Hiding From Danger (Danger Incorporated Book 2) (2 page)

Apparently this wasn’t good news.

Sighing, she shoved a foot into a beaten up sneaker that should have been replaced a long time ago. He would have done it himself but she was so damn independent.

“I can’t do this and frankly I’m too tired to argue.” She finished tying her shoe and stood next to the bed they’d made love in. Where she’d given herself to him but always with reservation. She held a part of herself back and it only served to make him want it more. “I won’t be in Tremont forever, West. I told you that in the beginning.”

His chest tightened with fear. He couldn’t say she hadn’t warned him because she had. But he wasn’t an idiot. He knew when a female had feelings for him. He could see it in her eyes when they shared a pizza and laughed. He could feel it in the way she touched him, almost reverently as if he was the first man she’d ever been with. He could hear it in her voice when she said his name.

Gigi was scared and frankly so was he. Scared that she wouldn’t stick around long enough for him to prove she didn’t have anything to be afraid of. He wasn’t planning on hurting her. He only wanted a chance to get closer. Find out more and see if maybe this thing between them had a future.

And he’d sure as shit never felt that way before.

“Why would you want to leave Tremont? I thought you liked your job and the town.”

He could tell she was about to lie to him when she swallowed hard, her cheeks turning pink. “I told you in the beginning that I like to move around. I don’t stay in one place long and I’ve been here almost four months. I’m not leaving tomorrow but eventually I’ll go. There’s no future with me. I don’t think I’m capable of feeling deeply for anyone if you must know.”

“Bullshit. Do you actually believe what comes out of your mouth? I don’t. Don’t take up poker, babe, because your expression says one thing and your words say something else. Right now, I don’t think you’re all that thrilled about leaving Tremont. I think you’d rather slip back between those sheets with me and see what we can get up to before falling fast asleep. If you spend the night I’ll make you bacon and eggs for breakfast.”

Even as the words had tumbled out he knew he was fucking this all up. He was pushing and it was only making her more frightened, ready to bolt. He needed to back off and give her space.

“I don’t want to argue with you. I’m going home.”

Gigi swung her purse over her shoulder and headed out of the bedroom practically racing for the front door. With his much longer legs, he was able to easily catch up to her, and he placed his hand on the door knob over hers, the heat from her skin searing his own flesh.

“I’m sorry, okay?” His finger tightened around hers and he looked down into her unusual amber colored eyes, her long blonde hair disheveled around her shoulders, making her look infinitely kissable. “Listen, I don’t want to fight either. Tonight was too good to let it end this way.”

West dropped his voice to a whisper, his fingers trailing up the satin skin of her arm. He felt her shiver and her lips parted in a half sigh of pleasure. She might not want West but she definitely wanted what he could do to her.

“I don’t either. But I do need to go. Really.”

There was a plea in her voice that tugged at his heart. “I’ll drive you home.”

Gigi shook her head, that determined gleam back in her eyes. “I have my own car. I’ll be fine.”

“That’s not the point but I’ll give in gracefully. This time.”

He didn’t try and stop her from opening the door. A cool gust of wind wafted around them bringing her clean scent to his nostrils, like fresh rain with a hint of soap. It turned him on far more than any expensive perfume or lotion.

“Good night, West.”

She was already down his porch steps and opening her car door.

“Good night, Gigi. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

He meant it as a promise. He’d be sitting in his usual booth at seven-thirty in the morning. If he couldn’t wake up with her in his bed this was the next best thing.

She didn’t reply again, climbing into her old vehicle and backing out of his driveway before heading down the quiet street. Most of the neighbors had turned in for the night long ago.

He stood in the doorway and watched her red taillights until they disappeared into the distance. What had started out as something casual and light had turned into something far different. Surprisingly West wasn’t running scared despite many years of keeping women from getting too serious. He was almost forty and it was honestly past time to find a good woman.

Gigi Sidney was one of the best.

Obviously she didn’t feel the same. But then West had never been a quitter. If she wasn’t sure about him then he’d simply have to show her how good they could be together.

He only needed time.

‡

G
igi stopped at
the red light, blinking back a few unwelcome tears. After all this time she ought to be used to it. Making friends and then leaving them behind. Except that West was much more than just a friend. She’d let him in farther than anyone and that was where she’d gone wrong. If she’d kept him at arm’s length like all the others that had drifted in and out of her life she wouldn’t be in this mess.

When the light turned green, she pulled away from the intersection still lost in her self-pitying thoughts. If she had any sense at all she’d leave Tremont soon. Nothing good could come from hanging around longer. Tonight she’d log on to her old laptop and look for the next place. There would always be another town, each one different but mostly the same. With any luck she’d blend into the background of daily life until it was time to move on again.

This was her life and crying and sniffling didn’t make a damn bit of difference.

Pulling her back to the present, the car behind her threw their high beams into her mirror creating a blinding glare that made her momentarily swerve. Stone cold fear stopped her heart for a split second before starting again, this time beating so fast she thought it might fly out of her chest. She squinted her eyes but couldn’t make out even the shape of the driver in the vehicle.

