Karma (17 page)

“My head is doing pretty well. It still hurts occasionally and sometimes I have to take painkillers that knock me out. Which is why I didn’t get back to you,” she said, knowing she owed him an explanation.

She wouldn’t tell him she’d been afraid he’d read too much into a return call. “But thank you so much for calling to check on me.”

He nodded in understanding. “Frankly I’m surprised your watchdog told you I called.”

“Dare told me,” she assured him evenly.

“How did you like the flowers? I wanted to make sure you got them.”

Liza blinked in surprise. “
You
sent the flowers?”

“You didn’t know?”

She shook her head.

“No wonder you didn’t call,” he said, more to himself than to her.

Embarrassment flooded her. “I’m sorry I didn’t acknowledge them, but there was no card and I just thought…”

Jeff’s eyes widened in sudden understanding. “You thought your cop sent them,” he muttered, and shook his head.

Liza gritted her teeth, a mixture of embarrassment and
frustration filling her. Could this mess with Jeff get any worse? They’d had a great working relationship until she’d gone and screwed it up in a misguided attempt to be nice and invite him to meet her at the fair. So she could introduce him to people in town, not because she had any romantic interest in the man.

“Jeff, listen. I realize this is awkward and we’ve had a lot of misunderstandings in a short time—” Liza began.

“It’s fine. You already told me where I stand. The flowers were just what the card said—if you’d gotten it. A friendly get-well gesture from a colleague,” he assured her, sounding like he meant it. “And I’m sorry for what I said about your cop friend. He just stepped up and took over before I could.” He shrugged and his cheeks flushed.

He was embarrassed, she realized. Men and their egos.

“I hope we can get back to where things were before?” Jeff asked.

Liza smiled and nodded, admiring his honesty. “Of course we can. And I appreciate the flowers. They really were beautiful.”

“Well, I’m glad you’re better. And now I should get upstairs to work.”

“You’ve got a tough boss, so yeah, you probably should.”

Jeff laughed and Liza joined him. “I’m heading for Mystic, so I probably won’t see you back here until tomorrow.”

“Okay. Let me know when you’re ready to move forward there.”

“I will.”

She raised a hand in a wave and walked out to her car, once more.

The sun shone down and Liza put the convertible top down for the ride. Maybe some fresh air and a road trip would help settle her mind and her mood. She ignored the urge to check her phone to see if Dare had called. It wouldn’t matter if he had, since her brother would always be an issue between them.

Which shouldn’t matter if what she wanted from Dare was a quick fling. That’s all she would allow in her life. So why were all these unwanted feelings and emotions rioting around in her head? Why did her heart feel like it was breaking a mere morning after just because Dare had walked away so easily?

She ground her teeth in frustration and pulled out of the parking lot, heading through town. Her brakes felt funny—mushy-like—and she narrowed her gaze.

She’d just had the car inspected last month. At the end of the road, there was a stop sign and she decided to test the brakes before getting onto the highway. At the intersection, she slowed and still didn’t like the squishy way the brakes felt. And when she attempted to bring the car to a stop, nothing happened.

The vehicle still rolled and she began to pound on the brakes. Still nothing. Panic filled her and she hit the floor harder with her foot. Still nothing.

Someone was looking out for her because no more cars were coming on either side of the street, but her heart picked up speed, since ahead of her was the main traffic light in town. Cars would be coming from all directions.

Liza glanced around frantically. To her left was a row of shops. To her right was the main lawn and the beautiful flowers lining the street. With no alternative, she cut her wheel right and held on as she deliberately turned her small car onto the lawn.

She shut her eyes and screamed as the car hit the gazebo.

Dare walked into the station, hot and annoyed. His first call of the day was spent arguing with the Delaneys, an older couple, over the fact that, yes, their barking dog was creating a disturbance and either they’d have to agree to take him inside or Dare would be forced to call the pound. As it was, he issued them a citation for animal cruelty for keeping their pets outdoors for so long in ninety-eight-degree heat.

“You look like you’ve been through the ringer,” Cara said from her seat behind her desk.

“Says the woman who drew desk duty,” he muttered, wiping the sweat off his forehead.

