Once You're Mine

by Barbara Freethy

  "I'll drive you over to your mom's house," he added, as they finished breakfast. "While the two of you are catching up, I'll work on my car. When you're ready to leave, let me know, and I'll follow you back here or wherever else you want to go."

  "I'll take the ride, but after that you can do your own thing. I don’t need a babysitter."

  "You might not want to be alone if that man shows up again."

  "The thing is, that man hasn't ever approached me. He's just been where I am. If he wanted to hurt me, I think that would have happened already."

  The humor in his eyes faded. "I wouldn't bank on that. Just because it hasn't happened doesn't mean it won't. Let's not forget about the warning note you received."

  "I haven't forgotten, but in retrospect, it wasn't that bad. It's not like they said they were going to kill me. And I'm not really asking questions, because I don't know what to ask or who to ask."

  "You are asking questions through Max and Emma."

  "But he's not going to know that."

  "I hope not."

  She frowned at his somber tone. She wanted to argue, but he'd made good points, and the fact that Neil Hawkins had shown up at her brother's wedding was something to be concerned about. She didn't want to be foolish and downplay the seriousness of what might be happening around her, even if she couldn't completely understand it.

  "I called Emma on my way over here," he said. "I told her that we thought Hawkins might have shown up at the reception. Max had to go in to work on another case, but she said she'd let him know."

  "So they're up to speed."

  "Hopefully, they can come back with some solid information or better yet, locate Neil Hawkins and bring him in for questioning."

  "That would be the best scenario."

  "In the meantime, you have to keep your guard up."

  "I know that. But I'm not going to run scared. I have to live my life. I have to go to work tomorrow, and so do you. You can't watch over me every second."

  "Let's take it one day at a time. And let's start with a ride to your mom's house."

  "Fine, but you're not coming in. In fact, you can drop me off a few houses down. I don't need my mother to ask me why you and I are together so early in the morning."

  "I'm okay with that," he said with some relief.

  "I'm sure you are, because you know the first call my mom would make would be to your mother. And the last thing we need is our moms to get involved in what this is or isn't," she said.

  He stared back at her as her words turned the conversation more personal.

  "I know you're angry about last night, Tori," he began.

  "I'm not angry."

  "You're not?"

  "Nope. I'm great. Are you great?"

  He gave her a wary look. "I feel like that's a trick question."

  She smiled. "I'm going to put my shoes on while you come up with an answer."

  * * *

  She didn't know if Dylan was still thinking about her question, but he was fairly silent on their drive across town, muttering something about how much traffic there was, even on Sundays. Other than that, he had nothing much to say.

  As they got closer to their old neighborhood and her mom's house, she started thinking about what she was going to tell her mother, and she couldn't come up with a good, solid plan. She didn't want to lie to her mom. She also didn't want to worry her.

  So what to do…what to do…

  She tapped her fingers restlessly on her thighs as she gazed out the window. As the ocean came into view, she suddenly had an idea. It was a beautiful sunny May day, and the sea was shimmering in the sunlight.

  "That Barracuda you were talking about," she said, glancing over at Dylan. "Is it ready for that spin down the coast?"

  He glanced over at her. "You don't want to talk to your mother, do you?"

  "Not yet. And I can't get my car at her house without stopping in. Even putting my problems aside, she'll want to gossip about the wedding. I just need a little time to get my head together, think about what I want to say. But if you don't want to—"

  "I want to," he said, cutting her off.

  "Great."

  He turned right at the next corner and pulled up in front of his mother's house a moment later. He used his key to open the door, calling out as they walked into the home. There was no answer.

  She was actually relieved that his parents weren't home. They'd probably have questions, too.

  "They must be at church," Dylan said.

  "Do they still do those big Sunday lunches?"

  "Yes, they do. Today's lunch is at my Uncle Jack's house."

  "Why aren't you there?"

  "I make it once every two to three months. That's enough."

  "You don't appreciate how great it is to live near your family."

  "I appreciate it," he said. "And I see them quite often. I think my parents actually let me use the garage so I have to come over."

  "I wouldn't put it past your mom," she said, as he led her through the kitchen and into the attached garage.

  He flipped on a light switch. "Here she is—my latest baby."

  She stared at the bright-orange convertible in amazement. "Your baby is very colorful."

  He laughed. "It's the original color. Someone in the factory wanted to make a statement."

  "They certainly did."

  "Ready to take a ride? Or have you changed your mind now that you see the car?"

  "I have not changed my mind. Let's do it. I feel like making my own statement today."

  His expression turned at her words. "Maybe a convertible isn't the best idea."

  "Oh, come on, Dylan. We'll be fine. No one followed us over here." She hoped she was speaking the truth, because she really wanted to take a ride with him. "And besides, this baby can outrun anything, can't it?"

  "She is built for speed," he said, stroking the hood.

  She laughed at his reverent gesture. "Let's see if she goes fast enough for me."

  He opened the car door for her. "Have a seat and buckle up." He slid behind the wheel, opened the garage door with a remote and backed out.