Stay calm. It’s probably just some kids.

The unknown auto had materialized out of the darkness and was now right behind her revving its engine impatiently. Her fingers tightening on the steering wheel, she glanced again into the rearview. This time she was able to make out the metallic grill of a large pickup truck right on her tail. The driver pulled close…then slowed down…lengthening the distance between their bumpers. She breathed a sigh of relief but it was short-lived. The unseen driver gunned the engine and was right on the ass of her car again.

Just stay cool. Don’t panic.

Feeling faint, she took a deep steadying breath and pressed on the accelerator. The old car whined in protest but the needle on the speedometer slowly climbed until she was fifteen over the speed limit. The truck didn’t budge from her bumper and the reflection from the headlights still made it hard to see.

Okay, that didn’t work. Now what?

With more than a small amount of joy, Gigi glimpsed the twenty-four hour convenience store on the next block. Lit up and friendly, it was just the oasis she’d been praying for. She quickly turned into the parking lot, her sweaty palms slick on the steering wheel, and watched as the pickup truck barreled past the store and into the night.

Still shaking with fright, she pressed her face into her hands and finally let the tears that had been threatening since she’d left West slide down her cheeks. She hated living like this. Scared every single second of every single day. Always on the run. She didn’t know what she’d done in a past life to get shit on this way in this one but here she was.

Alone.

Alive.

For now.

When the chips were down the only person she could count on was herself. She’d known that for a long time although every now and then she had to remind herself. Tonight was one of those times. She longed to have someone she could lean on and trust but that only led to disappointment later. It was better to know the truth up front.

This episode with the truck had been a stark reminder of reality. Life was hard.

It was time to plan her next move. It was time to say goodbye to West and Tremont.

*     *     *

West flipped on
the television and slid between the covers of his bed, Gigi’s scent still clinging to the sheets and pillow case. She was stubborn and he was damn frustrated about the entire situation. Was he so unattractive that she couldn’t even consider sticking around? Was he only good enough to make her come but not to be cared about?

It stunk.

It also gave him an entirely new appreciation for the beautiful ladies who had professed to him their desire for a “real” relationship. He wished he’d handled it better and more sensitively than he had.

West’s phone on the night stand lit up and he sighed in resignation. He might be on leave from the Tremont Police force but as the Head of Detectives he still received calls from his men regarding cases in progress.

He swiped his thumb across the screen. “Anderson.”

“Good. You’re awake.”

Travis Anderson was West’s oldest brother and the man that ran the family business holdings. He was also helping out on West’s campaign to unseat the current asshole of a mayor which was probably the subject of this call.

“What would you have done if I’d been asleep?”

“I assume you wouldn’t have answered the phone so I would have left a message. Am I wrong?”

“I’m a cop. I don’t turn off my phone.”

West wasn’t pissed that Travis had called actually. He needed to talk to someone even if it was only about the campaign or the weather. He’d never liked to be alone all that much. It probably came from being raised in a house full of siblings and cousins. Living alone didn’t seem quite natural.

“Noted. Listen, I got a tip there’s going to be a story in tomorrow’s paper about a case you worked a few years ago. The Loenel murder. I want you to be ready to counter their claims that you railroaded an innocent man to prison.”

West couldn’t hold back a loud snort of derision. Mayor Leon Cavendish must be getting mighty fucking desperate. “Innocent? Michael Cleaver had a list of priors a mile long plus a motive. And he was caught with the bloody knife in his hand, leaning over the body plunging it in Leonel’s chest over and over again. Other than the fact that Cleaver kept saying he was framed, it was an open and shut case.”

“Well I guess he’s sticking to that story and giving out jailhouse interviews now. I just thought you should know. Put together a quote and we’ll get it to the press first thing in the morning.”

The “press” in Tremont consisted of a guy named Earl and when he was sick or on vacation a woman named Sarah who also wrote a column in the paper about gardening. Travis had obviously spent too much time in New York City lately.

“I’ll take care of it.”

“Good. Now tell me why you’re awake this late. Woman troubles, bro?”

West didn’t appreciate the amused tone in Travis’s voice but then West had been pretty tough on Travis and Jason in the past. The three brothers were always busting each other’s balls about one thing or another.

“Everything is fine. Gigi just left. She has an early shift at the diner.”

“Your words say one thing but the sound of your voice says something all together different. Did you two have a fight?”

“No. Yes. Maybe. Shit, I don’t know. She’s not like any other woman I’ve dated in the past.”

“Is that a good or a bad thing?” Already irritated by Gigi’s exit, West could hear his brother laughing. “I like Gigi. She’s a tough one. Doesn’t take any crap from anybody. Yesterday she verbally slapped down some cowboy who tried to cop a feel while she was taking his order.”

This was the first West was hearing about it. He’d have to ask her who it was and have a serious talk with the offending male.

“This whole relationship started out to be more like friends with benefits than a love affair but somewhere along the line I’ve really come to care for her.”

“I take it she’s not on board with the change in direction? Is that why she left your house in the middle of the night?”