Authors: Elle Saint James
Tags: #Romance
“Sure. Where?” Troy asked as he thumb-dialed a number and put the phone to his ear.
Declan looked at Ava. “Any place open this late at night around
these parts
?”
Ava smiled. “Just the convenience store a couple of blocks away.”
He shook his head. “I’ve already been there to get you some hair color. It has no place to hide a vehicle from the road.”
She brightened. “How about Beverly’s Place?”
“Who?”
“Beverly’s Place is a truck-stop diner a few miles down the road. It’s open all night long, is usually pretty busy, and has a big parking lot.”
Troy nodded and spoke quietly into the phone. He hung up, snapped his phone shut and smiled. “Done. He’ll drop the car off there. My manliness shrivels at the thought, but our new ride is a silver Honda minivan. The keys will be under the car, right next to the front driver’s-side tire.”
“Excellent. Grab all of our stuff, and let’s go.” Declan opened the door and peeked his head out. He was glad he’d taken the extra precaution. He saw the same sheriff’s car they’d just escaped from a few minutes ago turn off the road and pull into the motel’s parking lot.
* * * *
“Shit.” Declan’s curse startled her. He blocked their only exit from the motel room. Ava was now closely sandwiched between Declan’s back and Troy’s front. Not a bad place to be, but they didn’t have time to enjoy that currently.
“What now?”
“The sheriff just pulled into the parking lot. He’s faster than I predicted. I’m guessing he’s headed to the motel’s office to get our room number.” He paused for a few more seconds and then grabbed her hand and pulled her along to the SUV.
Ava scrambled into the backseat alone while they both got into the front. Troy handed her a grocery bag as Declan started the vehicle and pulled slowly out of the parking lot in the opposite direction from where the sheriff car had headed.
“Since we don’t have time for hair color, and I hated to cut or change the color of your golden locks anyway, we’ll just secure your hair underneath the Arkansas Razorbacks cap Declan found at the convenience store.”
Ava rummaged through the bag and found the hat and a package of elastic bands to hold her hair. She swept her long bangs and all the strands of her hair away from her face and secured the whole mess at the back of her head with a band. Then she carefully put the hat on, covering the bulk of her
golden locks
, as Troy had put it.
“How do I look?”
Troy had been watching her transformation. He smiled. “You look beautiful.”
Declan glanced at her from the rearview and smiled. “And slightly different with your hair up. There is also a pink T-shirt and a blue Windbreaker in there. Change into those, too. Hurry. I can see the diner.”
Ava smiled as she
unhurriedly
shrugged the black cardigan off of her shoulders. She also took great pleasure in unbuttoning her shirt for the third time tonight. Troy watched her without comment, but he sent plenty of longing looks her way. Declan cleared his throat, stared at her in the rearview with another of his sardonic smiles, and pointed at the diner’s large bright sign looming ahead.
Quickly donning the T-shirt and Windbreaker, she shoved her old clothing into the bag. Then she remembered her phone. She pulled it from the sweater pocket and was about to transfer it into her Windbreaker pocket when Troy asked, “Is that your cell phone?”
“Yes. But it’s turned off. And the truth is, now that Marisol is gone, I don’t have any other numbers programmed with the exception of my building contractor Diego. Who’s going to be devastated tomorrow when he finds out all his hard work just blew up.”
Troy held out his hand. “Still, we should toss it.”
“Toss it? Are you sure we have to? I hate to lose it.”
“Why? Is this your favorite cell phone?”
“No, it’s just my last possession on earth besides the clothes on my back. Half of which I just shoved in a convenience-store bag.”
Sympathy encompassed his features, but he still held his hand out. “I’m sorry. I know this has been difficult. But I don’t want to risk your life over it.”
“Fine.” Ava placed her phone in his palm.
Declan pulled into the spacious diner parking lot and went to the far left side where several semi trucks were parked. They found the minivan and drove past to the end of the row.
