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Then his eyes locked with her sharply intelligent gaze, her golden-brown eyes wide with horror. A jolt of recognition slammed into him. For a split second, his concentration splintered. Impossible. He’d never even seen her before. He shook his head to clear it. “You the vault teller?” he snarled in his best bad-guy voice.
Her face blanched fish-belly white and she nodded.
Man, he hoped she wasn’t about to pass out on him. “Get the cash delivery.” His jaw clenched at the fear shimmering in her big amber eyes, but he didn’t have time to reassure her. He needed to grab the goods and get out.
She stood rooted to the spot, stunned and staring.
Feeling as low-down as the guy who shot Bambi’s mother, he dropped his voice to a menacing rumble. “Now! Move it, sister!”
Kitten squared her shoulders. Color flooded her cheeks. She raised her chin and shot him such a blazing glare he needed asbestos boxer shorts. He got the message loud and clear.
Uh-oh. His kitten had morphed into a lioness. No heroics, sweetheart. Please. He glared at her. “Do it!”
She hurried inside, quickly returning with six canvas bags. She stalked toward him and tossed the bags at his feet.
Gabe reached for the money, but the sight of the cut seals brought him up short. Damn! This operation was going to hell on a torpedo. “Did you look through these?”
After a heartbeat’s hesitation, she nodded. Then understanding flashed across her face.
He was too late. She must have seen the checks! Gabe assessed the situation with the speed of experience and reacted on instinct. His gloved hand shot out and grabbed her wrist, hauling her up against him. She stiffened. “Pick them up,” he growled into her ear. As she complied, her softly rounded bottom brushed intimately against his groin and her warm vanilla fragrance teased his senses. He shook his head. Get a grip, Colton, before all your brains rush south and get you killed.
What the hell was wrong with him? He never lost his focus. Ever. Especially not over a woman. Consciously tempering his strength, he yanked her out the entrance, hustled her to his black Corvette, and flung open the driver’s side door.
His captive tried to wrench free. “What are you doing?”
“Sorry, sweetheart. You’re now my hostage.”
“No!” Her elbow stabbed his solar plexus.
The breath slammed out of his lungs. Gabe lost his grip and she slipped under his arm. She sprinted toward the bank and he lunged, grabbing her jacket to yank her back. “Nice try.” He shoved her into the car, tossing the money behind the seat.
She tried to climb out. “I can’t be your hostage. I have an important appointment this evening.”
He frowned. Poor Kitten probably didn’t even realize what she was saying. Damn, he hated scaring her, but if she knew anything and he left her behind, she was dead. He pushed her back inside and threw himself into the seat. As he twisted the key, she scrambled away from him, over the console.
“I won’t hurt you,” he attempted to reassure her. Sirens screamed, and the sweet, heady rush of adrenaline glittered through his veins. He grinned. A conscientious employee had tripped the alarm. Now life was getting interesting. Exactly the way he liked it. He turned to his wide-eyed passenger. “Fasten your seat belt.” The engine roared, and he tore out of the parking lot.
The ski mask interfered with his vision, and he ripped the mask and gloves off. He’d deal with the repercussions of letting her see his face later. Right now, he had to get them out of here in one piece. He wasn’t about to add either of their names to the long list of casualties on this one. His foot slammed down on the gas pedal.
“Hey!” his captive squeaked. “You’re running the red lights!”
“No kidding.” Chuckles burst out of him. “A traffic citation is the least of my worries, honey.”
“You’ve committed robbery, don’t add kidnapping,” she said in a reasonable tone, though her shaky voice gave away her panic. “You’re lengthening your sentence by at least five years. Let me go. Please.”
“No time to explain. I’m taking you for your protection.” He ignored the screaming sirens behind them. The ’Vette responded to his touch like a familiar lover as he wove from side to side. Revved up to sixty, the car screeched around a corner. He skidded and spun into another sharp turn and they nearly rocked up on two wheels.
A moan leaked out of his passenger and Gabe glanced over at her. Stiff and unmoving, she clutched the armrest like a life preserver, her face a bilious pea-green. Unless he missed his guess, she was about to yodel in living Technicolor. “You okay?”
