A Running Heart

by Kendra Vasquez

Ryan grasped Rebecca’s chin. The knuckle of his other hand caressed the smooth flesh over her high cheekbone. Rose color began to tinge the flesh.

  Her eyes held an extra layer of moisture. “I couldn’t let him—why would he?”

  Ryan shook his head. “All I thought about was you. God, Rebecca. Next time, let Josh sneak up on the guy with the flamethrower.” He pulled her into his arms, cheek resting on her hair. “You’re wonderful.”

  When she said nothing, he leaned back to find her face, but her eyes dropped from his gaze.

  No, her retreat wasn’t good. He nudged her chin upward. His mouth met her parted lips then her hand crawled up to drape around his neck. She relaxed in his arms, whispered against his lips.

  His hand on her waist, he pulled her close, pressed her body tight against his. She felt right. Soft curves molded naturally against his hardened planes, enveloped him in wild berry scent. His body thrummed with readiness to sink into her. She was made for him. But how had he deserved her? He retook her plush lips. Never mind. She wasn’t going anywhere.

  She moaned, clearly aching for him as well, both riding the hyperaware currents of an adrenaline tide. His hand slid up her side, seeking to fill its palm with the weight of her breast.

  A phone rang, not the one in Rebecca’s hand or his shop’s phone.

  He broke the kiss but held onto her. He couldn’t place the tone. Looking to the waiting room, by the computer, he spotted Amanda’s smartphone.

  “I better get that,” Rebecca whispered as she stepped out of his encircling arms.

  They immediately reacted, wanting to pull her back. He forced them to his sides as he nodded. Needing to keep his greedy hands occupied, he returned to the Jeep, had to get it fixed, had to get Rebecca back to Amanda, though it thoroughly conflicted with his present interests. His hand wrapped around a wrench, gripped it tight. The brand name might be forever imprinted on his palm.

  Normally his head cleared when he had a tool in his hand, but he seriously doubted it’d get any clearer. He knew what he wanted.

  High heels clicked out of the shop and entered the waiting room.

  He returned to the caliper with the broken bleeder screw. His hand paused over the part. His eyes closed. He whispered, “Rebecca.”

  Images of her played across his eyelids. Revisiting moments of her, he lost his starting place. When had he fallen?

  The night she had left, it was desperation he’d felt, to get her back. The smile she’d given him, before she’d walked out of the apartment, mirrored the one he saw today after she took down Germ, shy bravery and reassurance. She’d wielded a B.F.H. for him. The corner of his mouth curved. His heart rate accelerated under his admittance. He loved her.

  The click of a door knob called his unfocused eyes. She’d re-entered the shop.

  Before he turned to her, he quickly wondered how long it’d take before she’d confess the same. She wasn’t encouraging her feelings. Why else would she have bailed on him?

  He straightened and moved away from the Jeep. His step lost drive when he saw the paleness in her face.

  She had the phone clutched to her chest, pressed it against her heart. Her hurt expression had his heart turning to steel, pinging against itself with each beat.

  “What is it?”

  “The guard from Amanda’s work, Adam, was watching security footage. Remember when we followed Amanda to the dealership? He said a truck parked out on the curb caught his eye then. So he watched more footage, from earlier on in the week, saw the truck again when Amanda was attacked. Adam ran the plates. Ryan, it was the green truck I saw outside.”

  His jaw tightened, grip hardened around the wrench. Obvious suspicions were confirmed, and his eyes strayed from her face, stared unseeing at a wall as his mind worked over everything. The urge swept over him to use the wrench on the defenseless lump sprawled across his shop’s cement floor. That lump had made Rebecca look as white as a ghost and nearly as lost. Perhaps she couldn’t fathom how a man could become so determined to torment another’s life, but Ryan knew the past that had tormented both men and Amanda. Ryan needed to know what Amanda had discovered.

  “All right,” Josh called out, jogging up. He dodged a puddle of grease, a narrow plastic bag in one hand. He handed it off to Ryan. “Here’s the bleeder. And the cops are on their way.” He stopped as his eyes went from person to person. “Is something wrong?”

