In the Arms of Danger

TWELVE

Cory tightened his fingers around the steering wheel of the Chevy Blazer, his focus narrowed on the road and not on the woman beside him. He hoped by taking his vehicle instead of hers that it might throw off the stalker. But he couldn't stop thinking how good she looked sitting beside him.

She'd changed into a faded pair of jeans and a pink T-shirt before they shoved the packed suitcases into the back and started on their way. He'd kept an eye on the rearview mirror for several miles to see if they were being followed, but so far nothing was out of the ordinary.

The cops weren't much help, just as he'd figured. They had asked questions, took pictures, acted as if they were lifting fingerprints from the fence and gate. But in the end, nothing had been found.

Leland and Zack had arrived around the same time the police had, and they walked right along with the cops as if they could help. They couldn't. Before Cory carted Taylor and Meggie away, Leland had assured them he'd take care of the writing on the fence.

The curious spectators gathered on the street made it harder for Cory to sneak away. Good thing his vehicle had tinted windows. It made things a little easier. But as he pulled out of the driveway, he made sure Taylor had scrunched down in her seat. Meggie was in the child-seat, so she couldn't duck. However, the back windows were darkened more than the front. He didn't think anyone could see who was inside the vehicle as he left.

He still worried the stalker might try to follow as he watched his rearview mirror. Just in case they were followed, Cory had taken different roads to lose him. It must have worked. He'd been driving for several miles, and the few vehicles behind him were not familiar.

Of course, this meant he had more time to think about the woman beside him. Cory breathed in and out, slowly, reminding himself she hated him almost as much as her stalker, especially now.

What had he been thinking barging in on her shower when he could have waited? True, the message upset him more than he'd realized, but to confront her right after she'd stepped out of the shower...

He ground his teeth. Memories had run amok through his mind, disturbing him, making him think of nothing else but her. She'd certainly developed nicely in the past four years.

She'd been the perfect woman back then. She'd shown her affection for him through the way she casually touched him and hung on his every word during their most personal conversations. She never put herself first, either, and always thought of his feelings. Strange how she had turned out to be so completely different.

Silently, he growled and shifted in his seat. He glanced at the speedometer to see if his heavy foot had exceeded the speed limit. It had, so he eased up on the gas pedal. When he reached the exact speed, he pushed the cruise control button.

This new assignment would be harder than he'd realized. Sure, he'd watch his back every second, but now he had to guard his eyes. He couldn't look at her unless she was fully clothed. He couldn't act like he did the last time they were together in Bermuda...like husband and wife.

Now he couldn't let anything distract him from his main purpose. Seeing her wearing a wet towel around her body had distracted him in the worst way.

Knock it off, he silently screamed at himself as he tightened his grip on the steering wheel again. He had to catch Taylor's stalker and end his assignment as soon as possible. That was the only way to keep from going crazy.

Taylor switched positions in her seat, more toward him than the door. The scent of lilacs hung in the air and he fought the urge to close his eyes and breathe in her heavenly aroma.

Shaking those thoughts from his mind, he decided to kick up a conversation to stop the madness running rapid through his head. He cleared his throat and glanced her way. Her sapphire gaze was already on him. Electricity sizzled in the air, making his heart pound quicker.

"I've been thinking," he began, as he tore away from her intoxicating stare. "I don't think this so-called stalker is after your father at all. In fact, I'm wondering if your father has anything to do with this particular stalker."

She straightened and stretched her long legs in front of her. "Really? Why do you say that?"

"Because he hasn't done anything to him." He shrugged. "If the stalker is the one writing threatening letters, I think they would keep trying to take it out on Leland."

"Have you forgotten what the last letter said? It threatened to go after my father's family."

Cory shook his head. "Still doesn't add up. Three things have been targeted at you, but they haven't been in touch with Leland to see if he wants to negotiate. What usually happens is after a few attempts, the person threatening tries to make a deal. They only make little threats just to get attention." He glanced at her. "Things that have been happening to you lately are not considered little."

"So you honestly think this has nothing to do with my father?"

"That's my feeling."

She huffed and folded her arms, sliding down into the seat. "Who made you an expert on this?" she grumbled.

Cory shot her a scowl. "Oh gee, I don't know. Could it be that I've worked as an FBI agent for ten years?"

Tapping her foot, she chewed on her lower lip. The longer he watched the more the urge to kiss her became overpowering. He really shouldn't look at her lips...

She pointed to the road. "Take the next right."

"Listen, Taylor...I'm sorry I was so sarcastic just now. I'd like to find this person just as much as you. But I have to think logically."

"If this is your way of trying to comfort me, you're not doing a very good job."

The corner of his mouth tugged into a grin. Although he figured she'd be scared to death, the humor he remembered from back in Bermuda was beginning to show through. "Sorry again."

She released a heavy sigh and tilted her head back. Once more, he couldn't stop from glancing her way. The curve of her neck tempted him. He wanted to run his fingers over that part of her body while his lips followed...

The blaring of a car's horn snapped his attention back to the road. He swerved out of its path and cussed.

Taylor jumped to an upright position and clutched the seatbelt strapped across her chest. "Crap, Cory. Are you trying to get us killed?"

He clenched his jaw. "No, Taylor. If I were trying to kill us, I would have continued to drive head-on into that car."

Taylor glanced in the back at her daughter, and he peeked in the rearview mirror to see what the little girl was doing. Her doll lay on her chest as she cuddled the toy with closed eyes.

What a peaceful looking little bundle of joy. He hadn't been around many children in his life, but Meggie was as adorable as he'd ever seen. He imagined Taylor looked like this at that age.

Taylor turned and faced the front. "I'm sorry for snapping," she said in hushed tones.

He nodded. "Me, too." He took a deep breath. "I guess now would be a good time to discuss...things."

She stiffened. "What things?"

"Like how we're going to act around each other, for one."

"Okay."

"I'd rather not yell at you the whole time and I'd like it if you weren't harsh with me. Mainly for Meggie's sake. True, we've had a past, but I think we should start fresh. If we don't, the next few days, or weeks, are going to be torture for both of us. We need to focus on finding the stalker."

"You're right." Her finger twirled around a lock of hair that hung over her shoulder. "I suppose I could try to talk nice to you."

"I'd like that." He glanced her way again. "I also think we need to discuss our past."

Her head turned toward him, a scowl spread across her face. Sapphire eyes darkened. "Why?"

"Because there are still unanswered questions."

"So?"

"So...I'd like to know what really happened back in Bermuda."

She threw herself against the seat and folded her arms over her chest. Her eyes plastered straight ahead. "Some things are better left unsaid, for both our sakes."

He hitched a breath. Obviously, there was something she wanted to keep hidden. By her stiff upper lip, he figured he knew what it was...Meggie.