“Since the sheriff saw the two of us together, you and Troy should go into the diner instead. Pick up the keys on the way inside. If you can, make sure someone remembers the two of you. Hopefully it will throw them off our scent. If not, don’t worry about it. Even at three in the morning this place is hopping. Probably no one will even take note of you.”
“Anything else?”
He shrugged. “You could get some coffee and snacks for the road, if you want, but don’t take too long, and pay with cash.”
Troy released a long sigh. “This isn’t my first time at the rodeo, you know?”
Declan rolled his eyes. “I’ll park the SUV as far back as I can and start walking toward the highway. Don’t forget to pick me up in your rocking new silver minivan.”
“Funny,” Troy said with a chuckle under his breath as he exited the SUV. “No worries. I’ll slow down to thirty, and you can try to leap through the open side door.”
Declan didn’t respond, but Ava thought it was amusing. She loved the way the two of them interacted. Ava slid out of the backseat and into Troy’s arms. Declan pulled away slowly and disappeared seconds later.
The first thing Troy did was drop her phone to the ground and stomp on it with his heel. Twice. He kicked the pieces around in the dirt and gravel. Ava looked away from the destruction and tried not to tear up over a stupid phone.
Troy slid an arm around her, squeezed once as if to comfort her, and then pulled her to his side. “Sorry you had to see that. But now you’re safer. Come on, let’s go.” They started walking along the pavement next to the diner. The stench of diesel fumes in the air made her wrinkle her nose. A truck was pulling in, and another was pulling out as they got to the minivan. Troy squatted down and retrieved the keys in a few seconds, and they headed inside the diner.
Ava leaned hard into Troy’s warmth and tried not to shiver. It wasn’t very cold, but she was edgy and more than just a little bit afraid. “What should I do when we’re inside?”
“If you can, try not to look so nervous.” He leaned down and kissed her on the forehead. The feel of his lips relaxed her a notch.
“Okay. I’ll try.”
“Have you been here before?”
“Yes. A few times.”
“Is there a convenience store inside, too, or is it just the diner?”
“Mostly just the diner. There is a rack of candy bars and the like in front of the cash register and cigarettes behind the counter there, but that’s about it.”
“Go to the bathroom inside first. I’ll order coffee to go, and then meet you at the cash register.”
She nodded and then entered. Ava felt so self-conscious, but Troy marched through the doors like he owned the place.
Ava stood rigid the moment they got inside, so afraid she’d make another stupid mistake and tell the world and the assembled late-night travelers their plans unintentionally. Troy wrapped his arm around her, kissed her on the mouth, and pointed to the sign with the big arrow pointing to the restrooms.
He whispered, “It’s going to be okay. Go the bathroom and meet me back here in a few minutes. I’ll wait at the register for you.”
Ava nodded, then skirted along the back wall of the place toward the arrow hanging down from the ceiling directing her to the facilities. She hurried into the women’s bathroom by way of a short hallway.
The faint scent of bleach combined with the strong cherry-scented deodorizer practically punched her in the face as she entered the three-stall diner restroom. So she hurried.
After washing her hands, she took a deep breath of deodorized air and headed out of the bathroom.
Ducking her head down and pulling the bill of her cap lower, Ava headed out to the diner area. She didn’t see the stranger until she’d plowed into him. The moment they touched, he grabbed her arms, and her cap slipped off of her head onto the floor. The rotund man holding on to her smelled like an ashtray. She pulled out of his unwanted grasp.
“Sorry, missy. I didn’t see you coming.” His foul coffee breath rolled over her like early-morning fog before the sun rises and burns it away.
Ava snatched her hat off the floor and tried to move past him, but he blocked her way. “Now where are you going? You don’t have to run off so fast.”
She purposely didn’t look him in the eyes. “My husband is waiting for me.”
“Husband, is it?” He grabbed her left hand. “You ain’t wearing a weddin’ ring, sweet thing. I think you’re lying to old Charlie. Now why would you do that?” He crowded her against the wall next to the men’s room. “I think we could have us a really great time together if you’d only give me a chance.”
