She raised up, moving slightly away from him. He removed his arm from around her and placed his hand on the steering wheel. Stretching, Addy yawned. 'I didn't sleep very long then?'

'Less than an hour. You need more rest. You had a busy night last night.' His lips curved into a smile as he remembered just what had kept them both so busy. Damn, how he would have liked to pull off the interstate, find a secluded stretch of road and take her hard and fast right there in the Bronco.

Addy saw him smile and felt a staining warmth in her cheeks. She punched him playfully on the arm. 'Not as busy as it should have been.' She couldn't believe she'd actually said that. What was happening to her? Loving Nick Romero, that was what was happening to her.

'Since we got some preliminaries out of the way last night, I'd say we were both ready to get down to some serious lovemaking tonight.'

Addy laughed, the sound light, almost carefree. He'd done that for her, she thought. He was teaching her to enjoy herself, to trust her own instincts and give herself permission to play and have fun.

He hated the thought of having to tell her about the brown sedan, but he had no choice. They'd be in Chattanooga soon, and he couldn't allow the car to continue following them.

Noticing the pensive look on his face, Addy wondered what had caused it. 'Are you worrying about your Jag? If you are, let me set your mind at rest. It's as safe as in Fort Knox in Daddy's garages along with his collection.'

'Yeah, I'm sure it is.'

'Daddy's still bothered by the fact that he doesn't know where we'll be,' she said. 'I could tell by the sound of his voice when we talked to him before we left.'

'I'll call Sam every day, and he'll give your father a report.'

'Daddy didn't like it when you suggested that it was best he didn't know too much, that way he couldn't accidentally slip up and tell Dina anything.'

'I explained to Rusty why I felt that way.' Nick glanced in the rearview mirror. Damn! He would have to make his move soon. 'Dina might tell Brett Windsor, and I don't trust the guy. He might not be top on my list of suspects, but he's definitely still on the list.'

'I think Brett is sweet—in a little-boy sort of way.'

'Red, you don't need a sweet little boy, you need a hot-blooded man.'

She ran the tips of her short, neatly manicured fingernails up the side of his neck, stopping to tease his earlobe. 'And that's exactly what I have, isn't it, Mr. Romero?'

'Damn right.' He clutched her knee, squeezing possessively, then slid his hand between her thighs. He wanted to find a way inside her tan slacks, inside her silk panties, to delve into the hot, moist depths of her body. But now wasn't the time or the place. Reluctantly, he returned his hand to the steering wheel.

'Look, Red, we're going to have to make a slight detour.'

'Why?'

'A brown sedan has been following us ever since we went through Paint Rock. I've got to check him out. Understand?' He sneaked a quick glance in her direction. Her smile disappeared.

'Do you think … I mean, could it be … him?' Cold, numbing fear clutched her pounding heart and spread icy tendrils through her stomach.

'I don't know.' Nick saw the sign that read Tiftonia exit. It would be one of the last exits before reaching downtown. Easing into the turning lane, he slowed the Bronco.

'What are you going to do?'

'See if he follows us.'

'And if he does?'

'Confront him.'

She sucked in a deep breath, then let out a long, slow sigh. 'That could be dangerous.'

'It would be even more dangerous to let this guy find out where we're going.' Nick exited the interstate. The brown sedan did the same. Damnation!

'Did he follow us?' Addy started to turn her head.

'Don't look back. I can see him in the mirror. He's right behind us.'

Nick saw a service station a few yards away. There were no cars around. The place looked deserted. He couldn't tell whether it hadn't opened for the day or if it had recently gone out of business.

Nick whipped the Bronco into the service station, then cut the motor. Opening the glove compartment, he reached inside and pulled out a .38 revolver. He saw the startled look in Addy's green eyes and wished to high heaven he didn't have to put the gun in her hands.

The brown sedan pulled in, parking on the other side of the station.

'Take this,' he said, handing it to her.

Addy glared at the gun as if it were a live snake. With trembling hands she reached out, accepting the deadly weapon. 'I don't know how to use this thing.'

'Don't aim it unless you intend to use it. If your target is at close range, all you have to do is pull the trigger and you'll hit him somewhere. Just keep shooting until you empty the gun.'

'Nick, you're frightening me. You're talking like you won't be coming back.'

Leaning over, he kissed her forehead, then gave her shoulders a sound squeeze. 'This is just a precautionary measure, Red. I'm coming back just as soon as I find out who this guy is and what he wants.'

Turning, Nick opened the door. Addy grabbed the back of his shirt. He glanced over his shoulder. 'Please be careful,' she said.

'Stay in the Bronco and keep the doors locked.'

Addy watched while Nick opened the back of the Bronco, pulled his battered suitcase toward him, unsnapped it and reached inside. He pulled out an automatic, and holding the gun in one hand and his cane in the other he approached the parked car. Addy held her breath. Seconds turned into minutes, minutes that seemed hours long.

She saw the car door open and a man emerge. From thirty yards away, Addy couldn't make out his features, but she could tell that he was shorter than Nick, with a stocky build. He hadn't pulled a weapon on Nick. That was a good sign. Then suddenly Nick punched the man in the chest with his cane. Addy's heart stopped. She gripped the heavy gun in her hands, her palms slippery with moisture.

'Dammit, man, I could have killed you!' Nick removed his cane from the man's chest. 'Of all the stupid things for Rusty McConnell to do! I told him I didn't want any of Dundee's men following us.'

'Mr. McConnell insisted. Hell, Nick, what was I supposed to do? The man is paying the bills, you know. Sam is working for McConnell, so that means I'm working for McConnell.'

'Hugh, you should have checked in with Sam before you left. He would have counteracted Rusty's order.'

'I'm sorry, Nick. I should have known you'd spot me.' Hugh grinned, but Nick didn't. 'As a matter of fact, I knew that you were on to me the minute you exited the interstate. That's why I pulled in here.'

'There's a lady over there in that Bronco who's scared half out of her mind.' Nick slipped the automatic into the back of his pants, anchoring it beneath his belt. 'You get on your phone and call her daddy and tell him that his over-protective tactics didn't work, that all he accomplished was to frighten Addy. Then tuck tail and run back to Huntsville as fast as you can.'

'Mr. McConnell is going to be madder than hell.'

'I'm already madder than hell, Hugh. Who would you rather deal with, Rusty McConnell or me?' Nick spoke the words in a deep, even tone, yet each syllable dripped with menace.

'I get your point, Nick,' Hugh said. 'I'll call Mr. McConnell and tell him what happened. If he has any problems with my returning to Huntsville, he can call Sam.'

'Good idea.' Nick turned and walked away, leaving Hugh to jump back inside his brown sedan.

The moment she saw Nick walking toward the Bronco, Addy slid across the bench seat and unlocked the door. Nick bent down and got inside. Addy had a death grip on the revolver. Prying her hands loose from the .38, he placed it back inside the glove compartment, then pulled her into his arms.

'Oh, Nick—Nick—'

'Shh—shh— It's all right, Addy. Everything's fine.'

'Who—who was he?'

'Hugh Talbot, one of Sam Dundee's men. Your father sent him to follow us.'

Вы читаете Paladin's Woman
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