Blocked (24 page)

“I guess you know my name already.”

“Sure do, Mr. Monroe.”

“Call me Dane.”

We stopped at a light, and I tried to figure out what felt familiar about her.

“So, Dane, why the dramatic escape? I hope Bob captured that on film—you gave us some great footage.”

I cringed—Fox News would have a field day with my hijinks. At least they hadn’t been allowed inside the gym to witness my ejection. “I’ve had a really shitty day, Beverly. Have you ever had a day like that?”

The light had turned green, and she inched the van forward as she waited to turn left. “Yes.” As her manicured hands tightened on the steering wheel, it struck me why she looked familiar. She was shorter and bustier than Nina, but when her mouth tensed into a frown, she totally reminded me of my ex. And she didn’t seem attractive anymore once I realized the resemblance. She didn’t have Lucia’s shiny black hair, soft smile, or that little dimple on her right cheek. She didn’t possess her power or athleticism.

Had Lucia ruined me for blondes like Nina? I frowned. It was more like Nina had ruined my chances with spicy girls like Lucia. And I could no longer deny (at least to myself) that I kind of wanted one, crazy as that might be. I’d never have a chance with Lucia if she knew about the abortion. I’d never touch her silky brown skin or discover what sexy tigress hid beneath that blushing naiveté. I just knew a
caliente
spark sizzled inside Lucia, but now it would never come to light, at least with me.
Awesome
. Thinking about what I’d miss just made my day shittier.

“So you said you’ve had a bad day?” Beverly prompted.

“Yeah.” The air conditioning had cooled me off. “What do
you
do after a bad day?”

“Bob and I usually hit
The Library
for drinks.”

I smirked.
The Library
was one of the most popular campus bars—undergrads loved to tell their clueless parents they’d stayed at ‘the library’ late into the evening. “I can relate. I just need you to get me some beers, okay?”

Her mouth tightened as she pulled into Kroger.

My phone buzzed in my pocket.
Not my mom again
. But this was a text from China.

If you return now, we won’t be mad.

I blew air out my nose. As if I cared about the emotional status of my agents. I’d never wanted them in the first place! Then I realized they could track me through my phone, so I quickly powered it down.

Beverly parked the van far from the entrance to the grocery store. “I’m not sure about this. Buying alcohol for a minor could get me arrested.”

“Who’s gonna know?” I flashed my most charming smile. “
I
certainly won’t tell anyone.”

She studied me. “Damn, you’re cute.” I followed her gaze as it dropped to her hands, and I noticed the absence of a wedding ring. “But I shouldn’t.”

“I thought you wanted an exclusive interview.”

Her head shot up. “I do. Very much.”

“Blue Moon loosens my lips.” I grinned and held out a twenty.

She shook her head, but the beginnings of a smile emerged. “Anything for the story, right?” She snatched the money and stepped out of the van, saying, “Don’t go anywhere,” before shutting the door.

Where exactly would I go? She’d taken the keys. Boredom set in quickly, and I took out my phone only to remember I’d turned it off. I swiveled in my seat and marveled at the technical equipment lining the van walls. So
this
was where the media made our lives miserable.

I had to stoop as I stepped to the rear of the van to look more closely.
Aaagh!
I flinched at the network logo emblazoned on one of the TV monitors: Channel 8 Fox News.
Damn it
! Why did I have to choose a Fox reporter?

Duh
. She was the hottest one out there.

They’d taped a few pieces of paper above the video editing equipment, and my mouth dropped open as I leaned in and read “Highbanks Fall Semester: Lucia Ramirez.” Her practice schedule hung next to her class schedule, and my schedules were there too. How had they tapped into our private calendars? They were
hunting
us! I ripped down the information and jammed the folded sheets into my pockets. “You don’t need this, d-bag stalkers.”

I heard the door open and scrambled back to the front passenger seat.

“What were you doing back there?” Beverly asked as she set a plastic bag between the seats.

I ripped into it with greedy fingers and extracted a cold beer. After I twisted the cap off and downed a long guzzle, I turned to her. “Just figuring out how you invade my privacy.”

“But you’re a public figure.” She sounded defensive, and her voice rose as she watched me down the beer. “Jeez! Take a breath.”

I placed the empty bottle back in the carton and reached for another. “I wouldn’t have chosen you if I’d known you were with Fox.”

“We’re the local affiliate.”

Whatever
. I closed my eyes as the golden liquid slid down my throat. “God, I love beer.” I wondered how many beers it would take to obliterate the image of my dad gazing at the blue sky.
“What a relief to get that off my chest.”

She watched me drink the second bottle. “Well, I held up my end of the bargain. What do you have for me?”

Crap
. I’d forgotten my promise to give her the scoop. Possible responses flooded my mind:
Did you know my parents’ marriage is a sham? How about the fact that my narcissistic father is diddling his mistress?

I peered at her over the mouth of my beer bottle, considering how awesome it would be to unleash that shocking story to the world. Mom’s campaign manager would kill me! And, I thought with a scowl, Mom would be devastated. I didn’t want to hurt her. It wasn’t her fault she’d married a selfish asshole.

