She straightened. He wouldnt dare.
Sounded like he dared, all right. It was more like the guy had never gotten the chance. Damn it, why him? Why here and now, with a woman he didnt seem to be able to turn his back on? With a woman he appeared to be more than willing to save yet again?
Ah, hell, who was he kidding. He couldnt have turned his back on anyone. That it was Danielle made it only worse.
You can see why I cant let her get taken back, right? Danielle asked, determination in every line of her tense body. I just cant.
Okay. He shoved his fingers in his hair and tried to think. Can you prove Sadie is yours? She just bit her lower lip, making him groan. You cant. Which is why youre on the run with her.
I can prove we shared ownership, yes, but thats not good enough. They might make me share her, and I cant let that happen. I paid for half of her when she was a puppy, but thats not so easy to prove, it turns out, as there was some comingling of funds along the way between various vet bills and food and things. Bending down she hugged Sadie tight, and in return, the dog licked her ear.
Then Danielle looked up at Nick with those huge, huge eyes. All I need are the professional shots of Sadie to give to an art director I know. Hes going to get me some commercial endorsements.
Which equals money.
Yes.
And you need the money to
Vanish. She pressed her face into Sadies neck. Ted drained my bank account. With an ATM card I gave him.
He stared at her, saw her pain and humiliation, and bit back his oath. What about your family? Cant they help you?
Its just my mother. Werenot very close. Besides, she doesnt have any extra money.
I see. And damn it, now he did. She was truly alone in this. She was going to take her dog and walk right out of his life.
He should let her.
But he didnt want her to go. Didnt want to lie awake for the next fifteen years still wondering what if
5
WELL. Danielle put on a smile that might have wobbled just a bit before she forced it, and reached for Sadies leash. I cant tell you how much I appreciate what youve done.
Nick was standing close, too close, looking edgy and more than a little unnerving because of it.
What did he want?
Hed let her in. Hed taken the pictures he hadnt wanted to. Hed put up with the nervous Sadie when he didnt know or understand dogs.
And hed lied to the police.
That alone would have made her grateful forever, but now she owed him, and she hated that. Combined with all the memories from so long ago, with her silence over her friends behavior, with the way hed saved her that night as he had today, she felt unsteady. Nervous. Over the years, Nick had become the chance she had never-but should have-taken.
Now, on top of it, hed touched some personal part of her shed promised no man could ever touch again. Thank you, she said, knowing it wasnt enough.
His sharp green eyes narrowed, and he shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans. That sounds like goodbye.
Do you suppose I could take the film you shot of Sadie? Ill pay you for it, and then have it developed myself.
Where?
Ill take it to one of those one-hour places.
He winced.
Oh, dont be a photo lab snob now, she said, trying not to notice how her body liked being close to his, how it leaned even closer, making her stomach tickle. How his hands were shoved low in his front pockets, drawing her attention to- I really need to go, she said abruptly.
Yeah. His hands came out of his pockets to touch her arms. He stroked them up and down the limbs she hadnt realized were chilled from stress and worry. And in spite of herself, she let out a little shiver that had nothing to do with being cold.
At the involuntary movement, he went still, very still, as if he felt it, too, that inexplicable connection from his flesh against hers.
An odd sound escaped her, one that sounded horrifyingly likeneed, so she bit her lip to keep quiet.
In return, he let out a rough groan. Do you remember that night, Danielle? The dance?
She closed her eyes, her heart squeezing as the years fell away in her mind. I remember. It played across the backs of her eyes with startling clarity. Prom.
You looked beautiful.
I was with Adam Bennett.
Star of the football team. His voice hardened. First-class asshole.
Danielle opened her eyes, but the images were still there. He took off, leaving me in the parking lot because Ium, didnt want to
Yeah. Nicks eyes held so much, she could hardly look at him. I gave you a ride home.
Shed stared out the passenger window of his car, wondering if all men were jerks. You never said a word, didnt tell me how stupid Id been to go with him, about how my friends treated you, nothing. She marveled at that all over again. You just drove me home, to the trailer park I didnt want you to see, walked me to the door, and
A ghost of a smile crossed his mouth. That and gave me great dreams for years.
He was staring at her mouth, making her stomach fizzle again. It was just a kiss, she said.
Hmm. His lips curved into a full smile now. Some just a kiss. You should know, Ive never forgotten it.
