Christmas Knight (Heartthrob Heroes, Book 3)

by Kimberly Llewellyn

  Tori had become too familiar to him only after a few days. He had to end it at the next truck stop in order to keep his other commitment; he'd made a pledge to those shelter kids and a promise to himself. Since he had been getting along fine without any woman, he'd vowed to stay single no matter what. Tori's antics, along with her snooping and defiant ways, pointedly reminded him why he had chosen bachelorhood—and the open road.

  He had fantasized settling down someday—but that was all it could be—a fantasy. He knew it could never be for him. And yet, a small part of him just wouldn't be convinced.

  He pulled his gaze from the road to look at Tori who continued to stare out the side window. Spike lay quietly on her lap and had given up nudging her hand to pet him.

  If only he could turn back time. He wanted to make it the way it was when they lay side by side in his bed. Or when they played out their imaginary feast at a fake fine restaurant on their mock first date.

  "Tori, I have to drop you off. I don't want to and I don't think you want me to, either. But if I take you to Bloomfield, I won't get back in time and those kids will have no Christmas."

  Tori remained silent.

  "I'll put an advance on a credit card either way."

  "We'll get a bus ticket or something to get you home." He winced, realizing he'd referred to himself as "we." It came to him more naturally than he wanted to admit. "I don't care if my boss finds out. I already know I'll be fired once he hears about this."

  Still, Zach received no answer.

  He hated to see her so angry. So hurt. So damn silent. He wondered what had hurt her the most. It could have been finding Karen's photograph. It could have been his cruel words. Or it could have been the way he threw her into the cab like a piece of unruly luggage. Whatever the reason, he only knew that after what they shared last night and this morning, he couldn't bear to see them end up like this.

  "You probably hate me for a lot of reasons. But I want to say I'm sorry for that crack about a prepayment for services. That was rotten of me. I didn't mean it."

  "I know," Tori murmured and continued looking out the side window. As if slowly coming around, she absently patted Spike, who rested beside her. Zach reached down to pat the animal, too, until it growled at him. He retreated and gripped the steering wheel. Damn dog.

  "So, um, how long are you going to be mad?" Maybe if he was given a specific time limit, it would make things tolerable.

  Tori turned her head just slightly toward him as if to say something, but then stopped. She looked back out the window. "I'm not sure. But that's not what's bothering me."

  She brought one hand up to wipe something off her cheek. "I-I didn't want this to end. I had hoped it wouldn't. That's the real reason I didn't tell you about Bloomfield. I hoped you'd want to take me home, because it would mean we got to spend more time together. Of course, that was before all the setbacks. It was selfish of me. But I know it has to end, and the sooner the better."

  A heaviness crushed Zach's chest. He misread her silent despair as complete anger, and it only made him feel worse. He wanted to tell her it didn't have to end, but he knew he'd be lying to her. He was a man who belonged to the road. End of story. The more he told himself that however, the more he found it impossible to believe.

  "Maybe back in Boston, maybe after the holidays, we could get together," Zach found himself saying.

  Tori shook her head. "No, Zach. We both know it wouldn't work. You're on the road for weeks at a time. After school, I'll be working day and night trying to start a career and making a life for Stephen and me."

  Zach didn't want to hear the word, no. He had meant it about meeting up in Boston, although he didn't know when. She had been right; it wouldn't be much of a relationship. He only wanted to see at least a glimmer of hope in her eye, that maybe, just maybe, it could work. But she was even more determined than Zach gave her credit for.

  "I'm pulling over. I guess the end has come," Zach said and steered the truck off the highway and alongside a rundown coffee shop. Grateful that its parking lot had only a few cars, he came to a stop with ease. A couple of diehard, rough-looking motorcyclists willing to brave the cold wind pulled up as well.

  As Zach stepped out into the afternoon sunshine, he noted how the earthy air had warmed slightly in this part of the country. It was a welcome treat after the last few unusually cold days. Tori got out and walked to the side of the bunker door. She waited for Zach to open it. But he walked toward the entrance of the small, wooden building.