“Motion sick,” she murmured through white lips.
Wonderful. Just what he needed. “Take deep breaths.” He stabbed the window button. Fresh air. Get the lady some fresh air.
The window slid down and Tessa leaned out like a wind-drunk poodle, gulping in cool autumn air. She clung to the armrest, fighting her terror and the nausea pitching in her stomach. This was all a crazy nightmare. Any minute, she’d wake up, call Mel and have a good laugh. Right after she threw up. Distraction—she needed a distraction.
The police would want a description. She forced together her scattered concentration and studied her captor. Six foot one, around a hundred and ninety pounds. All hard, male muscle in a black jacket, T-shirt and snug jeans. His thick black hair was cut military-short at the sides and back and left just long enough in front to stand straight up. Long, sooty lashes fringed light-colored eyes. She couldn’t see the shade in profile and the slits in the ski mask had concealed them in deep shadow before.
The shifting light played over a tanned classical face with strong cheekbones and a Roman nose. His sculpted lips were quirked in a smile over even white teeth and his square chin cradled a dimpled cleft in the center. Her gaze followed his wide shoulders downward. His lean, tanned hands—musician’s hands—controlled the wheel with grace and power.
She knew firsthand how much strength those hands possessed.
Suddenly his eyes narrowed and he sucked in a sharp breath.
She jerked her gaze to the front. A thousand yards ahead, two police cars charged toward them, blocking both lanes and thwarting their escape. She was saved! But instead of slowing down, the bank robber shifted gears, his muscled thigh tensing beneath the tight denim as he stomped on the gas. The car leapt forward at a blood-curdling speed. “What are you doing?” she yelled.
An unholy grin of pure joy split his face. He looked like he was having the time of his life! “Playing chicken.”
Was he insane? Dumb question. He’d robbed a bank and was attempting to outrun the cops in a high-speed pursuit. Of course he was insane. Fear clutched at her chest as they closed the distance with incredible speed. Stay calm. Humor him. Wrestling down her dread, she tried negotiation. “Do you know how unlikely that is to work?”
He chuckled. “Never tell me the odds.”
“Han Solo.”
“Huh?” He flicked a quick, puzzled glance at her.
Common sense told her to shut up. Screaming nerves made her babble on. “You’re quoting Han Solo.”
“You are one nutty broad.” The handsome felon shook his head. “Don’t worry, I know exactly what I’m doing. They’ll blink.”
Obviously he was delusional, too. So much for negotiation. She gripped the dash with fingers gone numb. Her entire body felt numb. Her mind struggled in slow motion, her thought processes clogged by fear. For heaven’s sake, talk your way out of this. Logic. Logic never failed her. “Have you tried this demented maneuver before?”
“Yep, twice.”
“And it worked?”
He urged the car even faster. “Not the first time.”
Tessa took a fortifying breath. “And the second?”
He chuckled. “I’ll let you know in about five seconds.”
The car rocketed forward, the tires skimming over the highway. The force pushed her back against the seat. Tessa stared at the police cars hurtling toward them and her stomach rolled, bitter bile rising up in her throat.
Her life flashed before her eyes in a horrifying squeal of tires and blaring horns.
The thief’s deep laugh rang out. “See? No problem.”
“Who are you, the Angel of Death?” she croaked. Her stomach lurched in warning. “Oh, no.” Frantic, her gaze spun wildly around the car.
The robber glanced at her and groaned. “Here we go.”
The car was swept clean, nothing to get sick in. Her desperate gaze locked on the money bags behind his seat. If she could get one open in time…
“Oh, no you don’t. I need that. Uncontaminated.” He thrust the ski mask at her.
She snatched the quilted cap and turned away from him, mightily regretting those chocolate doughnuts. After several horrible minutes, she felt much better. Holding the ruined mask between two fingers, she looked at the door handle, then at the scenery flashing by. “Um…”
“No evidence.” His right hand reached past her to open the glove compartment.
She deposited her burden and slammed the door. Out of sight, but definitely not out of mind. She heaved a short-lived sigh of relief. One problem solved. Kind of. She glared warily at her captor. Served him right for driving like the lunatic he was.
