back onto both hands and simultaneously kicked both feet, hitting him hard in the stomach. He doubled over, clutching his midsection. Regaining her footing, she brought his forehead down onto her knee and he crumbled to the floor.

  Satisfied he was finally down long enough to gain a head start, she sprinted after Rex. “Any idea how to get out of here?” she asked when she finally caught up.

  “A little farther and we’ll be in the parking lot,” he said, taking a right.

  They ran through a dressing area filled with racks of clothes and came out in another hallway. At the end was a clearly marked exit door.

  “How’d you get here? Limo?” she asked.

  “I drove myself. I didn’t want to ride in a limo with that non-verbal Neanderthal Todd.”

  “He let you drive here alone?” she asked, flabbergasted at Todd’s incompetence.

  “No. He tagged along, but it was still better than being in a limo together. At least I could crank up the music and ignore him.”

  “Where’d you park?” she asked as they burst through the exit door and out into the well-lit parking lot. Too well-lit. It gave them nowhere to blend into the shadows.

  He slowed to a walk, looking around and running his hands through his hair. “What am I doing?”

  “You’re getting away from the bad guy. Remember that part in your movies?”

  “No.” He shook his head. “I can’t run away like Rowan did. I swore I’d never make the same mistake.”

  Lacey forced him to meet her gaze. “You are not Rowan, but you are in imminent danger… I’m in imminent danger.”

  “I can’t let them do it again. I won’t run.”

  “This isn’t the paparazzi chasing us. This is one guy who has literally threatened your life. He shot at us tonight. Tell me where the hell you parked!”

  Rex looked conflicted.

  “Come on!” she urged.

  “This way.” When he got to the truck, he fished the keys out of his pocket. “Hop in.”

  Lacey held out her hand.

  “Hell no,” he said, waving her off.

  “I’ve trained for this. Give me the keys.”

  Rex hesitated. “I can’t do that.”

  The urge to punch him almost overpowered her. If he didn’t listen now, then there was no hope for them in the future, if they lived long enough to see a future. “Please, for once in your stubborn life, listen to me,” she pleaded, hoping he’d be reasonable.

  “I…”

  “Do you trust me to do my job?”

  Say yes.

  He smirked. “I thought you quit.”

  She narrowed her eyes at him, not finding a lot of humor in the moment. “I un-quit. Now do you trust me or not?”

  “Yes,” he said, holding her gaze. “I didn’t before, and I’ve regretted it every second since you left.”

  “Then get in the fucking truck and buckle up. This is going to be a bumpy ride.” She swiped the keys from his hand and climbed into the driver’s seat while he settled in beside her.

  She peeled out of the parking spot as the door to the studio burst open and new gunshots fired in their direction. The back windshield popped and cracked as bullets hit it, spider webbing the glass.

  “Go!” Rex yelled, peering out the side window as she pulled onto the road.

  “Is he on foot?”

  “No. He’s getting into a car. He’ll be on our bumper any second.”

  She slammed her foot down on the accelerator and gripped the steering wheel tight. This wasn’t her first high-speed chase and it likely wouldn’t be her last. She wished she knew the area better. “Where do I go?”

  In all her research during her time as Rex’s security detail, she’d never once thought to look up routes to or from places. He was somewhere new each time, so the effort seemed pointless. She had a general idea of where they were in relation to major landmarks, but that was it.

  “I don’t know. Let me think,” Rex said.

  “There’s not much time for that.” Twisting the wheel hard to the left, they took a corner going way faster than normal. She clung to the wheel to keep herself steady. Rex slammed into his door. Weaving in and out of the slower traffic, she glanced in the rearview mirror. “Damn it. He’s still back there. We have to get off these side streets. I can’t keep blowing through lights.”

  “We could’ve gotten on the highway, but the entrance is to the right and we’re passing it.” Rex yelped as the truck turned right sharply. “Holy shit. I don’t know if you’re awesome or crazy.”

  “All awesome. Call the cops. We need back up and a plan.”

  19

  Rex’s hands shook so much he could barely punch in the three digits to call the police. He paused before putting the call through. “What should I tell them?”

  “That we’re being chased by a man who’s tried to shoot you multiple times tonight. Seems pretty straight forward to me.”

  “True,” he said, but he wasn’t convinced. “But won’t the guy hear the sirens coming in the distance and figure it out? Won’t he run? Then we still won’t know who he is, and he’ll be able to try again.”

  “Good thinking,” she said, twisting the wheel and sending the truck weaving between the other vehicles on the highway. “Any ideas?”

  He wracked his brain for a moment to come up with a way they could trap the guy. “Maybe. In one of my movies—”

  “You know this isn’t like the movies, right? The good guy doesn’t always win despite whatever odds he’s up against.”

  He wondered how she could still maintain such quality sarcasm when their lives were on the line. “Shouldn’t you focus more on driving and less on mocking me?”

  She grinned. “Probably, but you make it so easy.”

  “You saved me back in the studio, now give me a chance to save you.” Arguing with her felt so good. “Trust me for once.”

  She glanced at him. “I do trust you.” Her voice was quiet but filled with emotion.

