Authors: Brenda Sparks
Maggie looked in the rearview mirror, and immediately recognized the old green beater behind them. It was the car she’d seen at the school, and the guy with the gray hoodie hung out the driver’s side window, brandishing a gun.
Shock froze her muscles, her body refused to respond. This had to be a dream. Nothing like this happened in real life. Not to a high school guidance counselor.
“I’m dreaming,” she muttered.
Zane reached over, grabbed her right knee in his large hand, and pushed her foot to the floor. “This is no dream, Maggie. Go!”
Her car down shifted, and the increased RPMs pushed them back in their seats as her car launched forward. She snatched the wheel, sending the car into the other lane to go around the car in front of them. Another jerk had them back to the right.
Her eyes flew to the mirror. Mr. Gray was still right behind them.
“Drive!” Zane ordered. “I’ll keep an eye on the green car.”
Maggie’s fingers tightened around the steering wheel. She white knuckled the thing until the skin over the backs of her hands stretched tight. Her heart sprinted. Trusting Zane to have her back, her vision narrowed on the traffic before her.
There was nowhere to go. Cars driving side by side blocked both lanes ahead. When the sound of her horn did not make either car move, Maggie was forced to slow. The maniac fired into her car, she could tell by the unique plinking sound of metal meeting ammo.
“He’s catching up, Maggie. Do something.”
She could hear the strain in Zane’s voice. What should she do? There was nowhere to go. Her eyes darted from side-to-side looking for an opening around the cars.
A hard turn of the steering wheel forced the car up on the sidewalk, between a pedestrian and a streetlight. She felt the trunk of her vehicle ricochet off the light and knew a moment of relief when she realized it was not the person she hit.
Maggie jerked back onto the road and pushed down on the gas. A roundabout lay ahead. Those things were dangerous enough when you went slowly around them, let alone when taking them at breakneck speeds. She sent a silent prayer up to heaven and gripped the steering wheel a little tighter.
With the car skidding around the tight turns, she fought the wheel for control of the car. She straightened out, leaving the circle down the straightaway.
“Is there a police station around here?” Zane inquired, as he continued to look over the seat at the car behind them.
“I think the Sherriff’s Department has a substation close by.”
“Great. Head for there.”
She hit the brakes hard, sending her body against the seatbelt, and turned the car down a side street. A hard thrust of her palm made the horn blare as she drove one handed. The car in front of her blessedly moved to the side to let her pass.
Perspiration dotted her brow and made her hands slippery on the wheel. Her mind raced, trying to remember where the Sherriff’s Station was located.
The light in front of them turned yellow. They weren’t going to make it!
It turned red as they approached.
“Hang on,” Maggie cried, taking her car through the intersection.
A car started across the road in front of them. Maggie’s scream made Zane’s head whip around to the front. Luckily, the driver slammed on the brakes just in time for Maggie to dodge around the vehicle. Hearing the telltale sound of crunching metal behind them, she dared a look in the mirror. Perhaps thanks to a plume of white smoke that flowed from the stopping car’s brakes, Mr. Gray’s car had not been quite as lucky as theirs.
Maggie brought her car to a stop and watched the green car spin sideways through the intersection. It collided with the concrete poll for the traffic light and went for a spin in the opposite direction. Shattered glass rained down on the asphalt below from the impact.
“Keep going,” Zane commanded. “Find that station.”
Maggie’s eyes darted to the mirror again. Mr. Gray fell out of the broken car window, shoved himself off the ground, then leveled his gun at her car. She heard the report of the gun when it fired. Once. Twice.
“Just how many bullets does that gun hold, anyway?” Maggie wondered aloud.
“I don’t know, but let’s not stick around to find out. Go!”
Maggie pushed the gas petal down as far as it could go. She raced away from the scene, Mr. Gray fading from sight in her rearview mirror.
Her heart was in her throat. Adrenaline pulsed through her body in time to her rapid heartbeat. With the danger fading, her lungs labored for air.
“Call . . . the police. Phone’s . . . in my purse,” Maggie said around her hard breaths.
Zane grabbed her handbag, fishing around for her phone. From the corner of her eye, she noticed he wasn’t dialing. She glanced over, looking down at her phone.
