Page 12 of Oz Wisdom

"I'll scream,” Taylor warned him.

"Scream. No one's around. Remember. You snuck in after hours.”

All her energy and fear pooled in her leg as she aimed for his chest once more.

His grip was gentle but abrupt, catching her ankle mid kick. He stepped forward and lifted her from the counter and turned for the door.

Put me down." She swung her fist. Darn that bag. She twisted and kicked.

Oz’s grip tightened. “You’re wasting your energy.”

His steps were long and easy. His arms warm and comforting. She huffed out a breath and relaxed against him. Truth be told, even though she was too tired to fight, she didn't feel threatened.

"Don't you think you've walked enough from the truck stop to here?"

"You followed me from the truck stop?"

"Had to see where you were going. This explains why I couldn't locate a residence for you."

"You know I'll just run again,” Taylor snapped.

"Once you talk to Ruby, you can go anywhere you like. I'll even drive you there.”

Oddly, she believed him. Or at least wanted to. A few hours of normalcy in a house or wherever this woman wanted to meet couldn’t be too bad. "What does she want?"

"She and Chelle were inseparable for many years. I think she wants to know how she had been doing and if she was happy. You know. All that girl stuff.”

"That's Venus?"

"We don't call her that anymore."

Ruby was Venus. Yes. Chelle had talked about her often. Even more so lately. Okay. One day for her friend and Taylor could be on her way.

Oz set Taylor on her feet and helped her through the break in the fence. "My bike's at the end of this entrance road. Stay here and I'll come back and pick you up."

Taylor moved closer toward the road and watched Oz jog away. She dropped the backpack from her chest and swung it around and slid it up her arms to rest against her back. Her gaze never strayed from him. He strode across the uneven terrain with ease. His slim form seemed to float in the moonlight toward his motorcycle. The engine roared to life, and she wondered again how she hadn't noticed him following her. She must have been more preoccupied than she realized. Or exhausted. Maybe both.

Oz rolled to a stop next to her, and she stepped on the buddy peg and swung her leg over, settling behind him. The cool rush of the night air was refreshing. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the contrast to walking in the scorching sun. She had no idea where they had traveled to when the bike fell silent, and she opened her eyes.

"Doesn't look like anyone's awake," she commented, stepping off the bike.

"That's because the house is empty."

"Where's Venus?"

"I imagine at home in bed. We're not barging in during the night. I'll call and we'll go over in the morning."

"I didn't agree to this. I don't know you.”

"Would you rather sleep in a bed, or on that hard ass sink?"

"An actual bed does sound good,” Taylor whispered.

“Room on the left.” Oz jutted his chin toward a door behind her.

Taylor glanced behind her. A bathroom. A real bathroom with a tub and soft rug to stand on. To soak in a bubble filled tub would be a treat. Relax and—

“Make yourself at home. There’re old tee shirts in the top drawer in there you can sleep in. I’m hitting the sack. It’s been a day.”

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