She glanced into the side mirror at the empty street behind them. Her kidnapper had evaded the police. Her heart stumbled into an uneven gait.
She was on her own.
Chapter 2
The thief pulled over in front of a warehouse in a run-down neighborhood. A fresh rush of adrenaline surged through Tessa. Now that they’d stopped rocketing through space at warp speed, maybe she could escape. Negotiation and logic were out. Time to try Mel’s swift kick in the chops, or anywhere else she could manage. As her captor exited the car, she tensed, waiting for an opportunity.
He sauntered around to open her door, offering his hand.
Now or never. Make your move. Heart pounding, she leapt out, rammed the door into him and tore down the sidewalk.
She made it five yards before his arm snaked around her waist and yanked her against his hard body. Even as her mad dash for freedom crashed and burned, his clean male scent invaded her senses, and she blinked away dizziness. Who knew a wild-and-crazy bank robber would smell so good?
“That door hit a little too close to my favorite part of my anatomy, honey. Unless you want to find yourself bound and gagged, chill out.” But his silky threat sounded more amused than angry. For a bank robber, he seemed amazingly easygoing.
He marched her into the building. Every nerve ending she possessed jittered in alarm, making her breathing much too rapid. Hold it together. Stay alert, you’ll get another chance to escape. They climbed three flights of broken stairs and then her captor followed her down a gloomy corridor. He lifted the bar on a steel door and the screech of rusted metal echoed in the hallway.
The fine hairs on the back of her neck prickled, then stood on end as she reluctantly preceded him into a large, dim room. A storage facility from the looks of it.
The robber grasped the back of a dusty wooden chair. “Sit,” his deep voice ordered.
Annoyance burned away some of her trepidation. Who did this cretin think he was, anyway? “I am not a dog,” she huffed.
His chuckle rumbled out again. “Plant yourself in the chair. Pretty please,” he added in a sugary tone.
Seeing no other choice, she obeyed. Behind her, his jacket rustled. Aware of her vulnerable position, she stiffened, her short choppy breaths not conveying nearly enough oxygen to her lungs. So far, her captor had been good-natured and surprisingly gentle. Even when he’d used his superior strength to control her, she’d sensed him holding back. But what would he do now that he had her alone, and at his mercy?
Without warning, his hands gripped her shoulders. In spite of herself, she flinched.
“Easy.” His voice moved closer to her ear. “I’m not going to hurt you.” His low reassurance slid out, rich and mellow.
His deep baritone wrapped around her like the hot darkness of a sultry summer night, blanketing her uneasiness in warmth. A tingling ripple spiraled up her spine, sparking a shiver.
“Are you cold?”
Her muddled thoughts focused on his question and she shook her head. Tense, jumpy and anxious, you bet. But whatever unfamiliar mixed cocktail of emotions had made her shiver, she wasn’t cold.
“Listen up. I’ve got some loose ends to deal with. I should tie and gag you….”
Her every muscle clenched. Over my dead body!
He gently squeezed her shoulders. “But I won’t. There’s no way out, and if you’ve got any brainy ideas about screaming for help, eighty-six them. Any ‘help’ you attract in this neighborhood won’t be the kind you want. I’ll be back soon. You’ll be safe if you stay put and don’t do anything stupid. Got it?”
She nodded. As he walked away, she heard the whisper of clothing. The door creaked open and then slammed shut. The bar clanked into place, leaving her alone in the gloomy silence.
Relief swirled through her. Like a dream, a sense of unreality clouded her mind. Crazy surprises didn’t happen to Tessa Beaumont. She kept her life ordered, predictable and controlled. Being kidnapped was not scheduled in her planner in neat script—blue for daily schedule, green for appointments and red for urgent matters.
What would happen when the thief returned? He’d said he wasn’t going to hurt her, and so far, he’d kept his word. But rule number one in the Deranged Kidnappers’ Handbook was probably, “Keep the victim calm and obedient.” Unfortunately, she’d been too busy with wedding plans to take that kickboxing course with Mel last month.
