partly because she wasn’t sure exactly what to say to the big man who’d scooped her up like she weighed nothing, then tucked her into the back of his car with a gentleness that was completely at odds with his obvious strength. Especially since he’d—thank God—hidden her presence from Chuck, the gun-wielding cop.
Why had he done it? Normal people went to the police when there was an issue. And having a panicked woman run straight into your car was definitely an issue.
So maybe he’s not normal.
She hazarded a tiny peek over the edge of the warm blanket. She didn’t have the best view of him, but she could tell that his eyes were fixed on the road ahead. And she could also see that there was a definite edge to the way he held himself. His stubble-covered jaw was stiff. The hand he had on the steering wheel was tight. Tension everywhere. Maybe from lying to the cop. Maybe from something else.
Remembering she’d thought there was something familiar about him, she studied his features surreptitiously, trying to see more. When he cast a quick glance in the side-view mirror, she got a fuller look at his face. He had wide lips and a well-proportioned nose. His eyes were a pale brown that bordered on amber, and thick lashes framed them, making their unusual color stand out all the more. Beyond a doubt, he was one of the best-looking men she’d ever seen. But she couldn’t place where exactly she knew him from. The diner, probably, but she was sure he wasn’t a regular, and she doubted a tourist would be so eager to mislead the local police.
She closed her eyes for a second, considering whether or not the bump on her head was making her short-term memory fuzzy. A strong possibility. When she lifted her lids again, he’d turned back to the road, and all she could see now was his profile. She had to admit to a weird stab of disappointment that she couldn’t stare at him for a bit longer.
Apparently the bump didn’t affect your libido, she thought sarcastically.
Reggie fought the need to study him further, knowing full well that she should be worried about what he planned to do with her rather than be distracted by his looks. She had no clue where they were headed or what his intentions were. Something in her gut told her she could trust him, but at the moment, she wasn’t sure she should rely on the instinct. If someone had asked her twenty minutes earlier whether or not Chuck was a good guy, she probably would’ve said yes without even considering another answer.
She fought a shiver as the memory of his furious tone came back to her. The man in the front seat was a far better option than being back there. He had to be.
At least until I’m far away from Chuck. That’s all that matters right this second.
Except as quickly as the thought came, it was replaced with the realization that it wasn’t quite true. In her panicked run, she’d forgotten all about the man on the other end of the gun.
“Oh, my God!” she gasped.
The man in the front seat tossed a concerned look over his shoulder. “What’s the matter?”
“We have to go back!”
“What?”
“The man...the other one...” She tried to push up to a sitting position, but a wave dizziness hit her, overriding the worry and guilt and keeping her in place. “Oh, God.”
“Take it easy.”
She shook her head, making the dizziness even worse. “I can’t.”
“Just give yourself a minute. Breathe.”
Reggie closed hers eyes and took his advice, her mind reeling. What had happened to the other man? Could he possibly have lived? Should she be calling someone for help? Probably. Yes. Definitely, actually.
But who?
Clearly the police were out of the question.
“We have to go back,” she said again, this time in a mumble.
“I get the feeling that would be a bad idea.”
“We have to. I have to.”
“We’re over halfway to my cabin.”
“Your cabin?”
“Wasn’t sure where else to take you.”
“Oh.”
“You need to tell me something?”
She chewed her lip nervously, trying to decide what to say. “Someone’s life might depend on whether or not I go back.”
He met her gaze in the rearview mirror, and he didn’t look as startled as she thought he should. “And your life?”
“What?”
“That cop back there...”
Those four words were enough to make Reggie’s heart beat at double time, and her hands tightened on the blanket. “Yes. That’s Chuck Delta.”
“Well, Officer Delta had your shoe.”
Reggie glanced down at her feet, then recalled one of the slip-ons had fallen off during her hasty escape. And it wasn’t exactly good news that it was now in Chuck’s possession. But even that wasn’t the most pressing of her issues right then. She needed to help the victim. If he could still be helped.
“Bad time to play Cinderella,” the big man pointed out, then sighed when she didn’t respond. “All right. You tell me where you need me to go and I’ll circle back.”
“The Frost Family Diner.”
“Got it. But the second I see anything I think is dangerous, I’m hitting the gas. That includes running into the cop again.”
Reggie breathed out, glad he’d conceded, even with his conditions. “Okay.”
She closed her eyes, letting the rhythm of the tires under her back lull her. After a few silent moments, though, one of his statements came back to her.
His cabin.
And finally she placed him.
“Tuesday, table five. Two eggs, over easy, dry toast,” she said, opening her eyes again.
A smile tipped up both sides of his mouth and showed a row of nice even teeth before his gaze went back to the front windshield. “I usually go by Max. But that works, too.”
Reggie felt her face warm. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry. It’s not like customers wear name tags.” His teasing gaze found hers in the mirror again. “Actually, I’m kinda flattered you remembered my meal.”
“You left one of the girls a twenty-dollar tip when she complained about the price of diapers. She talked about it—and you and your plans to start a bed-and-breakfast—for an hour after.”
“Ah. My wanton display of wealth. Should’ve known.”
“Generosity with no strings,” she corrected, then blushed a little more at how emphatic she sounded.