She could see there were no bars. The only reception her phone was getting was the look of frustration on her face.
“Great.” She gasped for breath. “Now what do we do?”
“You need to calm down, Maggie. Take your foot off the gas. We’re safe now. Slow down.”
Not having the breath for a full sentence, Maggie simply replied, “Not stopping.”
“I don’t want to you stop until we get to the police station, but you don’t need to speed there. The guy in the green car can’t follow us now.”
“You sure?”
“Definitely. Take some deep breaths to calm your breathing. You are hyperventilating.”
Zane placed a hand over her heart, which did nothing to help her calm.
“Breathe for me. In.” Zane took in a loud breath through his open mouth. “Out.” He blew out his own breath with enough force for her hair to move.
“Listen to the sound of my voice, Maggie. Slow your breathing. Match it to mine. Here we go. Innnnn. Ouuuuut. Innnnn. Ouuuuut.”
Maggie did as directed and soon her heartbeat began to slow. Her fingers eased their grip on the steering wheel. After a few more breaths, Zane’s warm hand fell away from her chest, and his absence left her a bit bereaved.
As her body calmed so did her mind. She at last remembered how to get to the Sherriff’s Department. Three turns and five minutes later she arrived at the station to give her statement.
After what seemed like way to many hours and several cups of stale coffee, Maggie found herself standing next to Zane in front of a deputy sheriff to hear the latest update from the scene.
“Sorry, ma’am,” the deputy said, resting his forearms on his desk. “The officers at the scene didn’t find anyone matching your description.”
“They didn’t find a bearded man in a gray hoodie?” Zane’s concern was evident in his tone.
“No sir. One of the witnesses said she saw him take off down the street on foot. Doubt he’ll get far. One of the officers from the scene said his car was in bad shape. I’m sure the guy’s been injured. He’ll probably show up at one of the local hospitals.” The deputy leaned back in his chair, lacing his fingers across his chest. “We’ve sent a copy of the sketch you helped our forensic artist draw to all the hospitals in the area and asked them to keep a look out for the guy. When he comes in to get bandaged up, we’ll get him.”
“And until then?” Zane prompted, wrapping an arm about Maggie.
“Well sir, until then I’d recommend you take Ms. O’Connell home. If we catch him, we’ll call you to have you give us a positive ID.”
Maggie’s hand fisted in Zane’s shirt, needing something to anchor her. His strength poured around her in warm waves of reassurance. As long as she was with him, everything would be all right. “I want to go home.” Her voice sounded small, even to her.
His arms wrapped around her in a bracing hug, drawing her into the shelter of his large frame. “I know, sweetheart.” He looked at the deputy. “Is she free to go?”
“I don’t see why not. If you think of anything else or come up with a reason why he might be after you, be sure to call me.” The officer handed his card to Maggie and she slid it into her purse.
“Thank you,” she said as she wrapped an arm around Zane’s waist.
He tucked her under his shoulder. “Come on, let’s get you home.”
The ride home was blissfully uneventful. Zane offered to drive and Maggie was all too glad to let him do so. But each screech of tires or sound of a horn ratcheted her anxiety up until she was amped by the time they reached her house.
Pulling into the driveway, Maggie’s nerves did not settle when she realized a familiar car sat parked on the street in front of her home. She knew a moment’s trepidation, it mixed with her exhaustion to make her weary.
“Now what?” she muttered.
Zane cut the engine and turned toward her, laying his palm on her knee. His warmth soaked through the material of her skirt and eased her muscles beneath. Their eyes met. The look of concern on Zane’s face melted her heart.
The emotional roller coaster she’d been riding tonight started to take its toll. And as if she needed any more drama tonight, now Mark was parked out in front of her house.
“What’s wrong, Maggie?” Zane’s unease sounded in the deep tenor of his voice. His gaze shifted from side-to-side as he scanned the horizon, apparently looking for any sign of trouble.
“It’s Mark.”
“Your ex?”
How did he know that? The details of their dinner conversation faded in light of the excitement afterwards, but she was positive she had not mentioned Mark to him before. The sound of a knock on the window beside her took the thought from her head.
When Maggie flinched in response to the noise, Zane gave her knee a reassuring squeeze.
