small town? “Maybe I should call a cab to take me home.”
“You could try, but I doubt you’d get one to come here.”
“Where did you bring me?”
“We’re outside Liberty Hill. It’s about forty-five minutes from Austin.”
Doubt was back. No matter how much confidence she had in Therese, shouldn’t she be more upset about being alone with this guy?
Maybe it was the remnants of the drug still in her system. She couldn’t tell or keep her thoughts straight. Why had she allowed herself to be brought here by a stranger in the first place? What had Therese meant? Not having answers was more likely to kill her than a stranger at the airport.
“This is ridiculous.”
“What do you mean?” Jack asked, resting one hand in a pocket and the other at the back of his head.
“I need a phone, please.” She held out her hand, expecting him to accommodate her. Why wouldn’t he? “May I borrow yours or will you get mine from your truck?”
“No. Tomorrow.” Jack clapped his hands together and then opened them, palms up. He stood at attention, ready for something. “Our instructions are that they’ll contact us tomorrow.”
“I am not a helpless victim from a slasher movie. I’m not staying here.”
“Come on, Megan. If you need someplace safe to stay, we’ve done everything right. Why mess it up with a phone call to friends?”
He relaxed, shrugged and took a step away from her. Did he expect her to attack or something? She might have if she hadn’t still been sluggish.
“Right.” She sank to the couch, finally admitting she was too unstable on her feet. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but this situation is absurd and confusing.”
“I get it. Your friend Therese was more than a little cryptic.” He perched on the armchair. “All I got was that you were in trouble and needed protection.”
“I appreciate your willingness to help. Really. But if I am in trouble like Therese thinks, then my best bet is to call the police. I can’t put you in danger, too.”
She was used to being around officers and macho firefighters. She’d taken a lot of years to study guys, their psychology, their body language. And Jack didn’t appear to be surprised by their situation. Or surprised that she was in trouble. If she had to make a guess, he probably had a gun holster under the back of his shirt.
“I’m not worried about it.” He lifted his hands in mock surrender. Mock because it was apparent there wasn’t a cell in his being that would make him change his mind. “I gave my word, okay? If you can clear things up, fine. But you can’t have a phone until the morning.”
Even without her knowing him, there was something about the way he held his mouth that convinced her he was serious. Compressed lips with the corner barely raised. Serious or sure of himself?
Jack MacKinnon was as stubborn as she was.
“Why are you doing this? What’s in it for you?”
“What do I get? Not a thing. Call me crazy, but I’m doing a favor. I won’t let you down. Do you need a pinkie swear or something?” Jack crooked his little finger in the air like kids did and held it out to her.
“This isn’t funny. I have no idea why I’m here or why I listened to instructions over a phone call.”
It didn’t matter if Megan believed him. He’d keep his word to his partner no matter what. “I’m actually one of the good guys. You’ll feel better after a good night’s sleep.”
Just mentioning sleep had her eyelids drooping a bit. Right up until the phone rang. Megan jumped out of her skin. He’d dropped his phone in the drawer with his badge and gun. She stared as he answered.
“MacKinnon.”
Jack hesitated for a moment. Just a moment while he watched Megan turn white as chalk. Would she faint? Good thing she was already sitting on the couch. Her arms plopped down without much grace.
Jack tapped the speaker button and kept the phone in one hand while he picked up a hunting magazine. He waved it in front of Megan’s face while his next-door neighbor chattered in the background.
“I’m...I’m all right. Answer your call,” she whispered.
Megan wasn’t doing a good job making him think she was fine. Jack had serious doubts she wasn’t about to hyperventilate. He was looking around for something he could use like a paper bag to have her breathe into.
“Little Jack, are you there? Is someone there with you? Am I interrupting something?” His neighbor crooned her curiosity.
He was about to hang up when Megan drew a long breath and covered her face with a pillow. Whatever had her freaking out was beyond him. Maybe she was just tired. It must have been a shock to discover someone wanted to kill you. And to be thrown in the care of a complete stranger... There couldn’t be much comfort in any part of her situation.
“Little Jack? Little Jack!”
“Right here, Mrs. Dennis.”
“What was that ruckus a few minutes ago? Did a group of motorcycles come through town again?”
The pillow landed where Megan threw it, to the right of his desk.
“Nothing to worry about, Mrs. Dennis. I was late getting back. Sorry the truck woke you.” Jack gestured for Megan to drink some water.
She shook her head and mouthed the word no. She rested her head on the back of the couch. Her eyes glazed over, focusing on a point—if his calculations were right—just next to one of the cracks in his ceiling. Why would him answering the phone send her into a tailspin?
“There should be a noise regulation or something. Maybe you should have your muffler checked out, young man. It’s so loud it woke Junior. You know he goes to sleep at eight,” Mrs. Dennis complained over her bloodhound’s baying.
“All I can do is apologize, Mrs. Dennis. I’ll try not to do it again.” His eyes wandered to the long, silky-looking thigh showing under Megan’s tight skirt. Before she regained her composure, he forced his eyes to look at her feet.
Bare feet. Had he forgotten her shoes in the truck?
“That’s good, but it woke me from a perfectly sound sleep. You know we have a busy day tomorrow. You be sure to give Junior an apology.”
“Sorry to wake you...and Junior. I understand why you’re upset.” All he could do was agree and hope she’d hang up. “But while I’ve got you on the phone, is there a possibility of postponing the homecoming meeting until Monday afternoon?”
“Little Jack, you know a couple of the reunion committee members are driving in from Austin. It would be