Though the roguish robber seemed more than capable of handling a whole class of self-defense graduates. With his looks, one of his sunny smiles was enough to disarm any female between nine and ninety. Glowing with a combination of sensuality and mischief, his infectious grin had incited a flood of response deep inside.
Tessa straightened. What was wrong with her? The shock must have unhinged her mind. No way would she meekly wait for him in this dump like an expired certificate of deposit.
As if to drive home the thought, rustling and sharp squeaks erupted from the corner. She gulped. Rats? Yelping, she scrambled onto the chair, her gaze skittering around the room.
Bundled newspapers littered the floor and three cardboard boxes leaned drunkenly in a corner. Not much to aid a jailbreak, but a small window high on the opposite wall offered some hope.
In one of Tessa’s favorite movies, Goldie Hawn thwarted kidnappers by climbing out a window to the fire escape. But even if Tessa could reach the narrow window, it promised a tight fit. She mentally compared the window to her hips, glad she’d skipped lunch.
After a hesitant glance at the now-quiet corner, she stepped down, and dragged the chair over. Even with the added height, the sill was out of reach.
As her gaze lingered on the cardboard boxes, an idea formed. Tessa grabbed newspapers and dumped them inside a box. She lifted the filled box onto the chair before fetching another carton and more papers. Papers with raggedly chewed edges. A shudder rippled through her. She lifted another stack and uncovered a pile of droppings. Ugh! Inspired to work even faster, she finished the last box and stacked it on top of the others, then stood back to assess her makeshift ladder. Not bad.
Sucking in a breath, she hiked up her long skirt to climb onto the wobbly pile. Her head now reached the bottom of the sill. A grin creased her face. She could do this! Her jacket hampered her movements, and she had to unbutton it in order to pull herself up and peer out the grimy panes.
Her fingers tightened on the sill as her hopes unraveled. No fire escape. “What now, Goldie?” she muttered.
Refusing to knuckle under to despair, her gaze swept the outside of the building. A drainpipe bolted to the bricks with metal brackets ran clear to the ground like a miniature ladder. Her palms grew slick with perspiration. The rusty pipe looked much too fragile for her peace of mind.
More squeaks and shuffles burst from the corner and a rat the size of a house cat skittered across the floor. She shrieked and tried to scrabble onto the windowsill, but her calf-length skirt and flapping jacket made gymnastics impossible.
She had no choice. Teetering on the swaying boxes, she stripped off her suit. Nothing would stop her from going out that window now. Not with a pack of giant rodents eager to tear her to shreds. She’d never be able to climb wearing her slippery half slip, thigh-high stockings and pumps, so they came off, too. She tied her clothing and shoes into a bundle.
Dressed in a purple satin bra and matching panties, she clamped the bundle between her teeth, levered her knees up onto the sill, and shoved open the filthy, peeling window frame. The alley below was empty, so she dropped her clothes to the ground before shimmying out the opening headfirst.
Her stomach jittering, she stretched out her arms, grabbed the pipe and swung over. With sweaty hands and shaking limbs, she clung to the slender pole, the only thing between her and a three-story fall. If this were a movie, she’d be at the police station drinking a cup of coffee with Chevy Chase by now. “Don’t look down,” she muttered, and began to hum to boost her courage. She arched her foot and felt for the first bracket, gingerly testing her weight. It held! Inch by terrifying inch, she climbed down.
She stepped onto the asphalt and pumped her arms in a victory salute. “Yes!” she crowed. Now, to get her clothes, find a phone, and call the police.
“Going somewhere?” a silky male voice asked.
Tessa’s heart bucked and then lurched into an unsteady gait. She whirled, her arms shielding her half-naked torso.
Her handsome captor leaned against the wall with her bundle of clothes dangling from one finger. A wide, wicked grin lit up his face. “A tad informally dressed for an escape, aren’t we?”
Clear, cool, rain-forest-green eyes sparkling with amusement studied her intently. Her breath hitched in her throat. The world stopped, frozen, as she fell into those jade depths. Realization hit. Caught. Again. Half naked. Her body went ice cold. Then heat whipped into her face.