He shook his head and walked to the water cooler, filling his water bottle with cold water and guzzling it fast.

“A car just slammed into the center median in town,” Sally, the dispatcher, called out. “I sent Marsden over.”

Cara raised an eyebrow. “That’s something you don’t see every day. Wonder if it’s a drunk and disorderly or an old person who shouldn’t be behind a wheel?”

Sally shrugged and put her headset back on.

Dare’s cell phone rang and he pulled it out of his pocket. Sam’s number showed on the screen and every nerve he possessed screamed in warning.

“Talk to me,” Dare said.

“The accident in town? It’s Liza.”

Dare’s family history immediately flashed through his mind; his parents’ deaths, Faith being hit by a car while trying to push Tess out of the way, and the ever-present vision of Stuart Rossman as he lay dying on the floor.

“Hey, did you hear me? I said she’s okay.” Sam’s voice intruded on Dare’s run down memory lane. “I just thought you’d want to know.”

Dare ran for his car before Sam had finished his sentence, Cara yelling at him to wait as she caught up to him in the hall.

“What is it?”

“Liza’s car hit the center median.”

Cara’s eyes opened wide. “If it weren’t for bad luck, she’d have none at all. Give me a second to clear it and I’ll go with you.”

“Move it or I’m leaving without you,” Dare said. Sam and Cara were officially partners, and since Dare’s partner moved out of state, he’d been solo until the police chief, who just happened to be Sam’s father, Simon Marsden, handled reassignments and new hires.

Five minutes later, they pulled up to the scene to find Sam’s cruiser parked at an angle, blocking off Main Street, while another officer rerouted traffic around the side streets.

An ambulance pulled up seconds behind Dare.

He strode across the lawn and past the police barrier. By the time he reached the scene of the accident, his heart was permanently lodged in the back of his throat. Then he saw Liza’s small convertible wedged into the gazebo. The top was down, the front end had taken a beating, and the air bag had deployed. Liza sat on the ground, Sam by her side, and she looked fine.

As Dare approached, Sam was talking too quietly for Dare to make out what he was saying. Liza, on the other hand, was speaking loud and clear. “I’m fine. I do not need a hospital and I just want to go home.”

Dare held back a grin, relieved that she really was okay and clearly feeling well enough to argue with Sam.

“What happened?” he asked, kneeling down beside them.

Liza looked up at him and narrowed her gaze. “That’s who you called when you stepped away from me?” she asked Sam, accusation and anger powering her voice.

“If I didn’t call him, he’d kick my ass,” Sam explained.

Damned right,
Dare thought. And though he understood why she didn’t want to see him, he’d be damned if he was going anywhere now.

“Well, I’m going to kick it now,” Liza said, and Sam held up his hands as if he needed protection.

“You don’t want him to have to arrest you for assaulting an officer,” Dare said to her.

“Go away.” She refused to look at him.

He muttered a curse under his breath. “Can’t do that.”

The paramedic strode over before Liza could reply. “What happened?” he asked.

“Ms. McKnight had an accident,” Sam explained. “Air bag deployed. No visible injuries and she’s been coherent and awake since I arrived on the scene.”

Christopher knelt down. “We meet again.”

Liza wrinkled her eyebrows in confusion.

“I took you from the fair to the hospital,” he explained.

Liza shook her head. “I’m sorry. I don’t remember you.”

Christopher smiled. “That’s pretty normal for a head injury. How are you now?”

“I’m fine. I just want to go home.”

“As soon as I check you out, I’m sure you can.”

Sam rose to his feet and Dare followed him to a private corner while Christopher examined Liza. “What the hell happened?” Dare asked.

“She said her brakes felt spongy. She planned to pull over after the traffic light and had already slowed down some, but when she tried to brake for red, the car kept going and all she could do was pick a fairly empty spot and brace for impact.” Sam shook his head in disbelief.

Dare was nauseous. “What kind of new car loses its brakes? I want that vehicle thoroughly checked out.”

Sam nodded. “You know I’m on it.”

“Thanks. And I appreciate you calling me.”

Sam smirked. “You owe me one. She’s pretty pissed at me now.”

“You’ll live,” Dare said wryly.

