Part 8 (1/2)

But for the first time in his life, something stronger made him slide into the front seat and close the door behind him. If he'd had to put a name to it, he'd have called it insanity.

SAMANTHA STOOD LOOKING over the roof of the Bronco, breathing deeply as she counted to ten. The man was impossible. He didn't have a clue how dangerous this was or what was at stake. She She didn't even know. But she knew one thing for sure: nothing was going the way she'd thought it would. The kidnappers had tried to take Zack didn't even know. But she knew one thing for sure: nothing was going the way she'd thought it would. The kidnappers had tried to take Zack again again and in broad daylight. Something was very wrong, and the last thing she needed was some contractor playing hero. and in broad daylight. Something was very wrong, and the last thing she needed was some contractor playing hero.

She counted to ten again and then climbed in without looking at him. ”Do you have any idea what you're doing?”

”Not a clue.”

”This doesn't have anything to do with you.”

”Or you, right?” he asked. ”It's just a job, right?”

His tone made it clear he suspected this case was personal. ”Speaking of jobs, don't you have one you need to get to?” she asked, finally looking over at him.

He smiled, although a little regretfully, she thought. His blue eyes were bright behind his wire rims.

”Actually, I'm on a leave of sorts. Some personal things I needed to tend to. But they can wait.”

He was just being a nice guy. And here she'd thought guys like him were extinct. They could be-if she let him get involved in this.

”Please, let me handle this,” she said more kindly.

He buckled his seat belt. ”Believe me, I won't get in your way. I'm just going along for the ride. I've heard Seattle is nice this time of year.”

She shook her head. ”I know you want to help-”

”You really don't expect me to walk away knowing those men haven't given up?” he said, his gaze suddenly intent.

So this was was about protecting her and Zack. Under other circ.u.mstances it might have been funny, since she was trained for this and he wasn't. She took a deep breath. He'd gotten in a couple of lucky punches in the cafe parking lot. But he didn't realize the kind of people she was dealing with. He was a nice man with a comfortable, ordinary life, and he'd mistakenly thought the two of them had that in common. about protecting her and Zack. Under other circ.u.mstances it might have been funny, since she was trained for this and he wasn't. She took a deep breath. He'd gotten in a couple of lucky punches in the cafe parking lot. But he didn't realize the kind of people she was dealing with. He was a nice man with a comfortable, ordinary life, and he'd mistakenly thought the two of them had that in common.

”Will, I appreciate your worrying about us, but I have to tell you, there's a good chance it's going to get a lot more dangerous, and quite frankly, you aren't-” She waved a hand through the air. He was no Van Damme. ”Trained for this.”

He raised a brow. ”But you are, right?” He smiled at her, all hundred watts.

He did have a wonderful smile.

”I promise to stay out of your way. Just ignore me.”

Ignore him? He had to be kidding.

Desperate, she thought about trying to force him out of the car at gunpoint. Great idea. She'd seen this particular set of his jaw before. Well, she could always handcuff him again. But she had a feeling it would take more than a kiss next time.

”Is there anything I can say to change your mind?” she asked with a sigh. ”Or make you come to your senses?”

”Not until we reach Seattle and Zack is safe.”

He had no idea what that might take. She She had no idea what that was going to take. She glanced back at Zack. He looked pleased Will was coming along. had no idea what that was going to take. She glanced back at Zack. He looked pleased Will was coming along.

She looked at Will again and felt a sharp pang of guilt. She'd done this to this man. Taken a perfectly normal man, kissed him, handcuffed him and ruined him.

If he kept behaving this out of character- She hated to think what he'd do next. She'd have to watch him closely.

Come on, admit it, you like having him along.

Right, just what I need-a man who wants to protect me even though he doesn't have a clue from what.

Exactly.

It's stupid.

You think it's kind of sweet. And you know Zack likes him.

Mumbling under her breath, she started the Bronco and backed out, wondering when she'd be seeing the kidnappers again. At least now she knew it was just a matter of time. The kidnappers wanted Zack too badly. Zack and and his backpack. his backpack.

WILL FELT STRANGELY light-headed, senses heightened, heart pounding, adrenaline pumping.

Reckless, was more like it. It was as if someone had taken control of both his mind and body. He was wearing another man's clothing. Riding in a souped-up Bronco. On the run from criminals. With a woman who was all wrong for him and a five-year-old thief.

And amazingly, what surprised him the most was that he couldn't remember the last time he'd felt so good.

He watched for the dark green Oldsmobile as they drove through the sleepy little town of Malta. He didn't think the kidnappers would make another move on them in town. But what did he know?

She pulled up to the stop sign across from Honker's convenience store and gas station at the junction for Highway 2. Then turned west.

”We need another car,” she said.

He glanced around. ”Do you want me to look for one you can hot-wire?”

She glanced over at him askance. ”I don't steal cars-” she said, sounding offended. Just kids. Just kids.

”I have a cousin who lives in b.u.t.te. We can borrow his pickup.”

”Another cousin?” he asked in disbelief.

”It's a big family.”

”I should say. Just how many cousins do you have?”

She shook her head. ”On both sides of the family? A lot. I've never bothered to count them.”

He couldn't imagine a family that large. His had been small-just his father, mother and sister. His father's work required him to travel a lot, moving his family with him, never settling for long in one spot. If he had a lot of relatives, he wasn't aware of them.

The Bronco cruised down the two-lane, the land flat, pale-yellow dry and smelling of autumn. In the distance he could make out the purple smudge of a mountain range.

She hadn't driven far when she pulled down a fis.h.i.+ng access road and stopped beside the Milk River, flus.h.i.+ng a flock of Canada geese. The river water was brown, low and slow-moving.