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The next morning, when Lindsay got into the back of Brooke’s car, it was a quarter past six and still dark. The flight to Bozeman was scheduled to leave at quarter to eight. Eleanor was sitting in front next to Brooke, and Brooke’s six-year-old son was also in the back.
“Thanks for picking me up,” Lindsay said. “I really could’ve come to your house.”
In fact, she’d tried very hard to convince Brooke to let her do that, but both Eleanor and Brooke insisted they’d pick her up. Both women were artists and self-confessed free spirits, which meant time didn’t really have any meaning for them—as she and Charlie had discovered over the last two years. Lindsay, on the other hand, was worried they’d all be late.
But her main concern had been that Blake would wake up. She’d showered last night and hadn’t even made herself a cup of coffee in fear he’d hear the noise. By some miracle he hadn’t woken up, and yes, Eleanor and Brooke were about fifteen agonizing minutes late, but there was still plenty of time to get to the airport in Bozeman.
“No trouble.” Brooke smiled.
“Hi, Lindsay.” Brooke’s six-year old Connor smiled sleepily. “Mommy said you’ll be sitting with me.”
Reaching out to the little boy, Lindsay touched his hand. “Of course I will.” Connor had a blanket, and within minutes he was sleeping, his head dropping towards her shoulder. An unexpected lump in her throat forced her to swallow a few times.
She loved children, always had. It was part of why she’d become a nurse. But after her experience with Mark... How could she ever trust a man again? Trust her own feelings? But if she never opened up her heart to someone else, she’d never be able to have children. Was that really the life she wanted?
“I was wondering what Blake has to say about your visit to Seattle?” Eleanor asked as they drove away. She was sitting in the front of the car, next to Brooke, and had turned around. “Wasn’t he upset?”
“Uhm...well, he doesn’t know,” Lindsay confessed.
Eleanor’s eyes widened. “You haven’t told him?”
Lindsay shook her head. “We have no idea when the police will catch Mark and, well...Blake has his own life to get back to.”
“But you’ve left him a note?” Brooke asked.
“Well...uhm...no...”
Eleanor looked at her sternly. “That’s not very nice, is it? He moved into your house to make sure nothing will happen to you. When he wakes up and you’re not there, he’ll be so worried.”
Lindsay swallowed a sigh and took out her phone. Eleanor was right, she knew it; she’d been agonizing over it since the day before. “Okay, I’ll text him.”
“Shame. He’s gone out of his way to look after you. He’ll probably be frantic with worry when he discovers you’re not there.” Eleanor was smiling, but the censure in her tone couldn’t be missed.
Lindsay’s finger hovered over her phone. She had thought of leaving a note, but she didn’t know what to say and she still wasn’t sure. After another few seconds, she finally typed a short message before she put her phone away.
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Blake opened his eyes. Something was wrong. He jumped out of bed and raced to Lindsay’s room. The door was open, her bed neatly made up, but she wasn’t there.
Damn it to hell. He’d struggled to sleep the night before and had only fallen asleep around four. He should’ve heard her when she’d moved around. She’d probably made a point of moving around silently, but he was trained to pick up noises; he should’ve heard her.
With his heart hammering in his ears, he charged out of her room and down the stairs. “Lindsay! Lindsay!” he called, switching on lights as he went.
But she wasn’t in the house. He’d actually known it the minute he’d opened his eyes. Where had she gone? Or had someone taken her? No, her bed was made up; it couldn’t be that.
Frantically, he looked around in the kitchen. She hadn’t even left a damn note. Maybe a text?
He sprinted out of the kitchen, up the stairs, and as he entered his room, his phone lit up and bleeped. A message. Hands shaking, he picked up his phone. From Lindsay. Quickly, he opened it.
On my way to Seattle with Brooke and Eleanor. Thanks.
He let out a frustrated roar, and grabbing his keys, he raced out of his room and down the stairs, his heart hammering away. If anything were to happen to Lindsay...
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It was quiet in the car. Lindsay felt awful. She’d closed her eyes and was resting her head against the seat. It was clear both Eleanor and Brooke were upset because she hadn’t told Blake she was going to visit her sister. And sitting here, it seemed so obvious she should’ve told him. But the only thought she’d had yesterday was to get away from him as quickly and as far as possible, because he was making her feel things she’d never felt before.