  He smiled. “I have an idea, and I think it’ll work as well as it did in my movie.”

  “I hope you’re right. We won’t get a bunch of retakes like you’re used to.”

  Rex ignored her and dialed the police. After explaining who he was and what was happening, he mentioned his plan. The officer responded favorably and sent out cars.

  “Dispatch thinks it’s an idea worth trying,” he said, feeling validated.

  “Let’s hope it’s not the guy’s first day on the job.”

  “They’re on route to meet us. Take the second exit.” Rex held on while Lacey spend up for the exit instead of slowing down like normal. “We want him to follow us, remember? Don’t lose him.”

  “Yes, but we don’t want him to figure that out. Keep feeding me directions and I’ll do what I can to make it look like we’re still trying to outrun him.”

  They drove in silence for a few minutes. The only sound was the noise of traffic and honking horns. He wondered if she could hear his heart pounding in his chest.

  “Thank you for coming back. I don’t deserve having you here, but I’m glad you are.”

  “I couldn’t leave you with that idiot Todd after seeing the audience. I knew that guy didn’t fit in with the rest of the crowd. I’m sure he was the guy at the premiere too.”

  Rex shook his head, angry with himself for the mistakes and misjudgments he’d made. “I can’t believe I was too stubborn to listen to you that night. I was more concerned about my image than I was about my life. How messed up is that?”

  “You should’ve listened to me and trusted me.” She paused. “And I shouldn’t have left you without making sure you had someone decent protecting you. It’s my fault you ended up with Todd.”

  “No, it’s mine. All of it. I never should’ve doubted your abilities. I’m sorry.”

  “It’s okay. I should’ve figured out why you were so worried about showing weakness to the paparazzi.” The truck shoo
k as she slammed on the brakes to avoid hitting a stopped vehicle. Swerving around them, she gunned it again. “We both made mistakes.”

  “Good thing it’s late or traffic would be even worse, and I’d have to burn this truck after throwing up in it.”

  “Sorry. Is the tough guy action star carsick? Didn’t you tell me you did your own stunts?” she teased.

  “I do, but on a closed set with other professional drivers around. Not on regular roads with civilians. This is nuts.”

  “This isn’t that bad actually. I’ve been in worse situations,” she laughed. “Although, you are my first deep and meaningful conversation while in a high-speed chase.”

  “Your positive outlook is one of the things I love most about you,” he said, then clenched his jaw. Now wasn’t exactly the best time for heartfelt confessions.

  Or maybe it was. He could’ve been shot earlier, multiple times over. He could be lying in a pool of blood on the studio floor right now and instead he’d never felt more alive. Why not put his feelings out there in case it was the last thing he ever did? Besides, he’d already said the words on TV. Shouldn’t he say them in person too?

  “I mean it, Lacey. There’s a lot of stuff I love about you.” He reached out and put his hand on her shoulder, turning to face her. Damn, why couldn’t they be talking somewhere else. He wanted more than anything to kiss her right now.

  “Directions, Rex,” she demanded.

  “Right. Sorry.” He turned back to the road. “Next left.”

  The truck skidded around the corner, feeling as if it might flip. He knew it wouldn’t with Lacey behind the wheel.

  “There are a lot of things I love about you too,” Lacey said softly.

  “Is one of those things how I put you in life threatening situations then tell you that I love you at the most inopportune time?” he asked, grinning. “Because I do. I love you, sugar.”

  She laughed. “You could have better timing. Directions?”

  “I want to hear you say it first, before this all ends.” His heart begged to hear her say the words.

  “Directions!”

  “Say it.”

  “Damn it, Rex. I love you too.”

  “If this was one of my movies, I’d kiss you so hard right now.”

  She laughed, and he hoped he got to hear that gorgeous sound for the next fifty years or so of his life. This plan had better work now that he had a future with Lacey to look forward to.

  “Let him catch up a bit more. See that slot in the fence beside the blue building?” he asked, pointing. “Pull through there and around front. That’s where the cops should be waiting.”

  “Into the airport? Are you serious? That’s the last place anyone should take an on-going car chase!”

  “Just do it.”

  “Airport security will shoot us the second we get through the fence.”

  “No, they won’t. The police will be there. This will work. It has to.”

  “Why? Because it always works out in your movies?” she teased.

  “No, because I finally have a future with you to look forward to. Surely the universe isn’t that cruel.”

  Lacey slowed as she passed through the fence. The car behind them grew closer and didn’t appear to be slowing down. She wrenched the wheel hard at the corner of the building, almost sending the truck into a spin before skidding to a stop in front of the open airplane hangar. Darkened police cruisers waited.

  An instant later, another squeal of tires sounded behind them as the assailant’s car followed them around the corner. Suddenly, red and blue lights flashed, and spotlights illuminated the car. It came to a jarring stop and Rex held his breath, praying the guy wasn’t stupid enough to get out of his car with his gun. He didn’t want anyone else’s life in danger because of him.

  With guns raised, a dozen cops surrounded the assailant’s vehicle, shouting for him to come out with his hands up. The door opened, and the guy stepped away from the car, hands in the air, an angry look on his face. In a matter of seconds, the officers had him on the ground in handcuffs.

