Nora Roberts Land(70)
“That’s better. We should go now.”
He stared at her a moment longer, his gaze dipping to her mouth. She licked her dry lips, willing him to take the decision away from her again and simply kiss her like he had before. When she stayed still, her gaze arrested on his face, he ran his hand down her back, pressing her closer. She jumped when someone slammed the pub’s front door, the crack echoing through the alley. Tanner stepped back.
Coward!
For once, Meredith agreed.
He took her hand and led her to the car. Though it wasn’t unusual for him to open the door for her, the gesture put her more off balance.
How was she supposed to stop from giving into his exclusive-or-else ultimatum when he treated her like this? If she gave in, would she have the story she’d come to Dare to write? Would he be her hero in Nora Roberts Land?
Could she even admit he was The One, given all that it would mean?
Just thinking about it made her experience the first symptoms of a panic attack. She took deep breaths to calm herself. When he rubbed her hand, she leaned against the window, off center.
She could fall in love with him…She knew that. Maybe she’d always known it.
“Let’s get you warmed up.” He turned on the car and cranked up the heat. He checked his phone, which he always kept on silent when they were on a “date.” Listening to a message, he pulled out of the parking space with one hand. She jumped again when he swore viciously.
“I need to drop you off,” he uttered in the flattest tone she’d ever heard. He punched up the speed.
She gripped her seat belt. “What’s the matter?”
“My source is in trouble. I need to go.”
He took a hard right turn, and the tires shimmied on the ice.
Her internal temperature dropped twenty degrees. “Let me go with you.”
“No, I won’t put you at risk. Plus, I need you to get help if I don’t come back.”
He ran a stop sign, making her heart throttle like the engine. “What are you talking about? Let me go with you.”
He screeched to a halt in front of Jill’s house. The locks clicked open. “No. Now, get out of the car. We’re wasting time. I’ll call you later.”
When she didn’t move, he reached across her and flung the door open. “Please, Meredith.”
“Dammit, Tanner!” she exclaimed, seeing his clenched jaw. He wasn’t going to back down on this one.
“Be careful. And you damn well better call me. If I don’t hear from you in a couple of hours, I’m calling the police.”
“Don’t bother. I don’t think we can trust them now. Get inside and lock the doors.”
When she hesitated, he kissed her firmly on the mouth. “Move!”
The minute she slid out the car, he yanked the door shut and sped off.
She walked slowly to the front door. Dammit. Why did he have to be a hero? He was racing after his source to do what? Protect him? The guy was a drug dealer.
Her mind clicked like the locks when she threw the deadbolt.
He was a hero. A no-frills, rough-and-tumble hero…just like in Nora’s books. Who else would work as an embedded journalist in Afghanistan and Iraq? Not some milquetoast person, that’s for sure. She hadn’t really seen it until now.
She sat down on the couch, shaking, not bothering to take her coat off.
Fully realizing that the time ticked by slower in a crisis, she looked at the phone anyway, and then pulled Jill’s afghan over her for her long vigil.
She cared what happened to him. What a time to admit it. She prayed she’d be able to tell him.
After tonight, she didn’t plan on being anything but exclusive with him—even if it meant learning how to give someone everything she was again.
Chapter 28
Ray’s car was gone, and all the lights were off in his apartment. He tried Ray’s cell again, cursing himself. He should have followed Barlow. His gut had told him the heated argument between Kenny and Barlow had something to do with Ray, but he hadn’t pursued it. Hindsight was a bitch.
He listened to the voicemail again. “Professor McBride, I’m sorry to call, but you said I could if I was in trouble. And fuck, man, I think I am.” He spoke so fast he didn’t take a breath. “I just left the garage after talking to Kenny. I didn’t want to meet him, but he told me that if I didn’t, he’d come to my place. He kept pushing and pushing me about my numbers, so I told him I couldn’t do it anymore.”
The kid panted on the line. “He got all quiet like. Freaked me out. Then he asked for the drugs back, especially the ones from the party. I told him I didn’t have them. He shoved me against the wall and got all crazy, yelling that I’d better bring them. I’m scared, man. I told him I flushed them, but I don’t think he believes me. He told me I’d better keep my mouth shut. When I got home from class, my room was a mess. Someone had been in here! My whole stash is gone besides the stuff I gave you.” He sniffed. “I’m freaking out, man. Call me!”