“What’s for breakfast?” she asked, plucking at the flower on her shirt. “And don’t try to tell me a cold hamburger was my breakfast.”
He grunted and started the engine. “It wasn’t. We’ll stop in town at a diner before we hit the road. It’s a long drive.”
“Did you buy me a book?”
“What?” He pulled onto the highway and gave her a sideways glance.
“A book. Did you buy me one so I’m not bored?”
“I didn’t realize it was my job to entertain you.”
“Well you should have, you’re my kidnapper.” She folded her hands across her lap and glanced out the window. “As you deemed it necessary to abduct me, the least you could have done was see to it that I wouldn’t be bored on our long drive.”
“Your line of reasoning is a little bit left field.”
“Says the man who kidnapped me.”
“Look, will you stop using that word?”
“Will you take me back to Seattle?”
Clint sighed and shook his head, frustrated and yet a little amused by the conversation.
“Then it’s a kidnapping,” she murmured in a singsong tone.
“Look, we can stop at a drugstore if you really want a book.”
“Really?” Her voice rose. “Ah, thanks, Clint.”
“You’re welcome.”
He scratched the back of his neck and cast a nervous glance her way, a little uneasy by her light, verbal sparring. She was probably just trying to keep him off balance. And she was succeeding.
Reaching for the stereo, he turned on the music and relaxed as a country song filtered into the vehicle through the speakers.
“Jeez, please don’t tell me we’re going to have to listen to this cowboy stuff the entire time.”
His chest swelled with the slow breath he drew in. At least she’d dropped the perkiness. Argumentative and cursing Allie he’d grown used to. Could even deal with.
He reached forward and twisted the volume up another notch, his lips twitching.
“God,” she groaned. “It sounds like somebody’s gutting a cow.”
“That’s no cow, that’s Tim McGraw.”
“Well, he sounds like a cow getting his innards ripped out.”
His mouth tightened. God, how could he lust after a woman who thought Tim McGraw sounded like a dying cow?
“Well, country stations are about all we get out here anyway.”
She sighed. “If you’d have told me you were going to kidnap me, I could have brought some of my CDs.”
“Told you? Kidnapping’s don’t work that—damn, Allie!” He slammed his hand on the dashboard. “Are you trying to drive me nuts?”
“Yes. Is it working? Ready to take me home yet?”
“Yes, to the first. And no to the second.”
“Good, to the first and you’ll regret it to the second.” She sighed. “How far until we reach the diner?”
“Just a couple of minutes.” Hopefully he could make it that long. A feisty Allison and a growling stomach were not a good combination this early in the morning.
“Good, I’m starving. I hope they have awesome coffee.”
“Coffee is coffee. It’s all the same.”
“Oh. God. Surely it hasn’t been that long since you visited Seattle.” She glanced over at him again.
“If you recall, I’m from Montana.”
“Right.” She nodded. “So Montana is the only place for you?”
“Wouldn’t live anywhere else. Born and raised there.”
Allison leaned back in her seat and watched his face transform the moment he mentioned Montana. Clint was a man who loved his home. When he thought about it the tension visibly eased from his shoulders and his mouth curled upward, the hint of laugh lines appeared in the corners of his eyes.
Montana sounded like too much land and not enough shopping malls in her opinion—though she’d never been. Definitely not her cup of tea. But then again, the mind-numbing traffic of the city had made her consider moving out of town recently. Country life might sound a bit hairy, but it also had its appeal.
Her friend, Christy, who used to work at the same school in Seattle with her, had recently moved out to the country and apparently loved the slower pace of life. Of course the fact that she’d met and eventually married a sexy cowboy had a lot to do with that.
Allison folded her arms across her chest and drew in a deep breath. While getting dressed this morning she’d made the decision to try and be a little less hostile. This was Clint and despite their current circumstances, they were originally friends. And maybe if she was nice for awhile she’d be able to convince him that she wasn’t after getting Kenneth back like Clint seemed to be convinced.