  "What about my things?" she called out.

  "Leave your things. There's no rush. We'll walk Spike and get your bag and Christmas gifts after we eat. My treat. I still have a little of the emergency stash left. It's the least I can do." He stood a moment, waiting for Tori to join him. But she didn't. "I'll meet you inside," he finally said.

  He headed for the coffee shop and gave a nod of acknowledgement to the bikers as he passed. He hoped Tori would follow suit. He wasn't ready to say goodbye. By gathering her things now meant she'd leave him now, and he didn't want to face that yet.

  He pushed through the creaky door and looked for a suitable table. He nodded to the customers at one table before he sat down at another. He inspected the place: silver garlands draped the counter, Christmas lights hung from one window, and a Merry Christmas banner sloped over the door. Moments later, an older waitress with Christmas bell earrings dangling from her ears brought over a mug of coffee and a menu.

  She pointed at the side of the menu for lunch. As Zach half listened, he kept a lookout for Tori, who finally made her appearance at the front door. She probed the small shop, saw where Zach sat, and then walked to the other end of the place to select a table of her own.

  She's making this a battle of wills, Zach thought and sighed. He glanced at the menu and tried to forget she was right across the room. After giving the waitress his order, he sat back and watched Tori, who picked a table that gave him a clear view of her. Had she done that on purpose?

  Somehow her silence seemed to have followed Tori into the coffee shop. From the moment she entered, the place quieted down as each customer took in the unusual sight of such a young, beautiful woman alone in the place. He knew what they were thinking. Experience on the road told him so.

  A young woman on the customer side of a counter—especially a beautiful, lone woman like Tori—was a rare treat. And by the looks of two men at a nearby table turning to gawk at her, his thoughts were confirmed. He wasn't the only one who thought of her as beautiful.

  Zach had half a mind to march over and grab her by the wrist to drag her back to his table. He wanted to make it perfectly clear to her rough audience that she wasn't traveling alone. Maybe that would stop them from drooling.

  But already witnessing her stubborn streak, he knew Tori would have none of it. She needed to experience this uncomfortable situation solo. This way, she would see for herself why she needed to travel with him to St. Louis in the safety—albeit silence—of his truck, instead of her waiting for hours here for a bus that might or might not come. It looked like she'd have to learn the hard way.

  He intently watched the scene unfold before him. The waitress, an elderly woman, approached Tori and the two exchanged a few words. The woman pointed over to a corner of the coffee shop. Tori stood up and headed in the direction of the waitress's extended arm and approached the pay phone. The woman could have used his cell phone but her own damn pride—and apparent lack of trust—kept her from doing so.

  Zach kept his eyes on her. As she spoke on the phone, she slowly turned toward him and held his gaze. Then she turned her back to him. She hung up and made her way back over to her table.

  As she passed the table of the two rubbernecking men, she didn't notice how they practically fell out of their seats as they strained to keep gaping at her. She resumed her position back at the table while never once meeting Zach's eyes.

  From his vantage point, he could see the two men whisper to each other and laugh q
uietly before choosing a different table—a table next to Tori. One man, dressed mostly in black, didn't sit for long before finding his way to Tori's table and striking up conversation. He kept patting his knee in a coaxing manner and she kept shaking her head no.

  The waitress refilled Zach's coffee cup. "If that little girl knew what was good for her she'd find her way out of here pretty darn quick."

  "They're bad news, huh?" He tried to quell the anger that rose in his voice as he watched the scene. Why couldn't Tori have just sat with him and avoided all this? Why did she want to test him? He clutched his chair's sides and ignored the increasing stiffness in his hands from grasping so tightly.

  "Bad? That guy must hold a world record in convictions around here. Anything he touches turns black. I hate it when he comes in the shop acting like he owns it. He always ends up in a knife fight or something." The waitress clicked her tongue and shook her head. She murmured to herself something about the man being nothing but trouble as she trudged back behind the counter.

