Strangers in the Night. Kerry Connor

      If she was running from Taylor, she had reason to be afraid. More than one.

      At last someone burst out of the alley and skidded to a halt. Then came a muffled curse, the sound offering the confirmation he needed. He knew that voice.

      Taylor.

      He must have stiffened in spite of himself, the need to go after the man that keyed into his system. Taylor was just a few feet away, right behind him. He didn’t know Ross was there. All Ross had to do was turn around and he had him.

      The woman’s hands tightened in his hair, not enough to hurt but more than enough to let him know she didn’t intend to let him go.

      It was the only reminder he needed. Ross stayed where he was, peering down at the woman in the dark. Though he never would have believed it, he had something more important than Taylor. He had something Taylor wanted. And something Taylor was willing to jump bail to pursue had to be very important indeed.

      Though she made no sound, her chest rose and fell in a ragged pattern, causing her breasts to rub against his body in an unconsciously erotic fashion. In spite of himself, he felt his groin tighten.

      Only the hard-won self-control forged after so many years kept him from moving. He remained pinned against her, feeling every inch of her body pressed against his, her soft, sweet breath brushing his face, until he forgot everything—Taylor, Chastain, everything. There was nothing but him and this woman, a stranger who’d suddenly taken on a vast importance in his life.

      He didn’t even know her name.

      It wasn’t until it began to rain, fat, wet drops falling heavily on his head, that reality returned. Clarity came, as rude an awakening as the rain.

      “Is he gone?”

      Her voice contained the slightest tremor. He wasn’t sure of the cause—him or Taylor. Not that it mattered.

      He listened carefully, hearing nothing but the patter of rain on the pavement and the echo of thunder in the distance. When he finally pushed away from her, her fingers loosening their hold, the back of his head was drenched.

      “Is he gone?” she asked again. She dropped her hands but couldn’t move away. He literally had her up against a wall.

      “I think so.”

      She nodded quickly, pursing her lips and dropping her head. He could see she was just beginning to notice how vulnerable her position was. There was a distinct wariness in her eyes now. No doubt she was beginning to wonder who the man was she’d just pressed herself against in a darkened street corner, trusting he was less of a danger than the one she was fleeing. Now she had to be wondering whether he was truly a lesser danger.

      It was a good question. He doubted she would like the answer.

      The light slanted over his shoulders, falling on her face. She had delicate features, perfectly carved with high cheekbones and a pert little nose, but there was nothing soft about her face. Tension gave her jaw an obstinate jut and made her expression hard as stone.

      She was no innocent, that was for sure. The rashness of her actions and the cool resolve in her eyes told him that. Everything about her screamed guilt. He didn’t have to know she was involved with Taylor to know she was in this up to her eyeballs. Which meant he had to proceed very carefully.

      “Could you give me some air?” she said, shoving against his chest.

      He relented, granting her a modicum of space by taking a step back. Enough to let her feel that he was no longer invading her space, not nearly enough for her to try to run.

      “You want to tell me what that was about?” he asked.

      The eyes that lifted to meet his were utterly blank, revealing nothing. “Just someone I didn’t want to run into, that’s all.”

      “Someone who scares you to death?” She blinked, startled. “Yeah, I noticed. That guy had you terrified.”

      She waved a hand. “Look, don’t worry about it. I appreciate your help, but you’re better off not getting involved. Trust me.”

      “In case you didn’t notice, I’m already involved. You made sure I was.”

      Annoyance twisted her mouth. “Then I apologize for taking up three valuable minutes of your time. I’ll let you get back to your life.”

      “I’m not going anywhere until I get some answers.”

      “What are you? A cop?” Though he couldn’t miss the sarcastic edge, he also heard the uneasy note in her voice.

      “No, I’m not a cop. But that’s not a bad idea. If you don’t want to tell me, you can tell the police.”

      Even in the dim light, he could see her go pale. Exactly as he expected.

      He feigned surprise. “You were planning on reporting this, weren’t you?” He didn’t bother to keep the sarcastic edge from his words.

      Not that she noticed. He could see her thinking quickly. Her tongue darted out to moisten parched lips, the motion betraying her tension.

      It also captured his attention, drawing his gaze to her mouth. Her lips retained a sheen of wetness that made them shine.

      Now those lips quivered. “Look, there’s no reason to bring the cops into this. It’s a personal matter. I can take care of it myself.”

      “With a little help from strangers?”

      One eyebrow shot up. “I don’t think I’ll make that mistake again.”

      He might have been amused if the situation wasn’t so dire. He was losing her, and whatever he did, he couldn’t risk that. Two minutes ago he would have given anything to get his hands on Taylor. Now he had someone he suspected was more important, whoever she was. He’d haul her back to his truck if he wasn’t sure she’d make a scene and bring Taylor back. One woman he could handle. A woman and Taylor—that would be tricky.

      Taylor could be out there now, about to double back and find them. They didn’t have time for this.

      Twisting his features into something a little less forbidding, he said, “Look, at least let me walk you home. It’s not safe for a woman to walk alone at night in a neighborhood like this.”

      She wanted to say no. He could read it in every inch of her expression and the rigid lines of her posture. But he doubted she could think of a good reason to say no that wouldn’t arouse his suspicions more. He was counting on it.

      And still she hesitated.

      He kept his expression neutral, even as he felt the seconds tick by as steadily as the pulse throbbing at his neck.

      “You really want to stand here arguing? Your friend could still be out there,” he reminded her softly.

      She searched his face again. He recognized the exact instant she made her decision. Her jaw tightened and the corners of her lips gave a violent twist as she pursed her mouth.

      “Fine,” she said. “Let’s go.”

      With that, she spun out of his grasp and hurried back down the alley she’d first emerged from.

      Allowing himself one small, satisfied smile, Ross fell into step behind her and followed her into the darkness.

      P RICE C HASTAIN rolled off of the woman beneath him and jerked their tangled limbs apart. She gave a little gasp of shock—either not finished herself or not finished faking it. The sound barely pierced his concentration. Swinging his legs over the side of the bed, he checked the clock on the nightstand. It was well after midnight. He should have heard something by now.

      She laid her hand on his bare back. “What’s the matter?” she murmured, running her hand across his shoulders. “You were barely with me there.”

      He shrugged off her touch. The contact was making his skin crawl. “Get out. I have