Pure Dynamite (17 page)

Adam moved in and held out a bottle of water and a package of crackers. "Eat, then you can check him."

He offered the same to Lyle, who took the water to swallow more pain pills, but set the crackers aside untouched.

"I'm too tired to eat."

"You should try anyway." Adam helped him back in the car. "It might help you regain some strength."

"I doubt a couple crackers will make much difference," Lyle said. "Right, Doc?"

Renata poked her last bite into her mouth, more hungry than she'd realized. She cleaned her hands before donning latex gloves.

"Everything helps. Especially the water. With the blood you've lost, fluids are vital."

"What the hell is that for then?" Lyle pointed to the IV she had reconnected.

"To keep your blood volume stable. And to get the antibiotic into your system quicker." She pointed to his bandage. Blood had seeped through the layers of gauze, staining them. "When you strain, you restart the bleeding."

But Lyle was already drifting to sleep. When she finished Adam carried the supplies back to the trunk.

Renata took advantage of the moment to study her surroundings. Faint light seeped in from outside. The barn was quite old and weather-beaten, and had either been deserted for a long time or had been emptied just for them. The thick layer of straw strewn across the dirt appeared to be fresh and wouldn't show tire tracks or footprints. She didn't detect any animal smells, or see signs of any farm equipment, making her wonder if the barn was used solely as a safe haven for criminals.

She watched Adam refill the car's gas tank using the five-gallon cans. "Are we taking off again?"

He shook his head. "Just staying prepared."

"For a quick getaway?"

"If necessary."

When he finished he came up behind her, herding her toward the open car door. "Climb back in. We need to get some sleep."

"I'm not tired."

"Fine. You still have to get in the car. And I still have to restrain you again."

Renata had mentally prepared herself for this; knew she wouldn't remain unbound. But unlike before when he'd tied her, she had a plan. She had spent part of the car ride discreetly loosening the old gauze. She was confident that given more time, she could work free of her new bonds.

The challenge was what to do, then. Timing was critical, as she'd only get one chance.

She got back in the front seat and watched as Adam knelt beside her. When he grasped her wrists, she pulled back, putting up token resistance so he wouldn't become suspicious.

Then she heard the
chink
of metal, and began struggling in earnest. "No handcuffs!"

"You'd loosen the gauze sooner or later, and I can't risk it." He depressed a lever to recline the seat before putting an arm to her shoulder, to force her backwards. "Just in case you change your mind about snoozing."

She scowled. They both knew reclining would make it even more difficult to move with her hands cuffed.

Adam climbed behind the wheel and slouched toward the doorframe. Ignoring her, he yawned and closed his eyes. Renata watched in amazement as he almost immediately fell asleep.

God she hated him.

Adam watched her through slitted eyes, wondered what she was thinking. He knew the types of things that went through a hostage's mind was familiar with the psychology of a prisoner. But that didn't tell him her personal slant on the situation.

Renata was a strong woman, a problem solver. Yes, she was scared but she wouldn't let fear stop her. First and foremost she'd try to escape. He needed to anticipate her; watch her closely. Which wouldn't be difficult. She was easy on the eyes.

Too easy. The pull of attraction surprised him. She wasn't his type. He preferred redheads. Tall ones. Short women were hard for men his height to kiss— unless you were in bed with them.

Of course he hadn't had any trouble kissing her the night before, when he'd needed to confiscate her pager. He'd damn near forgotten his mission.

He eyed her mouth, tried to analyze what about it fascinated him. It had to be those full, pouty lips. They looked swollen. Sexy. Just begging for a kiss.

His gaze drifted lower. He remembered the body search, how he'd tried to keep it impersonal. Hard to do when she was one hundred percent female: lush and curved in all the right places. The memory made Adam grow hard.
Not good.

He tried to think of willing females who'd be available when this assignment wrapped. Several names came to mind; women who thought of him only in sexual terms. Like Lizzy Yale.

Lizzy had lived next door when Adam was in high school. She knew what he endured at home, had called the police once when his father had been on a particularly vicious rampage. She brought flowers to the hospital afterwards.

Lizzy was twice his age, divorced a handful of times. She was also the horniest woman Adam had ever met. Or at least that was how he'd thought of her when he was sixteen. Lizzy had let him crash on her couch a few times. Until she walked in on him in the bathroom one day. He'd been naked and she'd seen it all. Especially the bruises and scars he tried hard to hide.