  Zach resumed watching the spectacle. The stranger pointed to tattoos along his arm, evidently hoping to impress Tori. As he spoke, he edged his chair closer and closer to her and finally brought his paws out to try and hold her hand.

  Tori pushed the slobbering stranger away, shouting a slew of curses loud enough for Zach to hear. At least she stood her ground. Good for her, Zach found himself cheering in silence.

  But he couldn't hold back his fierce frustration any longer. Just knowing this guy had a criminal record and had tried to paw Tori sent Zach's adrenaline straight through the roof.

  He'd seen enough. Tori might not learn a lesson in facing real danger this day because Zach couldn't watch another second of the scene before him. She'd get some rescuing whether she wanted it or not.

  "Honey, are you going to get her out of here or what?" The waitress suddenly appeared from behind him, making him stiffen before he had time to rise from his chair.

  "How do you know we're together?"

  "I could see the sparks flying between you two the moment she walked in here. Besides, I saw you out that window when you showed up." She pointed to the stranger dressed in black. "That boy over there is mean. I don't care what kind of spat you two are having, just get her out of here. He's up on rape and attempted murder charges."

  "Thanks for the tip." Zach tossed down enough cash to cover the coffee, and then some. "Oh, and eighty-six the food."

  He marched over to Tori. He didn't mind holding his own with thugs, but having Tori there was another story. She could get hurt and he didn't want that on his conscience.

  "We're getting out of here. Now." He seized Tori's hand and headed toward the door until she resisted. But now wasn't a good time for her to stand up to him. For Tori's own safety, he wouldn't tolerate her defiance here.

  He turned back around and expected her to be sitting with that usual defiant tilt of her chin. But instead, he found that the thug had latched onto Tori's other hand, keeping her imprisoned in her chair.

  "I believe the lady was talking to me," the stranger in black said and glared up at Zach.

  Chapter 11

  "The conversation just ended." Zach seized her wrist more tightly. In a deadly tone, he warned the stranger to let go.

  "Hey!" Tori yelled out, "I'm not a wishbone. Hands off." She peeled her hands from both their grasps.

  "Tori, you don't understand what's going on. Now let's get out of here."

  "No. You don't understand. I'm not going with you. And let me fight my own battles."

  "Not this time." Zach tugged at her, until the large stranger rose and interrupted their argument.

  "She said she doesn't want to go with you."

  Before Zach could retaliate, he heard the cocking of a rifle. Every customer froze, including Zach and the stranger. The old waitress walked out from behind the counter. She held the cocked Winchester high by her chin. She aimed straight for the thug in black.

  "Now, Jimmy, I've had enough trouble from you for one mother's lifetime. You just sit back down and wait for your food." The waitress kept her weapon on the gruff young man, but glanced at Zach. "And you... take your girlfriend and get on."

  Tori didn't move until Zach gave her a slight tug to get her walking. As they left the diner, Zach heard the waitress cussing at her son. "Your daddy and I work hard to keep this place going. I'll be damned if you drive anyone else away. Just sit right there until your sandwich is ready …"

  Zach let go of Tori's grasp as soon as he deemed it safe.

  Tori stepped away from Zach. "What were you trying to prove back there? I could have handled that guy myself," she asserted.

  "The waitress told me to get you out of there. I had nothing to do with it. I'm sure you could have handled him, but that guy has a criminal record. He was dangerous and his own mama said so." Zach stifled a laugh as he tried to remember the potential trouble they could have faced if it weren't for the criminal's mother.

  He heaved himself into his side of the truck and unlocked Tori's door. She had proven time and time again that she could handle herself, including climbing into the rig. He let out a pent-up, thankful breath. But it still didn't solve their dilemma.

  Now that he had Tori back, what would he do with her? They would have a little more time to decide that fate. But for now, they needed to leave this place behind. Spike would have to wait a while longer to be walked.

  "Spike?" Zach asked aloud as Tori settled into the cab. He looked around and under the seat. "Spike?" Zach asked aloud again. He saw no dog.