Me neither, she admitted. It hadnt been like her other experiences. He hadnt shoved his tongue down her throat or his hands up her shirt.
Nicks mouth had been gentle, tender and incredibly, amazingly arousing. If she was being honest, then she also had to admit shed yearned for another like it. From him, something shed been sure had been a lost opportunity.
They were nearly mouth to mouth now, and though she had no idea whod moved closer to whom, she stood there staring up at him, mesmerized. He stared, too, for so long her tongue darted out to lick her suddenly dry lips.
With another deep, dark sound from his throat, he stepped back. Damn it. I cant.
Cantwhat?
Cant let you walk out of here, knowing youre in trouble.
She couldnt remember the last time someone had looked at her like that, as if she really mattered, and without warning, her throat closed. In danger of losing it, she sought to lighten the mood that had spiraled out of her control. Do you save all the fair maidens?
With another deep, dark sound from his throat, he stepped back. Damn it. I cant.
Cantwhat?
Cant let you walk out of here, knowing youre in trouble.
She couldnt remember the last time someone had looked at her like that, as if she really mattered, and without warning, her throat closed. In danger of losing it, she sought to lighten the mood that had spiraled out of her control. Do you save all the fair maidens?
Only you, apparently. He wasnt going to help her lighten anything. Where will you go?
You dont really want to know.
Yes, I do.
If you dont know, we can go back to what we were. Two people who went to high school together, two people whove lost track of each other. She turned away. You dont know anything about me, and-
And what? He whipped her back to face him. You dont know me? Here, try this. Im business-sitting for my two sisters. I have a great family I dont see often enough. Im a journalist. Hard news, mostly. I dabble in photography. Just took my first dog shots. The past two weeks have been my first vacation since He frowned. Since I dont remember. His frown deepened. What else do you want to know?
Nick-
Ive been traveling the world writing stories since right after college, and you know what? He bent a little to look right into her eyes. I cant recall when Ive been back here for more than five days straight since high school graduation, and yet we ran into each other. Here. Now. He touched her jaw, shaking his head in wonder. Dont you think thats odd? Or maybe just fate?
I dont believe in fate, she said flatly, then held out her hand. Can I have the film please?
With a finger so light she might have imagined it except she was looking right at him, he scooped back a rogue strand of her hair, tucking it behind her ears. You look tired, he said softly.
If he only knew. She hadnt slept in days, only snatches here and there. I cant take the time to rest, not yet.
You have bruises under your eyes. Bruises he ran his finger over lightly, as if he could remove them with just a touch. Where have you been sleeping?
In the back seat of a far too small Honda, borrowing the use of a shower when she could, but that sounded pathetic, and her pride reared its ugly head again. Ill be fine. She continued to hold out her hand for the film. Just tell me how much.
No.
No? Panic surged. I need that film, Nick.
He sighed. Yes, you can have the film. No, you cant pay me. Look, obviously we cant stay here, but I can develop the black-and-white shots at my place. Its here, in Providence. Let me do that for you.
She stared at him, half suspicious, half dying to be able to believe in someone, anyone. Why?
Why? He looked baffled that shed even ask. Do I look like the kind of man whod let you walk out that door, knowing the trouble youre in? Knowing that your ex could find you at any moment? That the cops are looking for you? That youre scared and alone and probably beyond exhausted, not to mention hungry and broke?
Her throat burned all the more. Im f-
Dont say fine. Dont lie, not to me.
With those pictures, Ill be-
Fine, he said in concert with her, and let out a disparaging sound. Well, your kind of fine sucks, Danielle.
Im sure you have better plans for the evening than developing the film for me. She didnt know why she pushed him, maybe because hearing him voice his concerns had shaken her. Maybe because she didnt want to be forced to accept help, especially from a man who could melt the walls shed so carefully built around her heart without even trying.
At the moment, my only plans are closing up this place so we dont have any more surprise guests. He put the lens cover on the camera. Shut the closet door. Came to stand in front of her; a tall, hauntingly familiar man, looking as if he didnt quite know what to do with her. Reaching out, he took her hand, turned it palm up and dropped the film canister in it. I cant force you to trust me, or to accept my help-
No, you cant.
But I can ask it of you. Please?
She tucked the film into her pocket, overwhelmed by both the need to keep running, and the tightness in her chest that indicated she wanted to let him help. Nick