“Here we are.”
The vehicle bounced into the gravel parking lot before coming to a stop out front of the small diner.
Allison reached for the door handle, but he leaned over and caught her wrist. She looked at her wrist, then lifted her gaze to his.
“Promise me you’ll behave yourself.”
She arched an eyebrow. “Are you afraid I’ll beat my chest and throw my eggs at the locals or something?”
“Of course not.” He held her gaze, and she saw the wariness there. “I just don’t want you running onto the highway or trying to tell someone in the restaurant I kidnapped you.”
She blinked and looked away, having had no intention to do such a thing. Right now all she wanted was food. Real food.
“Allison?” His voice deepened. “I don’t want to have to worry about it. Otherwise we can just keep going and hit a drive-thru later.”
“Oh God, no. No more fast food.” She shook her head and sighed. “I promise. I’ll behave myself. Girl Scouts honor.”
His lips twitched. “I don’t recall you ever being a Girl Scout.”
“You’re right. I wasn’t.” She shuddered. “I’m so not a camper.”
“I don’t know. There was a time you didn’t mind getting a little dirt under your nails.” He gave her a considering look.
“Yeah, that time was before I came to my senses.” Allison wrinkled her nose and climbed out of the SUV, her new shoes crunching on the rocks. She followed Clint toward the front door and glanced down at her feet, analyzing the sturdy shoes he’d picked out for her.
The man must have been on a mission at the store last night. Panties, clothes, bras, socks and even these fashion challenged shoes. Although most things he’d bought had seemed practical, she’d noted all the underwear were thongs. No granny panties in sight. And even one of the two bras had been sexy, the other had been a sports bra.
Clint pulled open the door to the restaurant and gestured for her to go in first.
“Howdy, folks, grab any booth available.” A harried waitress scurried by them, barely glancing their way as she went to take an order at another table.
Allison made her way to an empty booth, saliva pooling in her mouth at the smell of bacon, eggs and syrup. She slid onto the plastic seat and folded her hands on the table.
Instead of sitting across from her as she’d expected, Clint came to her side of the table and sat down. She scooted further into the booth, right up next to the window. But the booth was too small to put any real distance between them.
His denim clad thigh rubbed against hers, sending spirals of heat through her and her pulse into overdrive.
Chapter Six
“Is there a reason you need to sit right next to me?” she asked lightly.
“Oh you know. Just want to make sure you don’t throw any eggs.”
She smothered a laugh and shook her head.
Two menus sailed across the table, followed by a perky, “Hey there, folks. I’m your waitress, Bernice.”
“Hello,” Allie and Clint said in unison.
“The breakfast special today is biscuits and gravy, a sausage patty and hashbrowns. We don’t take checks unless you’re local. Can I get either of you a cup of coffee?” The entire spiel came out o
n one breath.
“Yes, please.” Allison glanced up and offered a faint smile to the waitress, who appeared to be pushing seventy.
“I’ll take some too.” Clint turned the coffee mug in front of him right-side up, then reached for Allison’s to do the same.
The waitress nodded and leaned over to fill both mugs.
“You folks need a moment with the menu?”
“Just a few if you don’t mind, Bernice.” Clint’s broad smile charmed the hurry out of the older woman.
She flushed and tucked a strand of gray hair behind her ear.
“Oh, well you two just take your time. I’ll be back around in a few.”
Allison reached for her mug of coffee and lifted it to her mouth, blowing on the steaming drink.
“You don’t like camping anymore?”
She turned her head slightly to look at him. “I prefer a nice hotel.” Pursing her lips, she blew again on her coffee. “Why do you ask?”
He picked up his own coffee with a shrug. “Just curious I guess.”
Hmm. She narrowed her eyes and took a sip. Definitely not Ooo La Latté, but it’d do.
“How is it?”
“It’ll work.” She set the mug down and grabbed the menu again.