  "Did you forget to lock your door?" Tori asked. Zach and Tori exchanged concerned glances and immediately hopped out of the truck. If the killer in the coffee shop came out to start trouble, then so be it. Zach would deal with him. But finding Spike was more important right now. What could have kept him so damn distracted that he forgot to lock his own door?

  Zach turned to Tori. He tossed her his spare key and asked her to check the bunker. He knew Spike wouldn't be there, but he simply had to know for sure. He sprinted behind the coffee shop, whistling for his dog.

  He circled the building and searched under nearby brush to see if he could find the animal. Maybe the little mutt had been hit by a passing car and cowered beneath some shrubs. No luck. He raced to the front of the coffee shop and looked around again. Nothing. Zach walked with urgent steps back to Tori. "Anything?"

  "No. Nothing. I'm sure we left him in the cab when I went into the coffee shop," Tori answered.

  Zach frantically looked around one more time and spotted the red fabric with paisley print on the ground behind one of the rig's wheels. He jogged over and picked it up. He looked closely at the bandanna that had once hung around Spike's neck and stuffed it in his back pocket. He spun on one heel and kicked up a small pile of gravel. "Damn! Not my dog!"

  Tori appeared from behind the truck and without a word, gave Zach time to vent his anger. Once he calmed down, she approached him until she saw the red bandanna dangling in his back pocket. She let out a gasp.

  "I'm not leaving without him," Zach said and cussed. He desperately whistled again for the dog.

  "Could someone have picked him up? Or let him out as a prank?" she asked.

  The thought of another person scooping up Spike stabbed his heart. He didn't know how anyone could even pull a prank by letting someone's dog run away. "We'll have to keep looking, that's all. I don't care if it takes days."

  Tori nodded and continued looking. After one last desperate search, Zach's tracks led him back to the front of the truck. Disheartened, he leaned against the grille of the rig. The chilly air that penetrated his clothes reminded him of how long they had been outside.

  Tori stood beside him as the same chill rippled through her in the form of an involuntary shiver. If Tori felt the cold, then they had been outside for too long. He knew the outcome. It was hopeless. The time had come to move on.

  "I don't know what else we can do," Tori said.

  Zach said
nothing. He looked over to the coffee shop. "No one's gone in or out since we've been here, right?"

  "Except those bikers we saw. They came in for food to go but that's all I saw. I guess you didn't notice them when you were fighting over me."

  "I wasn't fighting over you," he said, trying to come up with a better explanation, "I was—"

  "You two out there!" The old waitress poked her head out of the shop door. "I don't know how long I can hold this boy o' mine!"

  Tori ran toward the waitress. She slipped the waitress a piece of folded paper and returned to Zach. She took Zach's hand in hers and gave it a tight squeeze.

  "I gave her Spike's description and my family's home number if he shows up. I'd written it down when I went into the bunker and planned to give it to her if it came to this. I'm sure someone will call with information."

  Zach gave her an appreciative nod. "That's about all we can do for now. I guess it's time to go."

  Tori slipped her arms around his side and clung to him. "I'm sorry about Spike. He'll turn up. But right now, a shelter full of kids needs you."

  In a strange, needy way, Zach wrapped his arms around her, trying to hold her impossibly close. He didn't realize how much he missed her touch since they had quarreled.

  He also didn't realize how much he had longed for her... or how desperately he needed her. He brought his lips down to kiss the top of her head and ran his fingers through her hair.

  Tori brought her face up to meet his. "We'd better go before that guy comes out here."

  Zach snickered. "I'm not afraid of him. I just didn't like the way he kept pawing you. C'mon, though, we have only short ways until St. Louis."

  In the rig, Zach wrapped the red bandanna around the steering wheel column. He took one final look around as he shifted gears to set the rig moving.

  "I can't believe I'm doing this. I'm leaving my best friend behind." He swallowed hard to stop the ache that throbbed in his chest.