  Ryan gazed at Rebecca, her gray eyes wide as a spooked, wild cottontail’s—confused, terrified. It tore at him. She’d tried doing so much already, never having all the answers, but still she plugged along to help her cousin, or him. She was about to get a well-deserved break.

  “Yeah,” Ryan answered Josh as he turned to him. “There’s a family emergency in Denver.”

  “So what do we do?” asked Josh.

  “One thing at a time. Let’s get this Jeep back together.” He opened the baggie and pulled out the part.

  “I put it on your tab,” Josh said.

  “Thanks. Rebecca and I need to hit the road immediately. Josh, we’ll need you to talk to the police for us. We’ll owe you one. And they’ll need to collaborate with Denver’s police as well. Rebecca, please give him the name and phone number of that security guard at Amanda’s work. He can take it from there.”

  As Ryan dictated a plan, he kept an eye on Rebecca and saw determination return to her eyes. The direction was counterproductive for him. He hardly liked the idea of returning her to Denver. But she had to go back. And, if he tucked in enough, perhaps he might get a smile on her face.

  It used to be Amanda he’d tried to get to smile. With Jim’s help, he’d usually succeeded. Amanda’s father had done so much for Ryan. Ryan owed it to him. He’d force his help on the daughter.

  “Let’s get to work.” Ryan settled on the floor in front of the left brake caliper. “Oh, I left the ratchet on the cart. Rebecca?” She should keep busy. Ryan didn’t think she’d start wringing her hands at any moment, but he knew her mind shouldn’t have free time for worrying.

  “What’s it look like?” she asked.

  He couldn’t help but smile. This was one woman who wouldn’t be vandalizing cars anytime soon.

  Minutes later, Rebecca waved out the window of the Jeep, thanking Josh as Ryan backed out of the shop. Josh winked, one blue eye twinkling, a hammer in one hand. He stood over Germ’s unconscious form.

  When Ryan brought the Jeep around the building, the massive juniper bush fell into view. If it could thrive in a parking lot, perhaps he could survive Denver.

  He hit the main road. As they rounded the first curve, they passed a patrol car, lights flashing going the opposite way.

  ~ ~ ~

  Amanda had heard Jay on the cell phone while she pretended to sleep. She’d remained curled up in the passenger seat, maintaining the fetal position with her arms tucked close. Her body faced the passenger window where she peeked out under hooded eyes as a river of evergreens ran over granite.

  It’d be steel buildings in a couple more hours. Then what?

  All this time and it’d been Germ. He’d personally charged himself with murder the same way Amanda had done on herself. And they were both wrong.

  A door actuator had destroyed so many lives. A stupid factory defect and people who were unwilling to communicate for fear of their own freedom.

  The fear had been real. Germ was right about that. Amanda clenched her eyes shut, tried to close out the sudden memory of pounding heart and sweaty palms. Germ taught Amanda that no matter what started the wreck, the end still felt the same to Danielle.

  She took a deep breath. She was with her uncle, safe. But he was probably taking her directly to his brother’s house where he’d tell her father all about her daughter, how she’d run off to Bayfield to dig up old memories and got caught by some bad co
mpany. Something nagged at the back of her mind. Not all of it made sense, unless Uncle Jay knew more than he’d claimed. Still, that knowledge didn’t matter as much as what her father would think.

  Dad deserved to hear the truth from his princess, alone. No matter what the intentions of Jay, Rebecca, and Ryan, Amanda would get through this without them. They didn’t understand.

  Her body chilled, and her head wanted to roll in agitation, fighting weariness in body and mind. Heels clicked in her head, a cacophony from a crowd of painted peacocks. They were all useless!

  Her breathing turned shallow and quick, pulse raced as the seat grew around her. How long before people with their heartless actions and words owned up to some of the guilt for those they left as their victims? Like a mother leaving behind her daughter.

  Panic called her back to the driver’s seat to which Germ had bound her. The fear she’d known proved useless. Even she could be helpless—no.

