Page 5 of Allie's Shelter

She felt the glance he slid her way like a warm touch on her cheek even as he rounded the curve. In a minute, they’d be crossing the bridge, and two minutes after that, they’d be parked on Main Street.

“What’s going on that has people shooting at you?”

She wanted to tell him, but couldn’t bring herself to put him in the line of fire. No matter how they’d parted, what they’d shared was a sweet spot in her heart that she preferred to keep tucked away.

“I’m sure it’s a misunderstanding. Probably a robbery that went bad. Everyone knows my aunt is out of town and she has plenty of valuables.”

“True. That explains her absence but not why you’re here.”

“You first.” She shifted in her seat, watching his face in the improving light. “No one’s seen you since the summer we graduated and you miraculously turn up at the right moment tonight?”

“More of my well documented bad luck?” He winked at her, but she wasn’t buying the careless routine. He was up to something.

“Stop with the bull. Don’t think I missed the fact that you were in the house.” She gulped as a new possibility occurred to her. There were rumors he’d joined Special Forces and been dealing with covert missions around the world. She didn’t give the gossip much credit and yet she’d read enough to know that Special Forces personnel often found work as bodyguards or private investigators. Sometimes even as hired muscle. Since she hadn’t hired him…”Oh. God. Let me out.”

“What?”

“Let me out. Let me go. Please, Ross.” Why hadn’t she put it together before now? She fought back the rising panic. He’d been in the house. He’d said he was doing his job. She might have asked precisely what that meant…if she hadn’t just been shot at.

“Allie, calm down.”

“I’m so stupid.” She wrestled with the door handle before she remembered the proof she needed was still in the trunk. “You’re with them aren’t you? You shot him so he couldn’t tell me you were working together.”

“That’s ridiculous.”

His voice, dark and flat as the lake in the early morning, sent a chill over her. “Is it?” She reached into her bag, but the sheriff had confiscated the bottle of mace she kept on her key ring. She dropped her head back on the headrest and closed her eyes, defeated. “Whatever you’re going to do, please be quick about it.” Surely he could do that for old time’s sake.

His answer was to slam on the brakes and stop the car with an obnoxious squeal.

“I’m not going to kill you.” He shoved the gear shift to park. “I don’t go around killing people to shut them up.”

She opened her eyes just a crack, enough to take in the full heat of his infuriated stare. She did a mental replay and realized what she’d said, how he’d taken it. “That’s not what I meant.”

“Isn’t it?”

Again she hit rewind, tamping down the panic. “Fine. It is. Sort of. But you won’t answer my questions. Why shouldn’t I think the worst?”

His inhale was loud, the exhale louder. He’d always stopped to take a breath like this when he was irritated or otherwise stressed out. She’d admired that control even when they were kids in the back seat of his old Chevy Camaro…

No Allie, don’t go there. “It’s been a tough road lately. I don’t have much faith in anyone.” Not even herself.

“Allie. You are safe.” His voice was low, each word deliberate. She could practically hear his teeth grinding together. “I don’t know who you think I’m working for. I’m doing a favor for Sheriff Cochran,” he said. “That’s all there is to it.”

“Right. Okay.” His answer soothed her frayed nerves. She reached again, but the door was still locked. “You can let me out. I won’t go screaming into the night.” She glanced up and down her side of the deserted street for anyone else who might be pointing a gun at her. Surely no one would take a shot at her in front of witnesses. She wanted to look at the motel, to see if anyone was in the office, but that meant looking in Ross’ direction again. Not worth it, not when she felt this fragile.

“You are staying in town.”

“Not much choice,” she agreed.

“Nope.” He punched the button and the doors unlocked with a loud clack. “I’ll get your bag.”

“I’ve got it.” She scrambled out of the car, sliding the backpack over her shoulder and racing to reach the trunk first. She wanted to trust someone, but she couldn’t. No one else should be hurt because she’d been naive and foolish.

They reached for the bag at the same time, fingers brushing where they met on the handles. He was as warm as he’d ever been, but his hand was harder, stronger than before. She studied it, saw a new, white scar slicing across his knuckles. This wasn’t the hand of the boy she’d loved, this was solid proof of how much she didn’t know about the man he’d become.

“Let me carry the damn bag, Allie.”

She let go. Southern style chivalry was probably the root of it, but he was cagey now, so unlike the open book he’d been in high school. He was up to something. She didn’t know how he fit into her problem, but she didn’t believe in coincidence or perfect timing.