She put her hand on the door handle and took a deep reassuring breath. “Better see what he wants.”
She opened the door, pushing it out as far as it would go, which caused Mark to have to scurrying away from the car like a rat.
It is nice to make someone else do the scurrying for a change.
Maggie unfolded from the car. “It’s been a long day. What do you want, Mark?”
“I’ve been trying to call you, Maggie. Why haven’t you answered the phone?” His tone sounded harsh, abrasive. Maggie’s hands fisted on her hips. She didn’t need his attitude right now.
“I’ve been,” she blew out a deep sigh, “busy.”
“Too busy to call me back? I left messages all night.”
Zane moved around the front of the car, drawing their attention. His smooth muscles rippled under his clothes, revealing a lean strength in his sure strides. He came up beside her and put his arm around her shoulder, tucking her against his side.
She loved when he did that. He was a pillar of strength for her to lean on, and right now she needed that.
Mark glared at the couple, his eyes giving Zane the once over before coming to rest on his arm around Maggie’s shoulders. His eyes narrowed.
“Who’s this?” Mark asked. He might have tried for arrogant, but it came out unsure.
“Who are you?” Zane demanded in a deep and steady voice.
“I’m her ex-boyfriend.”
“And I’m her current boyfriend. It would appear she upgraded.”
Unable to stop it, Maggie giggled. Neither man looked at her. They only had eyes for each other. Locked in a staring match, the air around them thickened with malice. Mark’s face flamed red, from embarrassment or anger, Maggie couldn’t be sure which.
Zane’s countenance hardened into an intimidating mask. Dropping away from her shoulder, his arm folded over his other one to wrap around his thick chest. He exuded confidence, like he was used to physical altercations and knew he would win easily against Mark.
“I believe Maggie asked you why you are here. I suggest you tell her and be on your way.”
“You don’t get to tell me what to—” Mark sputtered.
“Speak or get off her property.” The muscles in Zane’s arms flexed in an impressive show of strength.
No one cut Mark off, especially not with such a dominating demand. Mark stood slack-mouthed, dumb struck by the impressive show of bravado. Maggie had never seen a more attractive look on him.
She fought another giggle, and this time won the battle. “Mark, just tell me what you want. It’s been a long day and I just want to go inside and lie down.”
Her boss’s eyes narrowed. “Is he going to join you?”
“That is none of your damned business.” Zane’s arms dropped to his sides, his hand flexing like they itched for a fight. Maggie knew the situation was spiraling downward fast and Mark would end up at the bottom in a bloodied heap if he didn’t say his peace and get the heck out of here.
“Mark, just go.”
“But I have news about the lawsuit,” he whined. His hazel eyes had an urgency to them. Maybe she needed to hear this.
“Tell me.” Maggie looked up at Zane who had shifted his weight to the balls of his feet. He held his arms loosely by his side, but looked ready to pounce, like a sleek, well-toned jaguar.
“Quickly,” Maggie amended in response to Zane’s stance.
“I wanted to let you know the suit has been dropped.”
“I know. I got your voicemail.”
“Okay. But I didn’t tell you why they dropped it. Turns out Greg’s going to be a daddy. The kid knocked up his girlfriend. That was why he’d been acting out at home. Apparently his parents had forbidden him from seeing her.”
Memories of the counseling session with Kelly flashed in Maggie’s mind. He must have been the boy who Kelly refused to name. That would explain why he didn’t act out at school; it was the one place he would be with his girlfriend.
“How did his parents find out?”
“Evidently, the girl’s parents called and informed them.”
“So they weren’t just after the state scholarship. There really was trouble with Greg at home?”
“It would seem so.”
“I guess Ms. Lawler will be leaving now.”
Mark’s eyes widened and he smiled. “I thought you said you listened to my voicemail.”
“I did,” Maggie replayed the messages in her mind.
“Then you also know Jennifer and I are a couple.”
Okay, she had missed that particular part of the voicemail, but she couldn’t say the news surprised her. In fact, she’d suspected all along. However, hearing it said aloud stung, just a little.
Zane took a step toward her ex. An effeminate, strangled sound squeaked out of Mark’s throat.
“If that is what you came to tell Maggie, then I think it is time for you to take your leave,” Zane took another step in Mark’s direction and he retreated.
