All Tied Up

The question took a second to register, her mind still on her sister. “Um,” she said, trying to think how to answer, “I haven’t decided.”

A disbelieving laugh filled the air. “You’re at the beach and don’t know how long you’re staying? That’s kind of unique. Most people come with a plan.”

A hand touched Nicole from behind, sliding to the small of her back, branding her with possessive heat. Constantine stepped to her side, but she didn’t glance at him. Shock, and a hint of panic, rolled across Rick’s face. A look that only deepened as Constantine said, “She does have a plan.” His voice was hard, deep, sexy. “Being with me.”

Rick gulped. “Oh,” he said. “I’m sorry, man. I wasn’t…I mean…”

Nicole opened her mouth to say something, anything, that might save the poor kid some embarrassment. But Constantine put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her under the nook of his chin. That contact stole more than her breath; it stole her attention from saving Rick. Constantine’s long legs pressed close to hers, electricity shooting through every inch of her body. It was a simple gesture commonly shared by couples but there was nothing simple about her reaction.

“Sorry if I interrupted,” Rick said, his voice nervous as he started to back away, dropping the shirt to the table. Clearly he was ready for a fast departure.

Why did Constantine find it necessary to intimidate such an innocent young kid? It made no sense. She didn’t take him as the kind of guy to throw around his strength in such a way. Anger began to build inside her.

“We should be going,” Constantine said, his tone hinting at demand.

“Me, too,” Rick agreed quickly, and he was gone, rocketing through the store as if he’d been set on fire.

Nicole whirled on Constantine and would have stepped out of his reach but he grabbed her waist, holding her so close their legs were entwined, hips aligned. The heated words she’d been ready to spurt a few seconds earlier took extra effort to crawl past her lips.

“What’s your problem?” she whispered.

His tone was low, lethal. The look in his eyes full of impatience. “You don’t seem to get the message. Anyone and everyone is a potential threat.”

“He was a kid,” she argued. “One you just about scared the hell out of.”

“You’ve been in the system long enough to know what criminals are capable of. Alvarez isn’t above anything. He’ll do whatever it takes. Even pay an innocent kid to ID you.”

“That kid was not with Alvarez.”

A woman with dark hair and glasses walked past them. Constantine’s eyes followed her, suspicious, his expression cautiously assessing. Did he know something she didn’t? Tension slid through her body as the taste of fear thickened in her mouth.

Nicole watched Constantine watch the woman. And then watched his gaze slip back to her. Their eyes locked. Desperately, she searched his face, looking for a hint of what might come next. And what she found turned her fear to boiling hot anger.

He was messing with her head, trying to prove a point. “Don’t do that.” She glared at him. “I despise stupid head games.”

Leaning a bit closer, he said, “I assure you, this is not a game. Alvarez leaves a trail of bodies wherever he goes.” Seconds passed, the mood shifting in some indescribable way, still tense, still charged. And then, unexpectedly, Constantine’s attitude softened, much like it had in the hotel room. “I don’t want you to be one of them.”

She gave him a dubious look, her throat suddenly parched. Was that tenderness in his eyes? Worry? Surely not. And why did the idea of such things warm her inside? They’d had sex. The smoldering tension between them said they wanted to have sex again. It meant nothing. Or did it? When she delved into the depths of Constantine’s eyes, she felt something more than attraction, a vague sense of kindred spirits that betrayed their exterior differences. Something that scared her as much as Alvarez did, simply in a different way.

Pressing past her emotional questions, Nicole had to admit Constantine delivered a persuasive argument. She couldn’t be selective about her caution. She had to start thinking with the kind of ultraconservative mind-set she used in the courtroom.

“You’re right,” she admitted. “I’ll be more careful.”

A look of surprise flashed across his face before he gave her a quick nod. “Good. Let’s finish shopping and get out of here.” He turned away from her then, but not before Nicole noted the confusion in his eyes.

At least she wasn’t alone in her emotional turmoil. It appeared Constantine didn’t know any more what to think about her than she did about him. They were trapped together for the time being, running from Alvarez. They could escape from Alvarez, she had confidence in that. But escaping whatever was happening between the two of them…she wasn’t sure they could.