Beverly kept waiting. What else could I tell her?
Oh, by the way, I have the hots for Governor Ramirez’s daughter
. Yeah, that would go over real well. Her reporter’s stare was so intent that I had to come up with something to stall her. “When I tell you something, aren’t you going to take notes?”

She looked startled, then shifted her cell phone in her lap. “I have a good memory.” She tapped her temple.

The screech of tires exploded to our right.
Oh, no
. I turned to find China’s fierce glare piercing into me from the SUV. How had they found me? She stepped out of the vehicle as I lunged for the door lock.

China came right up to the van. “Open the door, Dane.”

I tried to peer around her. Where was Brad?

“Open the door right now.”

I followed a sound to my left and, to my horror, saw Brad open the driver’s side door.

“Why didn’t you lock your door?” I cried as I glared at Beverly.

“Step out of the car, ma’am,” Brad ordered. He glanced at my beer bottle. “Party’s over.”

“Hey!” Beverly turned to me. “You haven’t given me my exclusive interview.”

I heard my car door lock click open a second before I lunged for it, but China had beaten me.
Damn!
Brad must have unlocked it from the driver side. China yanked the door open as I seized the bag of beer bottles. We stared at each other for a few long seconds.

China’s eyebrows rose. “Will I need to handcuff you, Mr. Monroe?”

“You wouldn’t do that.”
She won’t
handcuff
me, right?

“I
will
do that, unless you get your ass into the SUV.” She still wore the sweaty Spandex workout top and tight shorts she’d had on earlier, showcasing her muscles, but she’d also strapped on a belt with a gun holster and dangling handcuffs.

I swallowed as I tried to come up with a way to evade them both. Now that Brad had taken Beverly’s seat, my odds for escape were dismal.

“We can do this the easy way or the hard way, hot shot,” Brad said. His bulk crowded the space between us.

To help me think, I took the last swig of my third bottle. I still had no brilliant ideas. “How’d you guys find me?”

Brad tapped the dashboard. “We tracked the van’s coordinates via satellite.”

“If you try to pull that stunt again, blocking us in…” China put her hand on her weapon.

“I’m sure you have backup,” I said.

“Well,” Brad said, “we tried to reach the other team, but they couldn’t leave Lucia.”

I frowned. “Why not?”

Beverly gave a sudden shout, and we turned to see her jumping up and down. “I need my van back to pick up Bob!” She pointed at her cell phone. “Lucia Ramirez is in the hospital!”

“
What?”
I looked at Brad.

He nodded grimly. “She passed out at practice.”

“Is she
okay?”
My heart raced.

He cocked his head and studied me. “Yeah, she’ll be all right.”

“She was just discharged,” China said. “They’ll bring her back to the greenhouse.”

As I scooted out of the van, China backed up to let me out. “Then we’re headed to the greenhouse,” I said decisively.

She massaged her temples. “I need a raise.”

Chapter 15

“F
RANK
.” I W
IGGLED
against his hand cradling my elbow as he ushered me through the front entrance of the greenhouse. “I’m okay. You don’t have to do that.”

He jumped back. “Sorry, Lucia. You gave us all a scare when you fainted, you know.”

“That won’t happen again,” Mom said as she came in behind me, flanked by her agents. I turned to see her take in the modern architecture of the foyer. “What a lovely house! I don’t know why Adolfo was so concerned.”

I doubted Dad had worried about the quality of the home—more like the quality of its residents.

“Are you okay, Lucia?”

And there was the primary resident, his voice sounding oddly shaky. Dane angled against the wall with his hands jammed in the pockets of his shorts. His eyes washed over me, and I wondered why his cheeks were so pink.

I held my breath, hoping he’d never find out the reason for my hospital visit. “I’m fine.”

“Is your ankle still hurting you?”

I was unaware he’d known or cared about my ankle injury. Not knowing how to answer, I searched his deep blue eyes.

When Frank chuckled as he chatted with my mom’s agents, I looked away to glance at my mother, and I realized she had been staring at Dane, too. I cleared my throat. “
Mamá
, this is Dane Monroe.”

He flashed his signature charismatic grin as he approached her. “
Señora
Ramirez.” He took her hand, and I gaped when he lowered to kiss it. What the hell was he doing?

But Mom didn’t seem charmed. Her nose scrunched up. “You smell like a brewery, young man.”

Dane dropped her hand like a hot tamale and backed away. “No, I don’t.”

He’d been
drinking?
That would explain his flushed face and bold greeting of my mother. My mind instantly flashed to his last alcohol bender, when he’d kissed my cheek. Would he kiss me again? My heart shook with anticipation.

From behind my mother came a laugh, and I realized Mateo had entered, followed by Allison. She carried his medical bag.

“Good luck trying to tell
Mamá
she’s wrong,” Mateo said as he slung his arm across Mom’s shoulders. “She doesn’t like that.” As expected, my mother’s expression soured as she continued to look at Dane.

I attempted to diffuse the tension by pointing out the newcomer on the scene. “Dane, this is Mateo—my
other
brother.”