“Yeah, well, in the meantime, I called Mason’s Towing. He’ll be here in a few minutes.”

“Good. I’m going to go back and see how she’s doing.”

Sam raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t seem like the lady wanted to see you.”

Dare shoved his hands into his pants pockets. “Yeah, well, maybe I gave her good reason.”

But the minute he’d heard Liza had been in an accident, all the problems between them hadn’t seemed important. It would become apparent soon enough, though, that she didn’t feel the same way.

By the time he approached Liza again, Christopher had finished examining her and had given her the all clear. “Your
neck will be sore tomorrow,” he warned her. “Your ribs and chest too. The air bag does a number on the body, but it definitely protected you.”

“What’s a few more aches and pains?” she asked, and Dare recognized the forced joke for what it was.

“And you’re sure your head is okay?” Christopher asked. “You do have a recent injury.”

“Yes. And if anything hurts, I’ll call Dr. Collins,” she promised. “May I go home now?”

“It’s fine with me. Officer?”

Christopher turned to Sam, who nodded. “I need to finish taking witness statements and I’ll need you to come by later to sign yours,” he said to Liza. “But for now you can go.”

“I suggest you get some rest,” Christopher said as he gathered his equipment. “You’re probably more shaken up than you realize.”

Given Liza’s pale face, Dare had to agree.

“Do you have a ride home?” Sam asked her.

And Dare braced himself for the inevitable argument as he volunteered his services.

“I’ll take her home,” Dare said.

“Here we go again,” Liza mumbled. The difference today was that she had her wits about her and she’d also had the opportunity to experience the flip side of Dare’s do-gooder persona. It wasn’t going to happen again. “I don’t think so,” Liza said, responding to Dare. “But no,” she conceded to Sam, “I don’t have a ride home.”

Dare growled low in his throat.

“I have to take statements here. Why don’t you let Officer Barron take you home?” Sam actually sounded like he felt bad. “Since he’s on duty, it’s not like he can stick around,” he said to Liza.

“Way to help a buddy, Sam.”

She couldn’t help but laugh. The poor man was caught in the middle. “Fine. I’ll take the ride, Officer Barron.”

Liza was pleased to see Dare’s face had turned red with anger and frustration.

“Remember, I need you to come by and sign a statement,” Sam said.

Liza nodded. “I’m going to rent a car, so that won’t be a problem,” she said before Dare could possibly jump in and say he’d bring her down to the station.

He could drive her home, drop her off, and go back to work. She didn’t need another thing from him. But when she rose to her feet, she was horrified to realize her legs were trembling.

Dare grabbed on to her elbow. “Normal reaction,” he assured her as he led her through the gathering crowd.

She glanced back, wincing as she saw the damage her car had done to the beautiful center of town. She’d mowed down the impatiens and taken out the gazebo. “So much for getting the Beautification Committee to put the fund-raiser money into the youth center.” She shook her head, beyond disappointed she’d undermined her own cause.

“I wouldn’t worry about that right now,” Dare said.

She ignored him and continued to do so on the walk to his car and the entire drive home.

He pulled into her driveway and cut the engine.

“Thanks for the ride,” she said in a polite if frosty tone.

It was his turn to ignore her. He climbed out of the car and walked around to her side, too late to open her door, but he still attempted to help her up the path to the house.

“I can get myself inside.” In fact, she already had her keys in her hand, since she’d planned on bolting away from him as soon as possible.

“Liza, you have every right to be angry as hell—” he said, looking too damned handsome in his uniform, his sunglasses covering his eyes until he slipped them to the top of his head.

“Thank you for your permission,” she sarcastically answered, holding on to her lingering hurt from earlier by a thread.

She let herself into her house. Unfortunately, she failed at her attempt to leave him on the other side of the door.

He barreled his way inside, following right behind her.

“I thought you had to go back to work,” she said, exasperated.

“I do. But not until I make sure you aren’t hurt.” He stared at her with such concern in those gorgeous brown eyes, he’d melt her heart if she let him.

She shivered and stepped farther away. “The paramedic already said I’m fine, so you have nothing to worry about. Which brings up an interesting point. What is with this sudden show of concern?”