  It was over.

  And they were both okay.

  Without hesitation, Rex slid his hand behind Lacey’s head and pulled her to him. His kiss was anything but gentle. She kissed him back, gripping his shoulders, pulling him closer.

  The truck doors opened on both sides of the vehicle and officers peered into with guns raised. Rex and Lacey quickly broke apart.

  “Stand down,” one of the officers shouted. “Victim is secure.”

  “Victim?” Rex asked. “That’s a first.”

  “And hopefully a last.”

  Lacey sat in the back of the ambulance, her legs hanging over the bumper. All around her, blue and red lights flashed, their colors blurring in the light sprinkle of rain that started a few minutes after their chase had come to an end. Her body might be stationary, but her mind still raced, going over everything that happened.

  In the last hour, they’d given their statements to police, the assailant—a political activist with a long list of priors—had been arrested, and they’d been thoroughly checked over by medical staff. Aside from a few bumps and bruises, Rex was unharmed. A bullet had grazed Lacey’s left arm, but it barely hurt.

  “I can’t believe you took a bullet for me,” Rex said, refusing to remove his arm from around her waist while the paramedic cleaned and bandaged her wound.

  “It didn’t actually go in.”

  “Details. You saved my life tonight.” He peered into her eyes with such intensity that a shiver ran down her spine. “Anyone else would’ve left my ignorant and arrogant ass to fend for itself, but you came back.”

  All she saw was the kind and gentle, loving and romantic, completely wonderful man he tried to keep hidden behind his tough guy exterior. She saw through his façade to who he really was, and she loved everything about him. Rex was hers and she’d never let anyone threaten him again.

  “That ass is mine. I couldn’t risk it being damaged.”

  He laughed. “I’m glad you had something to come back for since it wasn’t my charming personality.”

  “I missed a lot more than your ass and you know it.” She kissed him gently, savoring the feel of his mouth on hers, the taste of his tongue. “Besides, your fans would never forgive me if I let anything happen to it.”

  He peered out to the fence and the horde of photographers lingering behind it. There’d been a few flashes as the assailant was arrested and put into the back of the squad car, but otherwise the cameras had been quiet. “They must be loving this.” He sighed.

  “I don’t know. I’ve been watching, and I haven’t seen many pictures taken.”

  “I wonder why?”

  “Are you annoyed they’re not taking pictures now?” she asked.

  “No. I just want to understand. I’ve never run away before, never had a real-life movie moment. This should be their time to seize the opportunity and they aren’t.”

  He hopped out of the ambulance and helped her down to her feet. Taking her hand, they walked toward the fence, but stopped a few feet away. Close enough to talk without shouting but far enough to still feel safe. “What’s going on guys? Not trying to get money shots tonight?”

  “Not this time,” one of the photographers said, clearly speaking for the whole group. “Not after what you said earlier about your brother’s accident. Not after what could’ve happened to you tonight.”

  One by one, the photographers turned their camera lenses to the sky and raised them above their heads. A chorus of voices sounded, each uttering the same words. “For Rowan.”

  Lacey’s eyes stung as she blinked away wetness. Rex swiped at his tears as they rolled down his cheeks showing emotion she’d never seen before. He whispered, “Thanks,” then turned away from the photographers and walked into the airplane hangar.

  “I need a vacation. Come with me,” he said with a new look of determination on his face. “Tonight. Right now. I’ll take you anywhere you w
ant to go, but preferably somewhere you’ll be in a bikini. I can have my pilot here in under an hour. Gabe can bring me a suitcase. We can send him to get your stuff from wherever you’ve been staying.

  “I was at the airport waiting for a flight when I saw your interview. I’m supposed to leave for my new job.” It felt like forever ago that she was sitting in that bar trying to move on with her life. How had she thought she could live the rest of her days without him?

  “You were leaving? Without so much as a goodbye?” The hurt in his voice made her chest ache.

  “I didn’t think I ever wanted to see you again,” she admitted.

  “And now?”

  “Now I know that would’ve been a huge mistake. I can’t imagine being anywhere without you.”

  “Then it’s decided. You’re quitting your new job.”

  How could she resist that look in his eyes, that commanding voice?

  She nodded.

  “And you’re going to be my girlfriend.”

  She nodded again, grinning. She liked the sound of that.

  “And you’re going on vacation with me, and wearing the tiniest bikini we can buy,” he added. The tone he used made her wish they were already somewhere private. She couldn’t resist him.

  She arched an eyebrow. “Only if you wear a teeny-tiny speedo. You shouldn’t be the only one who gets to enjoy the view.”

  He shot back a teasing look that complimented hers perfectly. “You have no idea what you’re getting into. I’ll see your speedo and raise you a thong.”

  She laughed. “Oh no.”

  “I’ll track down my pilot and Gabe to get us everything we need, including your bag from the flight you’re no longer taking. It shouldn’t take us too long before we’re on our way.”

  “You can arrange everything on a moment’s notice?”

  “Being Rex Randall has its perks.”

  “What should I do while you’re doing that?” she asked, feeling out of place without a job to do.