Having clearly demonstrated his dominance, Zane returned to Maggie’s side, and his arm slipped around her waist in a show of male possessiveness, which in the moment she found to be quite endearing. Having Zane beside her, sticking up for her, made her feel invincible. It gave her a bravado she typically didn’t have when dealing with Mark.
“I don’t give a damn if you date Jennifer Lawler, Mark. You can date anyone you like. I’ve moved on.” She put her arm around Zane’s waist. “You should too.”
The look of defeat on Mark’s face was priceless.
“I’ll show you to your car,” Zane’s tone brooked no argument. Mark must have felt the same because he turned on his heels and marched double time for his vehicle without another word.
When he reached his car, he opened the driver’s door and paused to look at the couple still standing arm in arm in the driveway. Always one to get the last word in, Mark said, “We’ll talk on Monday, Maggie. We still have paperwork to finish regarding the suit. Report to my office first thing, I’m still your boss, you know.”
Zane took a step forward, and Mark jumped in his car. With wide eyes, he started the vehicle and took off like a shot, tires squealing as he pulled away from the curb.
Maggie chuckled again, this time Zane joined her.
“He didn’t even say goodbye,” Maggie teased.
“You could call him.” Steering her with the arm around her waist, Zane turned them and headed for her front door.
“No way.” She shook her head, and unlocked the door then led them into her home.
“I hope you don’t think it was too forward to announce to your ex that I was your boyfriend.”
Maggie smiled. “The look he made when you said that was priceless. I almost wish he was here so you could say it again.”
Zane came up behind her. “I’m glad he’s not, so I can do this.”
He laid his hands on her shoulders and began to knead her tense muscles. Maggie sighed, moving her neck to the side to give him access to a particularly hard knot.
His hands were magic. Warm, strong, they worked her kinked muscles with the expertise of a masseuse.
Maggie moaned, the sound long and languorous.
“Why don’t you lie down on the couch, Maggie? Let me do this the right way.”
Sounded like a good plan to her. Maggie covered his hands in hers, needing to maintain the human contact as they made their way over to the couch.
“Loosen your blouse a little,” Zane commanded.
Maggie did as instructed before lying on her stomach. She tucked a throw pillow under her turned head and closed her eyes in blissful anticipation.
Zane straddled her, placing a knee on each side of her hips. His weight barely registered on her bottom, as if he held his weight above her. She appreciated the effort.
His hands slid inside the collar of her blouse, pulled it away from her body. She had only undone two buttons so it didn’t go very far, just enough to bare her shoulders.
After sliding her bra straps out of the way, his fingers dug into her muscles, kneading her like a baker lovingly working his dough. So good, she almost purred her contentment. He didn’t say a word, just continued his ministrations in silence.
Zane massaged her muscles thoroughly. Working his way down her back, he made sure each one was carefully attended to. By the time he reached her lower back, the tension had disappeared from her muscles. And settled somewhere else.
Maggie became acutely aware of the handsome man sitting over her, everything female within her responded. It may have been the adrenaline rush from the chase, or how he had taken care of her since they first arrived at the police station. It could have been the way he handled her ex or perhaps it was simply that he had a body to die for, but whatever it was, she found herself responding to him.
He worked on the small of her back. Each touch sent a zing of desire straight to her womb. It clenched with sudden, desperate need.
Maggie wanted to feel alive. She craved human contact. Skin on skin contact. Needed to be with this man. He was her anchor in this crazy storm. She needed him in a way she’d never needed another.
Maggie rolled over and wrapped her arms around his neck. The look of surprise on his face turned to hunger as she crushed him down against her bosom. Their lips met in a fierce kiss. Maggie poured all her emotions from the past few hours into the kiss, willing him to understand.
He tasted of spice, a delicious masculine flavor she found instantly addictive. Their tongues darted back in forth, dueling for domination. It was a draw, Maggie decided as his passion devoured her, sending a fiery heat licking over her skin.
Maggie broke the kiss, pulled back to look into his eyes. “I want you,” she whispered.
Zane hesitated, hovering over her. “Are you certain you want this, Maggie? Want me?”
She had never been more certain of anything in her life.