  She shoved those thoughts into the corner. She wouldn’t allow what Germ did to manipulate her. She’d bet Danielle had walked out on him, too. Amanda had to tone it down, try to resolve what women in her personal past had done to her. It wasn’t just their heels. And, obviously, she couldn’t fix her obsession overnight. However, she recognized herself taking the first healing step. And it hadn’t clicked.

  This was her life. Dad needed to learn the facts. Amanda knew them best.

  Turning her head and mumbling, as if she fought against a bad dream, she dared a look at Jay. He stared at the highway with a terse expression and a set jaw.

  A flash of reflective green caught her eye. The sign read in white Grant 10.

  She unfurled her body, sliding along the black leather, openly searched her surroundings.

  Her uncle glanced at her. He smiled.

  She smiled sleepily back.

  “How are you doing, little girl?”

  She leaned forward and stretched her back. “Better, for sure. Where are we?”

  “Maybe about halfway home.”

  She nodded. “Think we could stop for a little girl’s room?”

  “Sure. I was going to stop for gas in Grant, and it’s right around the next mountain.”

  “Great! Oh, we left Rebbie in Bayfield, not to mention my Jeep.”

  “They’ll catch-up. I talked to Ryan. He rode down with me, told me where to find you. I bet he’s driving your Jeep as we speak.”

  “Can I call them to make sure? We wouldn’t be very good family members to abandon someone in Bayfield.” She was sure Uncle Jay understood her underlying meaning. “I also want them to meet us here, have lunch. It feels like I haven’t eaten in ages.” It wasn’t completely an act as a loud grumble wrenched from her gut.

  “I’d feel better seeing you safely home first.”

  “Please, Uncle Jay, I’m sure Rebbie and Ryan are as worried as you were and . . . and Ryan deserves to know what I found out. You’re taking me to Dad’s, aren’t you?” On impulse, she yanked open her uncle’s glove box and rummaged through the papers.

  “What are you doing?”

  “How much did you hear when Germ had me tied to the car?”

  “Germ who? I’m sorry, sweetie. I’m a little lost. I didn’t hang around to listen. He was hurting my niece.”

  “Right.” Amanda flipped open the large center console and found sunglasses, a notepad. Frustrated, she slammed it shut . . . and noticed the briefcase behind his seat. She pulled it onto her lap.

  “Amanda,” her uncle’s warning tone didn’t stop her, and his hands couldn’t because he maneuvered through a bout of heavy traffic along the winding, climbing mountain road.

  Thankfully, there was no lock and the lid flipped open. Inside, on top, rested an accident report, years old, five years from what Amanda read first. She didn’t stop reading, but she did make a firm request. “Pull over.”

  “Honey, he—your father wouldn’t let me tell you.”

  “Well, you can tell me now and I want Rebbie and Ryan here with my Jeep when you do.” She was making quite a few demands, but she as sure as hell had had enough of supposed loved ones hiding her past from her.

  After his conversation with Rebecca, her uncle had dumped his phone in the cup holder. Amanda yanked it up and dialed her own cell over her current driver’s objections.

  “Uncle Jay?”

  “Rebbie, tell the cops he’s abducted me.” Amanda looked intensely at her uncle. “If he doesn’t let me talk to you, have the cops look for me near Grant.”

  Her uncle sighed heavily. “Theatrics,” he muttered. “Go on, we’ll wait here in Grant for them.”

  Without missing a beat, Amanda asked, “Are you driving?”

  “Ryan is. We’re headed your way now.”

  “Good, I’ve got to tell you what I’ve uncovered.” Another hot look for her uncle and then he pulled into a gas station parking lot with a sandwich shop attached. Amanda told Rebbie the name and then ended the call.

  With phone back in the cup holder, she had no interest in continuing a conversation with her uncle. She knew he used to work automotive insurance, had the connections to pull up the information he possessed in his briefcase. Maybe her father insisted Jay keep his mouth shut because he’d assumed, based on Amanda’s wonderful ability to act carefree, that she’d have no idea what her uncle was talking about. Well, once Rebbie and Ryan arrived, keeping silent would be a thing of the past.