  Within minutes, they were heading onto the Great Highway, a two-lane highway that ran along the ocean. It was a beautiful, sunny day, with only bright wispy white clouds to break up the blue of the sky. There wasn't much traffic out yet, either, so she felt like they had the road to themselves.

  Her long hair blew wildly around her face and she wished she had a band to pull it into a ponytail, but she hadn't come at all prepared for this ride. Despite that small annoyance, it felt great to have the wind in her face, the salty taste of the sea on her lips, the sun beating down on her head. There had been so much tension lately, she just wanted to take a minute away from it all and not think about anything.

  "Faster," she told him.

  He smiled and put his foot down on the gas.

  He was right. His baby was built for speed and so was she.

  * * *

  Dylan hadn't expected to drive so far, but with the beautiful Tori egging him on, he headed down the coast. Once they got south of San Francisco, he got onto Highway 1 and drove through the beach cities of Pacifica, Moss Beach, and El Granada, ending up in Half Moon Bay.

  The ocean views, the happy woman by his side, the powerful car responding so well to his touch made this day one of the best he'd had in a very long time. He felt relaxed and re-energized, and despite the fact that Tori was wrestling with her long hair, she seemed to be feeling the same way.

  All of their problems felt very far away at the moment. He'd kept an eye on traffic, watching for any suspicious cars, but they'd often had the road to themselves, so he didn't think anyone was on their tail, and he wasn't ready to turn around and go home.

  He knew he'd been sending Tori mixed messages. It wasn't something he normally did. If he wanted someone and they wanted him, then there was nothing to think about. But Tori wasn't just any woman. He couldn't risk hurting her. He also couldn't risk a
nyone else hurting her. So he had to stay close but far enough away at the same time. He didn't quite know how that was going to work, but he would give it his best shot.

  "Pull over," she said, pointing to an upcoming sign for Pelican's Point.

  He took the next right and drove down a one-lane road that led down to an ocean outlook with a small beach beyond.

  Turning off the car, he glanced over at Tori, who was pulling strands of brown, silky hair off her face, her cheeks pink from the sun and the wind. Her dark-blue eyes sparkled very much like the sea in front of them, and her lips were curved in a wide, happy smile.

  She'd definitely enjoyed the ride, and so had he.

  "That was fun," she said, getting out of the car.

  He followed her to the fence in front of them. She climbed over the rail and sat on the top, and he did the same.

  "What a view," she added, glancing over at him. "It's a perfect day today."

  He couldn't deny that. "It feels perfect."

  "Your baby is a nice ride," she said with a teasing smile.

  "I thought you'd like her."

  "Can I drive back?"

  He hesitated, which was ridiculous, because of course she could drive back. "Sure, if you really want to."

  She laughed. "Wow, what a great response. Your enthusiasm is very underwhelming."

  "I'm just usually the driver. And your hair gets in your eyes."

  "I know. I wish I'd brought a band or a scarf, but it was worth it. I haven't been in a convertible in years. I actually haven't done much driving in a very long time. I lived in New York for eight years and then the last three in Boston. I'm used to subways, buses, trains, and taxis."

  "I don't think I could ever get used to that. I like to have my own wheels."

  "It does give you more control," she agreed.

  "Why did you go so far away?" he asked curiously. "What was it about New York that drew you to the other side of the country?"

  She thought for a moment. "I wanted a change. I wanted to live where there were seasons. I was also drawn to the fact that New York is the center of so many news organizations. I thought it would be a good place to learn. And…" Her voice drifted away.

  "And?" he pressed.

  "My dad lived there when he was in his twenties. He said the city inspired him to dream big, work hard." She shot him a quick look. "My dad keeps coming up. It feels ironic in a way."

  "How so?" he asked curiously.

  "You hardly say anything about your father, because he's alive, he's in your life. But my dad's abrupt departure from my life has actually given him a bigger presence now. It's strange how that worked out. Would I have made the same choices, gone across the country, followed him into the news if he'd lived, if he'd always been part of my life? I guess I'll never know."

  "I think parents are a strong influence—alive or dead, good or bad. They're our parents, our blood. Maybe you would have made different choices, but that's not to say they would have been better or worse."

  "That's true. And I don't feel like I've made bad choices; I just wonder sometimes."

  "You wonder about everything all the time," he said lightly.

  She smiled at him. "I was blessed with a curious mind. And don't change that to cursed," she warned.

  "I wouldn't dream of it. You actually make me think I should ask more questions. It's easy to get complacent in life, especially when you live in the same town, work the same job, see the same people. You fall into patterns."

  "Do you want to make any changes to those patterns?"

  He hadn't thought he did, but since she'd arrived, he was starting to wonder if he was missing something—or someone—important. "I don't know," he muttered, glancing out at the sea.

  "Or you know, and you don't want to tell me. You're very good at shutting people out with a smile or a laugh, as if you're not really doing it, but you are."

  He turned his gaze back on her. "You think I shut you out?"

  "Yes," she said, meeting his gaze head on. "I think I scare you."

  He had to admit she was right about that. "Maybe you do."