She scanned her options and it only took a moment to find what she was looking for. Shutting her menu again, she tossed it back down on the table.
“What are you getting?”
“The farmer’s omelet.”
“Huh.” His brows lifted and his lower lip jutted forward in a manner entirely too sensual. “Good to see you still like your meat.”
“I like protein. It’s how I keep my girlish figure.”
Clint laughed and shook his head. “You’ve got a great figure. Keep eating your protein.”
Biting back a snort, she decided not to remind him that by society standards she could stand to lose fifteen pounds.
The waitress returned and grinned down at them. “Ready?”
“We sure are. We’ll both get the farmer’s omelet.”
Allison, having opened her mouth to order, closed it again.
Bernice nodded and scribbled on her pad. “Great. Toast and hashbrowns or pancakes for you both?”
“Toast and hashbrowns,” Clint said before she could speak again.
“For you both?”
“Yes.” He glanced at her. “Or do you prefer pancakes now?”
Oh God she wanted to say pancakes just to be difficult, but damn it she didn’t want them. It irritated her he remembered what she liked to eat.
She finally smiled. “Toast and hashbrowns is great. Thanks.”
“All right, kids.” Bernice closed her note pad and gave them a cheery smile. “That’ll be up for you shortly.”
The older woman walked off and left them alone again. Allison glanced out the window and stared at the miles of empty land only intersected by the highway.
“Do you come here ever? Over the mountains?”
Her mouth twitched at his question. “Actually I do, or used to. I had a lot of friends who went to college in Pullman.”
“Is that so?”
“Mmm hmm.”
“Think you could ever live anywhere besides Seattle?”
“I don’t know…I’m sure if I had a reason.” She took another sip of coffee. Where was he going with this line of questioning? “Would you ever consider moving to the Seattle area?”
He lowered his gaze to her mouth and she watched the heat flicker in his eyes. Her pulse jumped and she inhaled sharply and pulled back, distancing herself from him again. Well, as much as the small booth allowed.
“It’d take a lot to convince me.”
Hmm. And what could a lot mean? Not that it really mattered… Clint wasn’t a city guy. He didn’t fit any more in the city than she did out of it.
They sat in silence for a bit, both lost in their own thoughts.
“Here you are, kids.” Bernice reappeared, two massive plates in her hands.
“Good God that’s a lot of food.” Allison watched as the waitress set down one plate in front of her.
“Well, we get a lot of truckers through here.” She winked. “We believe in filling up the bellies.”
“I’m almost full just looking at it.” Allison pulled the napkin onto her lap and reached for her fork. “Thank you.”
“Anything else I can get you folks?”
“Ketchup,” she and Clint said the same time.
Allison grimaced. Jesus, they had cloned appetites.
“You’ve got it.” Bernice reached behind her and grabbed a bottle off the empty table across the way. “Enjoy your breakfast and I’ll be back with some more coffee in a bit.”
Clint handed her the ketchup and she didn’t miss the twitching of his lips.
She squirted a hefty dose of ketchup onto her hashbrowns, then set the bottle back down in front of him.
“We probably could have split one of these omelets,” Clint remarked.
Allison snorted and glanced at his plate. “Speak for yourself. I’m hungry. Some of us went to bed—or sorry, got tied to the bed—without dinner last night.”
Clint’s gaze darted around the restaurant and she caught a faint flush stealing up his neck. She couldn’t resist a small laugh.
“Ah, what’s the matter, Clint? Don’t want the locals to know about your kinky habits?”
“Allie, hush up and eat your omelet already,” he hissed and tucked into his own breakfast.
Her laughter grew. She lifted the fork to her mouth and her stomach rumbled loudly the moment the food touched her lips.
All thoughts faded as she went to work appeasing her appetite. Despite her intent of eating her entire omelet, she barely made it to the halfway point. With a pained groan, she pushed the plate aside and grabbed her last piece of toast.
“Told you we should have split it.”