There, she’d acknowledged it. But she didn’t have to say it out loud. Because it wasn’t real. Because it was temporary. She knew it, he knew it. That was why, in spite of his obvious desire for her, he’d walked away from her time and time again whereas she would’ve happily thrown herself into his arms, if he’d been willing.
Which he hadn’t been.
“Anything wrong, Brooke?” Eleanor broke the silence.
Lindsay opened her eyes.
“I’m not sure,” Brooke said, checking the rear window constantly. “But I’ve noticed lights behind us. Not strange, I know, but whoever is driving the car behind us has kept his distance so far. It’s just...over the last few minutes, the car has increased speed and is now nearly on top of us. I’m not sure whether it wants to overtake us or...”
Lindsay turned around. A pair of very bright lights were approaching fast. It was possibly only someone driving faster than they were but what if... Her breath hitched in her throat and Blake’s words echoed in her mind: You’ll be putting other people in danger, as well.
Oh, damn, she’d been so intent on getting away from Blake and the crazy feelings he was stirring inside her, she never considered the possibility Mark might have been watching her. What if he was driving the car behind them?
“I’m phoning Blake and then the police,” Eleanor said, her phone already against her ear.
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Blake’s anger lasted until he’d left Alisson’s lights behind him. And then cold fear threatened to cut off his oxygen.
If Taylor had been keeping an eye on Lindsay’s movements—and at this point it was obvious that was what he was doing—he would know she’d left Alisson in a car. And there were two other women and probably Brooke’s son also in the car.
Minutes ago, when he’d driven away from Lindsay’s home, he’d phoned Jason and asked him to contact the police in Livingston, the next town on their way to Bozeman. He had no idea at what time the women had left Alisson, but he’d checked the details on his phone and established there was a flight that morning to Seattle at a quarter to eight, which meant they’d probably left about fifteen minutes before he woke up.
With his eyes on the road in front of him, his heart in his throat, he tried to concentrate on his driving. If anything were to happen to Lindsay...
He went around a bend in the road, and for the first time he saw two sets of car lights in the distance in front of him. Just then his phone rang. It was Eleanor.
“Blake...where are you?”
“Behind you.”
“Please hurry. Brooke is driving, but the car behind us...” And then she yelped. The line went dead.
Blake gritted his teeth and stepped on the gas.
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Lindsay and Connor were thrown forward. Shocked, she glanced over her shoulder as she held on tightly to Connor’s hand. They’d seen the lights approaching faster and faster but she hadn’t expected the car would intentionally ram into Brooke’s.
There could be no doubt anymore that the person driving the car behind them was either Mark, or someone he’d paid to get to her. And she’d put everyone in the car in danger because she hadn’t thought it through.
Muttering, Brooke clutched her hands around the steering wheel and stepped on the gas. Brooke’s car surged forward, leaving the other car behind, but within seconds it had also increased speed and was again gaining up on them.
“Lights in front!” Eleanor called out. “Put on your hazard lights!”
Brooke pushed a button and the lights from the car began to flash.
While still holding Connor tightly against her, Lindsay turned around again. “There is another car coming up behind this one,” she said and watched as another set of lights approached.
“Hopefully, that’s Blake,” Eleanor said, looking over her shoulder. “He told me he was right behind us.”
“I’m going to stop,” Brooke said, and the car began to slow down.
She pulled off the road and the next moment, the car behind them zipped past. In that millisecond, Lindsay could clearly see the driver’s face. It was Mark.
The other car they’d noticed pulled in behind them, and the door opened. With her heart hammering, Lindsay stared at the tall figure getting out of the car. Blake.
“Look, the coming car has also stopped,” Eleanor said and pointed to the opposite side of the road. “It’s a police car. Blake probably called them.
“Mommy?” A sleepy Connor rubbed his eyes. “Are we at the airport?”
Brooke turned to Connor and patted his arm. No, we’re not at the airport yet.”
The next moment, the door on Lindsay’s side flew open and Blake dragged her from the vehicle. His breath was coming out in gasps, and for long seconds, his eyes raked over her. “Are you okay?”
She couldn’t speak, just nodded.
With a groan, he pulled her into his arms. “What the hell, Lindsay, you’ll be the death of me yet,” he murmured while he ran his hands over her arms, down her body before he looked at her again. “Are you sure you’re okay? You weren’t hurt?”
“I’m so sorry...” she began, but he bent his head and warm, urgent lips captured hers. She gasped; his tongue ploughed into her mouth as he deepened the kiss. His beard brushed against her skin, adding another sensation she hadn’t expected.
