Part 21 (1/2)
”Did you get the license plate?”
”I tried to get a look when he, I a.s.sume it was a he, was following me. There were no plates, at least not in front.”
”Had you ever seen the vehicle before?” he asked. ”Following you, maybe?”
”Not that I noticed,” I said. ”But . . .”
”But what?”
”I did notice a truck outside my house when I was on the phone with you the other night. For a second I thought it might be paparazzi. I didn't think much of it.”
”Same one?”
”I . . . I can't say.”
”Same color?”
”I think so.”
”Didn't see a driver?”
”No, but it doesn't feel like something Randy would do. He's capable of a lot of things-but murder? I don't think so.”
”I tend to agree with you. This has to do with the actor murders. Someone is p.i.s.sed.”
Silence settled over us again. Then he said, ”You know, you should probably stay out of this from now on.”
”Yes,” I said, ”I probably should.”
”But you won't, will you?”
I looked at him. He was staring straight ahead.
”I'm going to give it some serious consideration,” I said.
He pulled up in front of my house and turned off the engine. He was looking out his window, thinking about something. Then he turned to me and held my hands.
”Look, I don't know what this is between us. I do know it's pretty amazing.” I was about to jump in when he said, ”Let me finish. I care too much about you to lose you. So if you stay involved in this case, I'll be stuck on you like glue.” He held my eyes. ”You got a problem with that?”
I absolutely did not have a problem with that. Jakes being stuck on me in any way, shape or form only felt like a good thing. To all different parts of my body.
”I can't say I do,” I answered.
Suddenly he grabbed me and kissed me so hard it took my breath away. After a long moment he pulled away and whispered, ”You want me to walk you in?” His lips were still touching mine.
”No,” I stammered. ”I'll, um, be fine. I-I have enough to explain to Sarah and my mother.”
Still with our lips slightly touching, he added, ”And I think you have something to explain to Paul, don't you?” We were looking into each other's eyes.
”I do. Yes, I do.” I took a deep breath and we kissed again.
When we pulled apart, he said, ”So, about tonight-the truck, you getting hit-we agree it was deliberate, right?”
”No doubt about it. That s.h.i.+thead followed me from the studio and must have planned the whole thing,” I said. Just thinking about it was p.i.s.sing me off.
”Uh-oh. This is bad.”
”Yeah, it's bad. Some a.s.shole tried to run me off the road.”
”No, this. You're gettin' mad.”
”So what?” I asked. ”Shouldn't I be mad?”
”Your life probably flashed in front of your eyes as you were skidding across the highway,” he said. ”And you probably thought about Sarah.”
”I did.” I blinked at him. ”What's your point?”
”And you might have even said a prayer. 'G.o.d, get me out of this, let me see my baby again, and I promise I'll forget all about this business and leave it to the police.' ”
”Jakes-”
”But now you're gettin' angry, and by tomorrow you'll be livid, and you'll forget all about your promise to G.o.d or to yourself.”
”I'll be careful. And you're going to be stuck on me, right? Like glue?” I even liked the thought of it.
He turned back so that he was facing front again.
I reached out and touched his arm. ”I really will be careful. I want a chance to find out what this is with us as much as you do. And you know how I feel about my daughter. I won't do anything stupid, I promise.”
”You better not.” He gave me another kiss.
”I'd better go inside now or I won't go at all.”
I opened the door, started to get out.
”Alex!”
”Yes?” I looked at him over my shoulder.
”I'm glad I was there for you. When you needed me.”
I took a moment to really see him. ”So am I.”
Chapter 39.