But Lizzy had focused on his groin, had boldly touched him, cupped him.
There.
Told him that with his face and his penis no woman would care about anything else.
"And unlike love, great sex will never break your heart."
Her motto. Then she'd taken him to bed and taught him a thing or two about toe curling.

For a time that had been enough. Raw sex. Physical gratification. Lizzy had been right. Most women didn't care about anything else. When he was clothed, he looked fine and they clamored to be at his side. When he was naked they turned their heads and clamored for him to get
inside.
He obliged.

He blinked purposely squashing those memories. He'd long ago given up his libidinous ways. So why
was it just now dawning on him that he'd also given up the dream of finding someone who'd care for
all
of him?

Morning turned to early afternoon. Except for the hum of soft rain, and Lyle's snoring, the barn remained quiet. No outside noise reached Renata's ears. No cars. No planes. It was as if the world beyond had ceased to exist.

She kept expecting—hoping—that the doors would be thrown open as a SWAT team swept in and rescued her. It never happened. Minutes seemed to tick forward, then skip backward, as if time were as much a hostage as she.

It was impossible to close her eyes. She worried that in sleep she might miss an opportunity for escape.

Bored she studied Adam as he slept. Grudgingly she admitted the man was in top physical condition. Even relaxed his arms bulged and his abs rippled. That type of physique was only acquired with serious weight lifting, which he'd probably had plenty of time to do in prison.

A giant of a man, he was so tall he barely had room to lean back in the car. As it was, his head was tilted at an awkward angle against the door frame. The thought that he'd have a sore neck when he awoke gave her a small amount of comfort.

She started to turn away when her eye caught his denim-clad leg. Outlined perfectly in his pocket, was the handcuff key. Within reach, yet unattainable. She sighed wished she had the nerve to go for it. But those jeans were just a little too tight; the key a little too close to that bulge beneath his fly.

She averted her eyes and fumbled with the cuffs, testing them. She squeezed her fingers together. If she could just compress her knuckles slightly, slip her hand free—

She sensed Adam's eyes were open and looked up. The man was uncanny. He never said anything, just shook his head and went back to sleep. Damn him.

Angry and frustrated, Renata leaned back, determined to come up with a plan.

At some point she must have drifted off, because when she awoke, Adam was gone. Disoriented, she studied the patches of light shifting between boards. Judging by the shadows, it had to be late afternoon. She couldn't have slept more than an hour or two. Had they left her?

She scrambled to sit up.

"Relax, doll." Lyle's voice drifted across the seat. "I'm still here. Care to join me?"

"Drop dead."

Lyle coughed. "Your big, bad savior ain't here, so I suggest you watch your smart mouth."

"Where's—"

At that moment one of the barn doors opened and Adam stepped inside. Relief flashed over her.

"Speak of the devil," Lyle snorted. "Actually, his timing's perfect. I've got to piss. Bad."

Lyle started complaining as soon as Adam drew close. Adam helped him outside, then returned and unfastened the handcuffs.

Renata rubbed her wrists, her arms tingling from poor circulation. "Maybe next time you could leave them a bit looser."

"Sore?"

At her nod, he grasped her wrists and straightened her arms before lightly pressing his fingers into her forearms. The discomfort disappeared as he worked the flesh.

She marveled at how he knew which muscles were most tense and where to rub to ease the cramping. Was that because he'd spent so much time in handcuffs himself?

He dropped her wrists and stepped away. "The rain's stopped and we'll be leaving soon. So I'll take you outside now."

Renata would have loved to refuse his offer ... but she couldn't.

Outside, the sun was getting ready to slip behind the trees, the sky muddy with clouds that promised more rain. It was hard to believe an entire day had passed. Once again Adam gave her privacy to relieve herself, while he remained nearby. His actions irritated her. Thoughtful or cruel, everything this man did would be wrong as long as he held her against her will.

Back inside the barn, he tossed her a bottle of water and another pack of crackers. For a moment, she debated refusing the food simply to exercise her right to defy him. Except that she knew her body needed every bit of fuel she could get. If the opportunity to run arose, she had to be ready.