She glanced at his plate and snorted. “You ate your entire omelet.”
“Only because it was there.” He set his napkin down and downed the rest of his coffee. “Besides, I’m not sure when we’ll get to eat next. It could be granola bars for awhile.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Where are we going?”
“East.”
Chomping into her toast she gave him a sarcastic smile. “Very helpful, thank you. You’re a real pro at giving ambiguous answers.”
“Thank you. I need to use the bathroom.”
“Are you asking my permission?”
He met her gaze. “No. I’m warning you to beha—”
“Behave? Right. How could I forget?” She rubbed her stomach and leaned back in the booth. “Go on now. I won’t run into oncoming traffic.”
He lifted an eyebrow. “Or beg the locals for help?”
“Not even that.”
“All right. I’ll be back in a few.”
“Okay.” The breath caught in her throat as she watched him walk away from her.
She was free. If she wanted to, she could run right on out that door…into the middle of nowhere. If only she had her phone. She glanced outside at his SUV and her pulse jumped.
Her phone was in her purse. And her purse was in his vehicle.
Before she could let herself feel guilty—because she had nothing to feel guilty about—she slid from the booth and hurried out the front door of the restaurant. Her feet pounded on the loose rocks as she sprinted to the SUV.
Please be unlocked. Please.
Her fingers wrapped around the handle and she jerked. The door swung open. Yes. She climbed in and slammed the locks shut on all the doors.
“This is what happens, Clint, when you don’t lock your doors. The city is good for something,” she said aloud and dove for her purse.
The cell phone was at the bottom, but before she’d even pulled it free from her purse she’d hit speed dial and was calling Leah.
“Good Lord it’s early,” her friend answered a minute later.
“Leah! Damn, I’m in a mess. Yo
u’ve gotta help me.”
“What? Allison, what’s going on? Did you talk to Kenneth yesterday?”
“No,” her gaze jerked up as she saw movement outside the door. “Ack!”
Clint’s palm slapped against the window and she jumped back with a yelp.
“Look, Leah, I’ve been kidnapped. Sort of, not really. I mean, I don’t want you to call the police or anything.”
“Kidnapped?” Leah’s voice rose. “By who? Allison, what’s going on?”
Clint jammed his key into the door and she lurched forward to hold down the lock.
“Damn it, Allison,” he growled and twisted harder.
“Go ahead, break your damn key, Clint,” she taunted. “You’re not getting back in here.”
“Allison?” Leah prodded from the other end of the line. “Who’s Clint? Not Clint Novak is it? Where are you?”
Despite her attempts to keep him out, the lock popped up. She shrieked and dove for the backseat.
Clint jerked open the door and dove into the SUV after her. He caught her ankle right as she landed on the backseat.
“Argh, let go of my foot, you idiot!”
Clint’s body landed on top of hers and she gasped, arching away from him.
He ripped the phone from her grasp, then the weight of his body lifted from hers.
“Hello, Leah, is it?” he asked, gripping the phone to his ear. “It’s Clint. Yes, Clint Novak. I remember you too. How’ve you been?”
Allison’s eyes widened and she grabbed his wrist. “Hey, give me that back. That is my phone and my friend.”
He put a hand against her shoulder, holding her a safe distance from him.
“Right. No…no she’s telling the truth, actually. I did kidnap her.”
“See? I told you,” Allison yelled. “And I changed my mind, call the police, Leah!”
“Right, well, here’s the reason,” Clint went on. “I’m getting the impression Allison wants to break up his wedding next week…ah, you too? So you knew about it.” He nodded. “Uh huh. Right, yes those were my thoughts as well.”
“What?” Her eyes bugged.
“I’ll only keep her for the week…oh would you? Thanks, Leah, that would be great.” He nodded. “I appreciate your understanding. I’ll have her back by Monday.”
“Leah, you can’t be serious!” Allison screamed.
Seducing Allie: Seattle Steam, Book 3 Page 7