Someone cleared his throat loudly near them and Blake dropped his arms. Still breathing heavily, he raked a hand through his hair before he turned away. For the first time, she saw the policeman standing next to them.
Eleanor was getting out of the car.
Lindsay rushed towards her. “I’m so sorry. This is all my fault. I should never...” A sob escaped.
The older woman pulled her into a hug. “This is not on you. The driver in that car is the one with the problem. Did you see who it was?”
Lindsay pulled out of her friend’s hug and nodded. “It was Mark. I can’t believe he’d go to such lengths...”
Blake approached them slowly. Behind him, the policeman was on his phone.
He greeted everyone before he bent and looked into the car. “Brooke...are you okay?”
“That was frightening, but we’re okay,” she replied. “I seriously hope someone catches that guy soon. He’s obviously unstable.”
Blake crouched down beside the car. “Hey, Connor? You doing okay?” His voice was soft.
“Where is the airport?” Connor asked.
Brooke smiled and ruffled his head. “We’re not there yet, sweetie. Mom? You okay?” she asked as she leaned forward to look at Eleanor, who was still standing outside. Blake got up.
“Blake?” Eleanor asked. “What do you think? Will he try something again?”
He shook his head. “I don’t know. Let me check the rear of your car.” Brooke also got out, and they all moved to the back of the car to see what damage had been done. Blake introduced them all to Jim, the policeman.
“Tell you what. I’ll get this fixed—” Blake began.
“I’m sure we could drive to the airport—” Brooke began.
But he shook his head. “Let me do this, please? I’ll drive you to Bozeman, and when you need to return, I’ll come and pick you up. You just tell me when.”
“Thank you,” Eleanor said. “I’ll text you the details.”
They all helped to move the luggage to Blake’s car, and within minutes they were on the road again, the lights of Jim’s cruiser behind them. He was going to follow them to the airport.
Rattled, confused, and upset, Lindsay closed her eyes for a minute before she took a deep breath. She owed everyone an apology. “Eleanor and Brooke—I am so sorry. Blake told me not to put other people in danger but I...I’m sorry.” Peering up at the rearview mirror, she looked at the silent man behind the wheel. “I’m sorry. I should’ve told you I was going to Seattle.”
His eyes met hers. “Yeah. You should’ve. Get some rest.”
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By the time he stopped in front of Bozeman Yellowstone International airport, Blake’s heart rate was still not back to normal. He hoped never to experience the sheer terror of earlier ever again.
That moment he saw the one car ramming into the one in front...his heart had simply stopped beating for a few seconds. That was when he’d begun to suspect Taylor, or someone he’d paid, was behind the job. Lindsay had just confirmed that it had been Taylor himself. But the damn coward had quickly escaped when he’d noticed the two other cars.
Things could so easily have been much worse. If he hadn’t woken up in time early that morning, if Lindsay hadn’t sent him a text, finally telling him where she was going, if he hadn’t phoned the police in Livingston...
They all got out. “Let me help with the luggage,” he said. “What about a cart?”
“Good idea,” Eleanor said. “We have small bags, but Brooke has more than one bag to manage.”
He grabbed the closest cart and quickly put all the bags on it. As long as he stayed busy, he was okay. Then he didn’t have to think about what had nearly happened, about Lindsay leaving...
“Blake?” Jim, the policeman, called from his car. “I’m on my way. I’ll talk to you later.”
He nodded. Jim had to get back to his work and he had to get back to Alisson. He’d bet the coward was on his way back there. He’d lie in wait. He would know Lindsay would have to return sometime.
“See you soon!” Eleanor said as she hugged him.
“Let me know when I can pick you up,” he said as Brooke also gave him a quick hug.
“That’ll be wonderful, thanks.” Brooke smiled before she took Connor’s hand.
“I’ll take the cart,” Lindsay said and put her bag on top of the other luggage.
“Lindsay...”
She turned to him, her hands on the metal handle.
“Look after yourself,” he murmured, and kissed her. There was no way he could let her go without having another taste of her.
Her mouth was soft and warm, and opened up for him. For a second their tongues touched before he lifted his head. “I...” But he couldn’t ever tell her how much he wanted her at this moment. “I have to go.”
“Thank you. I’m so sorry...”
He brushed a wayward curl behind her ears. “I’ll see you soon.”