  "Really? I was kind of just guessing on that."

  He laughed, loving how Tori could be so honest about everything. "You challenge me in ways I don't always appreciate."

  "Maybe that's not scary—but good."

  "Maybe."

  "Don't you want to find out?"

  "Right now, I just want to enjoy the moment. I have a feeling you don't do that very often, Tori. You're always five steps ahead in your mind, worrying, analyzing, questioning, overthinking…"

  "Hey, don't get carried away," she protested. "In fact, we should stop talking and enjoy the moment." She closed her eyes and tilted her face toward the sun.

  As he looked at her, he felt something inside him shift, as if a wall had come crashing down, a wall he might need later on, but he couldn't bring himself to worry about it now. So he watched her until her eyes opened and then he slid off the fence. They might be at the beach, but they were sliding into dangerous water, and he knew when to get out.

  "Let's go back to the city," he said.

  "So soon?"

  "You have to get your car and talk to your mom."

  "I thought we were living in the moment."

  "We were. It's over now." If he didn't get them both back to the city and their everyday lives, he was going to kiss her again, and that couldn't happen.

  She got off the fence with a slightly grumpy expression. "Fine, let's go back."

  He held out the keys as a peace offering. "Do you want to drive?"

  She smiled. "I know you want me to say no."

  He didn't want to admit she was right. "I'm happy with whatever decision you make."

  "Then you can drive," she said. "I'm going to relax and let the wind run through my hair, and at some point, I'm going to decide what I want to say to my mother."

  Eleven

  It was one o'clock when they got back to the city. Tori was sad to leave the drive behind, but she knew that she couldn't put off the rest of the day any longer. She had to talk to her mother, get her car, go home, and do some research into both her homeless article and the mysterious Neil Hawkins.

  "I'll wait until you get inside," Dylan told her, as he pulled up a few houses down from her mom's house.

  She didn't bother to argue. "Sounds good."

  "I'd really like you to call me when you're leaving."

  "I don't know how long I'll stay. It might be a few minutes or an hour or more."

  "It doesn't matter. I can hang in my parents' garage until you're ready to go. If it's five minutes, then I'll just switch cars and come back."

  "Fine. It will probably be at least an hour. I know my mother will want to talk about the wedding."

  "Take your time. I'll be around when you're ready."

  She got out of the car and walked quickly down the street to the house.

  She rang the bell, and her mother answered a moment later, wearing white jeans and a soft plaid flannel shirt.

  "Tori, I was wondering when you were going to show up. Did you sleep in today?"

  "I did," she said, as she entered the house.

  "What happened to your hair? You look like you've been in a wind tunnel."

  "I had the window down. It's a beautiful day," she added, following her mom into the kitchen. "Did Scott and Monica get off to Hawaii this morning?"

  "As far as I know. I haven't heard from them, but they should actually be in Maui by now. They had an early flight." She paused. "Do you want lunch?"

  "No. I had a big breakfast, but I will take coffee if you have it."

  "I just made a fresh pot."

  "Where's Ray?"

  "He's driving his brother to the airport."

  "It was nice he came in for the wedding. It was great to see the extended family and your old friends."

  "It was nice." Her mother set a mug of coffee in front of her and gave her a hard, pointed look. "Now that we've gotten
the pleasantries out of the way, do you want to tell me what was going on last night outside the yacht club when you started yelling at Jim about some man he was talking to in the parking lot? Who is this man? And has he been following you? You have a lot of explaining to do, Tori. I don't know why you've left me in the dark."

  "I realize that." She could see from the determination in her mother's eyes that she wasn't going to get away with any vague explanations. "I didn't want to bother you, Mom. You've had a lot on your mind with the wedding."

  "I still need to know if my daughter is in danger. And you don't need to be concerned about my worries. I don't know why everyone thinks I'm so fragile. I'm not made of glass, Tori. If I was, I would have shattered a long time ago."

  "I know that," she murmured, realizing she'd shortchanged and judged her mother, much the way some people had done to her.

  "Do you? Your father used to tell me there was nothing for me to worry about whenever I asked him a question he didn't want to answer. I don’t know if he was hiding something or just wanted to protect me, but I didn't like when he said it, and I don't like when you say it. I know I've been distracted by the wedding, but that's over now, so talk."

  "Okay. Last week I thought a man was watching me, and I believed he might be from a homeless encampment that I had visited while doing research for my news article. When he realized I had seen him, he took off. I followed him just to see where he was going. He went into a building, and as I got closer, there was an explosion."

  "Oh, my God! The scratches on your face the other day. You didn’t get them by getting tangled up in a rose bush."

  "No. There was some flying glass." She deliberately omitted the part where she'd gone into the building.

  Her mom stared back at her. "What happened to the man you were following?"

  "It looks like he got out a back door and escaped the fire. Dylan was one of the firefighters who responded to the call."

  "So that's why you and Dylan seem so close all of a sudden. That's why you were meeting him at Brady's, and that's why you kept talking to him last night when you thought Jim was meeting with this same man."