Plain Target. Dana R. Lynn

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       TWO

      Seth’s teeth snapped together with a loud click. He knew his jaw would ache later. Turning away from Jess, he began to pace as he battled to keep the anger and fear simmering beneath the surface from exploding out of him. The temper he had learned to keep under wraps for so long threatened to overwhelm him. It wouldn’t do anyone any good to lose it now.

      When he had himself under control, he faced Jess again. She eyed him warily.

      “Are you okay?” she asked.

      Unbelievable. He rolled his eyes.

      “Am I okay? I’m not the one whose stable was set on fire and I haven’t been the victim of any strange accidents. I’m amazed you’re not a basket case right now.”

      Jess shrugged. Her attempt at nonchalance didn’t fool him. She was scared. He had to admire her determination to tough it out on her own.

      But enough was enough.

      “Jess.” He took a step closer. Close enough to smell her perfume. Her eyes widened. He needed to make sure he was completely understood. “Come with me to my sister’s house. My brother-in-law is off today so we should be able to talk with him in private.”

      He braced himself to argue with her. Turned out, he didn’t need to. She met his eyes, and slowly nodded her head. Reluctant surrender was written all over her face.

      “Will you stay? Just in case I need an interpreter?”

      Why did he think she actually wanted him there for moral support? She didn’t say it, but the plea was in her shadow-filled eyes.

      “I won’t leave your side,” he promised.

      Some of the tension drained from her shoulders, and the corners of her lips tilted in a slight smile. The urge to comfort her with a hug crept up, but he resisted. The last thing she would want would be to be touched by him. He was well aware of the fact that he had a long way to go to make up for the jerk he’d been eleven years ago.

      Leading her out to his truck, he held the door while she pulled herself up into the cab. Good thing he hadn’t parked next to a puddle. As he shut the door behind her and jogged around to his side, he ignored the anticipation dancing through him at the thought of spending more time in her presence. It wasn’t as if they were going on a picnic. It started to rain again once they were underway. The overcast sky and the loud patter of raindrops on the roofs made the space inside the cab seem close. The fragrance of her light perfume added to the impression. Perfume? Since when did he pay attention to perfume unless it was too strong? Weird. Just weird.

      He glanced into the rearview window, frowning at a car riding right on his tail. “Back up, buddy,” he muttered. Seth slowed the car, then made a right turn. The dark green sedan continued to keep pace with him. The tinted glass made it difficult to see who was driving the vehicle. Someone was in a hurry.

      “What?”

      He shot a reassuring grin at Jess. “Sorry. Talking to myself. We have a tailgater.”

      Jess looked back over her shoulder, and froze. Seth stopped grinning as he saw the look of fear on her face. Her hands were fisted on her lap, the knuckles white.

      “Jess? Jessica! What’s wrong?”

      “I have seen that car almost everywhere I have gone in the past couple of weeks. I can never tell who’s driving it.”

      The thought of someone shadowing her, stalking her, set his teeth on edge. “Are you sure it’s the same car?” He used one hand to sign the question so there would be no mistake.

      Jess shook her head. “Sure? No, I have never gotten close enough to see a license plate. And there are hundreds of cars that look like that one. Except for the dark windows.”

      Without considering his actions, Seth spun the wheel and started to pull off onto the berm. The green car slowed down. Then it suddenly shot forward. Its tires hit a large puddle, and water splashed Seth’s windshield. His left hand shot out to activate the wipers, hoping to clear his view in time to get a glimpse of the license plate, but it was too late. The car whipped around the corner. And another car was coming far too fast for Seth to get back on the road and follow him.

      Frustrated, he waited for the other car to pass and then resumed driving toward Maggie and Dan’s house. His mind was full of questions. And doubts. Was it possible Jess was being stalked, or was she letting her anxiety СКАЧАТЬ