Page 4 of Fast Justice

“Going into work?”

“No. Meeting with your boss.”

Oh. She hadn’t realized they would be interviewing him today with the others. “Shit, I’m going to be so late,” she groaned, anxiety forming a tight ball in the pit of her stomach.

“Don’t worry about that.” He took her arm, his grip gentle but sure. “Can you stand?”

“Yeah.” Her legs were a little weak as she got out of the car, her high heels wobbling slightly on the pavement. Malcolm steadied her, and she had to keep from reaching for him when he withdrew his hand, leaving her feeling strangely bereft.

Letting out a deep breath, Rowan took a moment to get her bearings. Two people—presumably the drivers from one of the collisions—were in a heated argument next to their vehicles. Traffic all around them was a snarled nightmare. It would take forever for emergency crews to reach them and clean up the mess.

She walked around to look at her back bumper, then the damage on the passenger side. The front door was caved in and the safety glass in the window was cracked into a thousand pieces. “It’s still drivable, right?” she asked Malcolm.

“Yeah, but you’ve got zero visibility out the passenger window.”

Damn. The cops would have to document everything before she could leave. She’d also have to talk to the other drivers involved and fill out insurance paperwork. At least she didn’t need to have her car towed. Once she got to the office she could have her assistant arrange to have it taken to a body shop and get a rental.

“Your insurance and registration in the glove box?” Malcolm asked her.

“Yes, but I can get—”

He ducked inside the open driver’s side door and leaned across the seat to grab it for her, more muscles flexing along his spine and shoulders beneath the shirt. Although she’d felt the hard planes and contours of his body against hers and under her hands in the few weeks they’d dated, she’d never gotten the chance to see him shirtless. She’d certainly fantasized about it plenty, though, and had a clear mental picture of what he’d look like.

As he climbed back out, he stilled, staring at something. Following his gaze to her key, still in the ignition, she realized he was looking at the keychain. The one he’d bought for her on their third date when she’d finally braved one of the big roller coasters at Busch Gardens. It had the coaster’s name on it. She’d kept it all this time because…

“Here,” he said, straightening and handing the papers over.

“Thanks,” she murmured, feeling slightly awkward as she took the papers from him. The wail of a siren came from down the street. She sighed, feeling calmer, more irritated now than anything else. “I’d better call my boss.”

Malcolm nodded, his alert gaze taking in the chaos around them as she dialed her boss and filled him in on what was going on. When she ended the call, Malcolm focused on her again. “You’ll be okay?”

“Fine,” she answered with a half-smile, reaching up to rub the back of her neck. She hadn’t hit her head or anything. Her neck was going to be stiff and sore for a while though.

His gaze caught on something behind her, and he beckoned to someone. Rowan turned to see three firefighters heading their way, carrying medical kits.

“Oh, no,” she protested, not wanting to delay her arrival at the office any longer than strictly necessary. “I’m fine, really. I don’t need to be checked over.”

“Won’t hurt to make sure,” he said.

The firefighters insisted on assessing her, and then the cops arrived. Malcolm spoke to one officer while Rowan talked to another. Once she was done, Malcolm came up to her, glanced at his watch. “My meeting’s at seven-thirty, so…”

“Right, you should get going,” she told him, then put on a smile. “At least one of us should be on time this morning.”

He met her gaze, hesitated. As if he was reluctant to leave her yet. It made her miss him, and she didn’t want to.

“Really. I’m fine. Val’s a stickler for punctuality. You’d better get going. Plead my case for me with him, will you?”

One side of his mouth lifted, turning him from gorgeous to heart-stoppingly sexy. And an unexpected wave of sadness filled her. “Will do. See you there, maybe.”

“Hope so.” Her heart sank when he turned and walked away, the overwhelming sense of loneliness taking her off guard. He didn’t owe her anything. She’d been the one to slam the brakes on and put an abrupt end to their relationship just over a year ago. Yet he’d come rushing to her aid today anyway, to make sure she was okay. Why did that make her throat ache?

“Malcolm,” she called out before she could stop herself.

He turned back to face her, raised his eyebrows.

“Thank you.”

With a nod, he spun around and headed for his vehicle, parked along the curb across the far side of the intersection.

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