“You checked out the pilots?”
“Yup. Squeaky-clean records for both of them.”
“Then, yeah, we’ll be there.”
“One of the pilots gave me his number, so take it down just in case. He said with what you’re paying him, he can be flexible.”
Dare shook his head. Chris took far too much enjoyment in spending his money. After he’d written down the pilot’s name and cell number and stowed the paper in his pocket, Dare decided to clue Chris in. “Just so you know, I’m bringing plus one home with me.”
Chris fell silent, but it didn’t last long. “No shit? A girl?”
“Woman.” Dare again looked out at the parking lot. The truck was gone, but he didn’t trust it. He sensed they were being watched, and he fucking well didn’t like it.
“And you’re bringing her here?”
Yeah, unheard of. He’d kept his home sacrosanct from his business, but…. “It’s complicated.” Molly was nowhere near ready to travel yet. The long trip back to Kentucky would be grueling for her. But right now, it was the only way he knew to keep her safe until he got things figured out. “She’s hiring me to protect her.”
“From what?”
Dare dropped the curtain and looked toward the bathroom door. He pictured her in there, worn out but determined to get her hair dried. She was an enigma with a huge problem.
He shook his head, more at himself than for any other reason. “Honestly, Chris, I wish to hell I knew.”
CHAPTER FOUR
WHEN MOLLY EMERGED looking like a different woman, Dare did a double take. Her hair was … really nice; not the plain brown he’d assumed but a light brown with red and gold highlights that looked natural instead of salon-created.
Seeing it semi-fixed, soft and curling around her face, altered her appearance drastically, giving her a very feminine edge that was only enhanced by the vulnerability still visible from her bruises and tiredness.
Who knew a woman’s hair played such a major role in her looks?
It was, Dare supposed, one of the many secrets to female routines. Not that he had a lot of experience with that, since he’d never been involved with any one woman long enough to dwell on her personal-grooming habits.
With the limited means at hand, Molly’s hair was far from polished, hanging loose and shining to just below her shoulders. As Dare stared at her, she tucked one side behind her ear.
To cover his surprise, Dare said, “We’re flying out in three hours.”
Her eyes flared. “Okay. But … going where, exactly?”
As if he dragged home rescue victims on a regular basis, Dare shrugged. “My place, first. I have a few things I have to do at home. Then I’ll accompany you to your place.”
Taking his words like a blow, she went to the bed and gingerly sat at the edge. “Oh. Okay.”
“I’ll be with you.”
She tried a smile that fell flat.
“Molly. You have to go back to your place sooner or later, right?”
“Of course I do.” She put her shoulders back in telling reaction. “I need to talk with my editor and agent. I have … plants to water.” She chewed her lip. “I need my flash drives and my own clothes and …” She shook her head. “Going back will be good.”
Had she considered refusing? Dare frowned, then retrieved the first-aid kit from his bag. Given his line of work, he carried a more extensive supply of medicines and bandages than what was found in an average first-aid kit. He dragged a chair over and turned it to face her.
When he sat, he looked at her and saw again that she avoided his gaze. “That’s it? Wholehearted acceptance, but no questions?”
She inhaled, expanding that impressive chest so that she filled out the oversized shirt. Her gaze skittered up to meet his. “You don’t seem real forthcoming with information, and I don’t want to do anything to make you regret your decision to stick with me.”
An upfront answer. He should have known where her thoughts had taken her. “You think you’ve been a big imposition?”
She eyed the first-aid kit warily, but didn’t mention it. “If not for me, you’d already be home, right? Instead, you had to deal with me and my problems. I don’t like being dependent on anyone, and I really don’t like putting you out.”
“Since we’re flying out today, I was only delayed one night. And if you mean the clothes and food—”
“Well, that and …” Her tongue flicked over her bottom lip with nervousness. “Sleeping with you.”
There was that. “You had a nightmare. Don’t worry about it.”
She glanced up and away. “Logically I know I’m okay now, but at night, in the dark …”
“Yeah.” He’d saved women before, but he hadn’t slept with them. Hell, he’d had sex with plenty of women without sleeping with them.
“Usually,” he said, “once I have a woman out of harm’s way, she goes immediately to someone else—someone she trusts. Most often it’s the person who paid me to get her out in the first place.” And if the woman had nightmares, well, she had someone other than Dare to get her through it.
Molly nodded. “And with me, you not only haven’t been paid, you’re sort of stuck with me.”
“Not stuck, no.” He’d made the decision that she would remain with him. He never allowed others to coerce him, not in any way. “But understand, Molly—for now, I’m going to keep you safe. After I figure out the threat and decide how best to resolve it, then we’ll come to terms on our agreement.”
“Financially, you mean.”
What else? He nodded affirmation, but said, “That, and more.”
“Such as …?”
He opened the first-aid kit. “If I’m going to be in charge of your safety, you have to follow my directions to the letter. No balking, no arguments.”
She licked her lips again—and nodded.
“Good. We’ll start with me checking out some of these cuts and scrapes that you have. The last thing you need is an infection.” He looked at her. “Give me your arm.”
As if only then realizing that she might have cuts, Molly looked at each arm. “I can take care of it.”
“I can take care of it better.”
“Who says?”
“I say.” Hadn’t he already proven his capability with her hair?
Dare