  Chapter 20

  She didn’t like roller coasters. Rebecca must’ve gotten on this one for Amanda. Maybe it’d cheer up her cousin after all she’d been through.

  As it notched up along the track, the carnival, with its crowds, pitted asphalt, and greasy food, fell away. The ride mounted to a flat spot. They inched closer to the edge.

  At the crest, the horizon spread out and they sat perched on a mountain peak. A breeze fingered Rebecca’s hair. The smell of sap-dripping pine refreshed her.

  Then the cart succumbed to gravity and plummeted. Her heart rushed against her chest. Breath abandoned her lungs. The track vaulted over a brief hill, slowing momentum. They straightened out along a valley’s floor.

  A chain tugged at the car, jerking the car up another peak. The click of the links took on a walking rhythm.

  Rebecca checked on Amanda. Animation lit her sky-blue eyes. Rebecca relaxed at the sight. A huge point pierced the air behind Amanda’s head. Click.

  The sound played again but on Rebecca’s side. She whipped around to see another massive point. The ear-splitting clicks continued. A padded thump quickly followed each one. The car climbed. Points and pads clicked and thumped on each side. The shoes paced the car. They stopped with it at the summit.

  “Having fun?” asked Amanda.

  Rebecca nodded and smiled. “Right.”

  Click. The car positioned to descend. Gravity took hold and the wind blasted Rebecca’s face. Successive banging turned her head. The high heels raced alongside the speeding car. Amanda screamed, tossed her arms in the air. Rebecca faced forward. The air prickled her eyes. She narrowed them. What was that?

  The heels clicked faster, their speed rocketed. Her eyes widened under the buffeting wind. The valley ahead was lined with high heel shoes. Their pinprick heels pointed toward them, jagged. She reached for Amanda before she realized she was alone in the car. Rebecca grasped the freezing metal handle and clenched her eyes shut.

  “Look!” a mechanical voice boomed in her head.

  She opened her eyes. A film appeared over the field of heels. It was a plate glass window, display case over the shoes. At her speed, the car would shatter the glass and shards would—she caught her reflection in the glass. It was Amanda’s. She touched her face and saw the movements mirrored back, in Amanda’s eyes, with Amanda’s hands.

  The reflection
nearly matched her size. She was going to hit the glass! Her arms covered her face.

  Rebecca’s eyes whipped open. She was still moving. Wind noise rushed over the cab. She was in one piece in the Jeep. A seat belt crossed her chest. From her place in the passenger seat, she peered over the arm steadying the steering wheel, identified the face of the driver. A sigh brushed past her lips.

  Ryan. His direct, green-hazel gaze covered the road, but it was enough to satisfy her need. He helped her know she was here, now. Her breathing eased. The fine sheen of hot sweat cooled, no longer burning her like it had seconds ago.

  She lowered her lids, reconnected with reality. Her skin was brushed with heat from the afternoon sun. The cloth seat pressed back against her arm and face.

  There was a steady rhythm to the rise and fall of Ryan’s chest. Her breathing matched his and calmness settled over her. Her eyes closed. The seat padding under her head changed to warm flesh through her memory of last night.

  She lost herself to their breathing until Ryan downshifted. He climbed a steep incline. The hand that stayed on the shifter knob stole her attention. His warm, work-roughened skin had stroked her, explored and thrilled. She closed her eyes and shut down her line of thought. It wasn’t a productive area. She needed to concentrate on her cousin.

  Amanda could still be in danger. What had made her insist Rebecca report her abducted if Uncle Jay had ended the call? Her pulse accelerated. Worry wouldn’t help Amanda, but that was all she could do as Ryan drove them through the Rockies.

  She lifted her eyes covertly to his face. His dark stubble jaw was set firm, resolute. Back in his shop, he’d been reluctant for a long time to come to Amanda’s aid. Then Rebecca expressed her own desires and concerns. Was he no longer doing this for Amanda, but for her? No, it couldn’t be. Could it? No matter what, his truck was still parked outside the apartment. Of course he’d return to Denver.