Page 13 of Speak No Evil

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Gwen snuggled against Will’s chest, breathing in his distinctive male scent, relishing the strength in his arms. She wanted to stay right where she was all night. She lifted her head, took the handkerchief he handed her, and blew her nose. “I hate this. I’m already acting as if the driver of that car is really after me.”

He squeezed her hand. “I’m sorry to say this, but it does fit with that long-haired guy following you this afternoon. I don’t believe in coincidences.”

She shifted back into the passenger seat and groped in the footwell for her phone. “How can we tell exactly who that car is spying on? The couple upstairs… The husband’s a lawyer, and the wife owns a shop in town. They might have enemies. Who knows?”

“Exactly.” Will held her gaze. “But just because we don’t know now doesn’t mean you should stay here and risk finding out.”

“That’s what I was afraid of.” She rubbed her arms, cold again.

Will cradled one of her hands between his two. “Take a deep breath, Gwen. You’re not alone.”

No, his deep voice, the wonderful heat of his palms, assured her of his very real and very calming presence. She looked into his blue eyes and coaxed out a smile for him. “Thanks.”

“What do you want to do now?”

She rubbed her forehead. She had to stop reacting, and really think about this situation. Consider the ramifications. She was a good planner. Her boss told her that all the time, only he used the term meticulous, which is one of the first requirements of any medical researcher.

“Not sure.” She shrugged. “I’m afraid to go to my family’s home. Or stay with a work colleague—even if I could get ahold of one this late on a Friday night. There are some motels in the area. If I stayed in one, I wouldn’t be endangering anyone. That’s maybe not true, but I don’t know what else to do.”

Will seemed to consider that option, tapping a long finger again his lips. “You’d still be alone. And earlier I sensed you might be nervous about staying in your apartment by yourself. We can drive back to the city, and I can put you up if you want to stay with me.”

Gwen gawked at him. They barely knew each other, never mind the sizzle simmering between them. They had spent no more than three hours in each other’s company and he was willing to put her up overnight?

She rubbed her sweaty palms down her legs and glanced out the Jeep’s back window.

This was like being caught in a tornado with three seconds to decide whether to hide in the bathtub or a cellar. If only she had someone to talk this out with. Like Erin. Or Will Strongbow. Will sounded like he had experience surviving undercover operations, not that she believed that was what she faced now. But would it hurt to listen to him?

“You’re sure you want to be stuck with me?” she asked.

“It’s my pleasure.” A sparkle glittered in his gaze.

His deep voice rumbled through her, leaving in its wake a fissure of sexual awareness curling in all her vulnerable places. This guy was sex on a stick, though why he was attracted to her, she didn’t know. Erin was the beautiful one. She tugged on the bottom of her top, rearranged the sweater on her lap, and blotted the sweat on her upper lip. She’d never been in this sort of situation, and she had to get this right. “I need to know if your offer comes with certain expectations?”

“No strings.” He held up his hands. “No ulterior motives.”

The serious way he regarded her said he intended to keep his word, but inside, a stupid flutter still sprang to life.

“Thanks.” She stopped twisting her hands, smoothed her palms down her thighs and smiled at him. She would trust him on this just as she had earlier in downtown Manhattan. There weren’t any other good options, anyway. Thinking about her friend’s experiences with a stalker, she sure didn’t want whatever was going on to affect her work colleagues.

“That sounds like the best idea.” She wouldn’t call it the perfect plan, or even the best, but she could always change her mind later, if necessary. “Would you mind stopping for ice cream? There’s a Bailey’s not far from here.”

“Only if they have Rocky Road.”

A laugh escaped her. “All respectable ice cream parlors carry that.”

“Just making sure. I need to buy gas before we head back, and I wouldn’t mind grabbing some grub.”

“That sandwich…” Her thoughts flashed back to Henry’s deli. “I didn’t give you a chance to finish at the coffee shop. Sorry.”

“I didn’t have to follow you.”

“I’m glad you did.” She gave him directions that would take them to a casual restaurant in the next town. “In the meantime, I’m going to report the SUV to the police.”

Will pulled the Jeep back onto the road. “Give them the location but tell them you can’t stay at the scene to wait for them.”

“Do you think they’ll still check it out?”

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