“Let go of me,” she said between gritted teeth.
“Get the fuck off of my wife, you fucking pervert,” Troy said. He grabbed the collar of the man and pulled him clear.
“Sorry, friend, put a ring on her finger so other men know she’s taken.”
He just glared at the guy, clamped his hand around her wrist tightly, and pulled her quickly into the diner. In an overloud voice, he said, “I’ve told you again and again, Charlene. I don’t like seeing you with other men. Makes me crazy.”
They sped to the cash register where there were two large foam cups and a paper bag waiting on the counter. A hefty-looking, iron-haired woman that Ava assumed was the waitress had already rung up his order. She recited a number, he handed her a twenty, and she quickly handed him his change with the receipt. Before he picked up his purchases, Troy turned to Ava, grabbed her by the shoulders, and laid a lip lock on her she’d never forget.
“You’re my woman, Charlene. Don’t ever forget it.” He then turned and grabbed the bag and handed it to her. Snagging the two coffees, he led her out to the minivan.
Once seated and belted into the bucket seats, Troy said, “Good job, Charlene.”
“Charlene? Really? I do not look like a Charlene.”
Troy shrugged and started the new vehicle. “Maybe not. What’s a Charlene look like, then?”
“I’m sure I couldn’t say.” She pushed back in the seat and tried to calm down.
His subsequent grin at least relaxed her a bit. “You did great, by the way. Sorry that lecherous guy put the moves on you.”
She shuddered. “I was so afraid of causing a scene and having someone call the police.”
“Yeah. Me, too.”
“Really?” She turned to stare at him.
He turned and looked deeply into her eyes. “Of course. When I came around the corner and saw him on you, I wanted to ram my fist down his throat and tear him apart from the inside out.” His expression was completely sincere. Ava had no doubt he would have committed bloody mayhem in her honor if only they weren’t on the run.
How could he have such strong feelings for her after only such a short time? Her ex never cared if any number of men hit on her on the rare occasions they went out. She should have taken that as a sign that he didn’t give a shit about her. But at the time she’d been grateful he wasn’t a jealous beast. Troy’s confession made her feel special. How long had it been since a man made her feel special and worth fighting over? Never.
“Well, thanks for coming to my rescue.”
“My pleasure…Charlene.” Despite her best efforts, the corners of her mouth lifted. For all her thoughts about keeping this fantasy relationship, she knew that once she was no longer in danger, they’d all part. But she’d have excellent memories to take with her. Troy rescuing her at a truck stop would be at the top of the list.
After traversing several varying-sized potholes in the parking lot on the way to the exit, they were on the road in no time.
Declan had walked almost a mile before they picked him up on the shoulder next to a sign that said the Missouri and Arkansas border was 120 miles away. He climbed into the center row of seats and slammed the sliding door shut. “Let’s go.” He slid to the center of the backseat, buckled his seat belt, and hunkered down to keep his head from grazing the inside ceiling.
Troy stomped the gas and had them cruising on the highway in seconds. “I already miss the SUV. I think this vehicle’s top speed is going to be eighty miles per hour, and that’s if we’re really lucky.”
“We don’t want to get picked up for speeding, so keep it under the limit, Mr. Andretti.” Declan reached for one of the foam cups, flipped open the lid, and took a sip. The fragrant smell of fresh-brewed coffee filled the air around them.
“Where are we headed?” Ava asked.
“Southern Missouri.”
“Why?”
Troy adjusted the rearview mirror and glanced in her direction. “I know of a cabin up there near Table Rock Lake that is currently unoccupied. I used to go hunting there with some buddies of mine. It’s rustic, but we can make it there well before dawn. We’ll get some sleep, lay low for a couple of days, and regroup.” He grabbed the other foam cup and took a long sip. The rich scent of coffee again filled the small space.