Aimée Thurlo - Restless Wind

Once they were a safe distance away, he pulled to the side of the road. “Let me take a look at your hand,” Ranger said.

She flinched when he touched her fingers. “It hurts. Go easy. It was like hitting a brick wall when I got his backbone instead of his neck.”

“Nothing’s broken,” he said after a moment. “At least you remembered how to make a fist.”

“I remembered everything you taught me, but he ran before I could get to the N and G of that Sing move. Too bad. The guy could have used a good kick in the G.”

“You’re one helluva woman, Dana.” Before she could even think, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her. Feeling her melt against him, he pressured her lips to part, then tasted her slowly, deliberately, changing the angle of the kiss only to deepen it.

His fingers skimmed the column of her throat. Her pulse was beating wildly, and her soft sighs drove him crazy. With a groan, he let her go. He’d take her right there and then if he didn’t cool off. Whatever crazy feelings drew him to Dana were real and more powerful than he’d ever dreamed.

“Why…” she whispered breathlessly, running the tip of her tongue over her lips. She could still taste him.

Ranger settled into the driver’s seat, keeping his distance. “Wanting you is making me a little crazy,” he warned, an edge in his voice.

The expression of disappointment on her face was almost his undoing and he had to look away. “Let’s go to the house. You need to change clothes. Then we’ll set out again.”

SHE SHOWERED QUICKLY and changed clothes. The sweater had been smeared with Crazy Louie’s blood and was torn in places. She tossed it into the trash. She’d buy its owner another as soon as her life got back to normal.

Normal…would she ever have a normal life again? Her feelings for Ranger changed everything. Thoughts of him simmered in her mind, mingling with hopes and dreams. They persisted, even though she knew that giving in to those emotions would only distract and endanger both of them.

Dana joined him in the living room minutes later. As she saw his gaze traveling slowly down her frame, she had to work hard to squelch the flutter in her stomach.

“That brown, long-haired wig changes your looks completely. It’s perfect. Even if we run into someone who was at the fight, chances are you won’t be recognized.”

She held out her swollen hand. “This’ll give me away. It’s already starting to turn blue-even though I put makeup on it.”

He started to take her hand, then abruptly changed his mind and turned away, but not before Dana saw the flash of fire in his eyes. There’d been a burning there, a hunger her soul recognized.

As they walked out to the car, Dana remained a discreet distance away from him. He was still too much of a temptation. “Where to next?”

“The Back Alley. It’s a bar on the other side of town.”

She cringed. “More fights…”

“No, not at this place. The bouncers keep everyone under tight control. At the Back Alley the police are the enemy-and everyone has cop radar.”

“So what’s the plan once we’re inside?” she said, getting the idea fast.

“You’re my old lady, and I’m muscle who’ll do anything for money. With luck, we’ll run into whoever hires for Trujillo. Then we can check for known associates and that might give us a lead to the kidnappers. The tribal police believe the kidnappers were local talent and I happen to agree.”

“Okay, I’m ready,” she said.

He gave her the once-over again. “Let me do the talking. There’s something about you…a gentleness, a softness…It makes you stand out.”

She gave him a long look. “How many butts do I have to kick before you’ll give me some credit, huh?”

He laughed. “Play the cards you’ve got. Stick with the naive look. They’ll underestimate you.”

“Did you…at the beginning?”

“I wasn’t sure what was on the inside, but I liked the packaging. Still do,” he added in a rich baritone voice.

His words had felt like an intimate caress. “And do you know what to make of me now?” she asked in a whisper-soft tone.

He said nothing for several long moments. “You’re getting under my skin, schoolteacher,” he said at last. “I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or bad, but it’s a fact.”

It was more John Wayne than John Keats, but his words gave her a powerful rush. Yearning…she understood that emotion better now than she ever had before.

They approached the bar, which was located on a narrow side street in east Farmington a short time later. Ranger took a parking spot close to the door as another car was leaving. “Take a good, hard look at the people inside. If you see anyone we might be interested in, let me know.”

Once inside, Ranger chose a table that allowed them to keep their backs to the wall and still get a good look into the room.

“I recognize the bartender, and he knows I’m not law enforcement. For a Jackson, he’ll answer a quick question or two.

“Order whatever’s on tap for me, and something for yourself, while I go over to talk to him.” His eyebrows rose as he added, “Think you can stay out of trouble?”

“If you can, I can. Just don’t make me have to come over and save your behind,” she added.

He laughed. “Okay, sweetheart. You’ve got yourself a deal.”

Dana watched as he joined the bartender, then struck up a conversation. Though deep in discussion, Ranger would glance back at her often, making sure she was okay, and the gesture-and its intent-made her feel good.

A waitress in tight jeans and western-style shirt came over to take her drink order.

“Dana, I thought that was you! I love your wig,” she said.

Dana shifted her gaze and recognized the pretty young woman instantly. Jenny Miller worked as a teaching assistant at the school.

“Shhh,” Dana warned. “Nobody’s supposed to recognize me.”

“Keeping a low profile after being kidnapped? I don’t blame you,” she whispered, sitting down on the chair beside her. “We were all told you’d had to take a leave of absence for your own protection. But if you don’t want to be recognized, I better give you a heads-up. Coach Martin is here hoping to hook up tonight. He’s always had a thing for you, and that wig might just turn him on.”

Dana groaned. “Just what I need.” Looking in the direction Jenny pointed, Dana saw Martin flirting with a busty blond waitress. “Oh, good! I think he’s already making his move.”

“That’s probably just the first girl of the evening for him. Stay in the shadows. I’m engaged now, so hopefully he won’t try to hit on me, but Martin seems to like going from one woman to the next…kinda like the guy you came with.”

“You know Ranger?” Dana asked.

She nodded. “Sure. Heck, half the women around here have made a move on him. He’s a lot of fun, and a good guy, but he’s definitely not relationship material. I dated him for a while two years ago, but it didn’t work out. Same old story. I was getting serious-he wasn’t,” she said with a sigh.

Dana hadn’t been prepared for the news, though all things considered, she should have expected something like this. Ranger was smooth and that usually came from experience. A man with his looks and confidence was bound to have more than his share of opportunities.

“But don’t worry,” Jen continued. “Even when he stops calling or coming around, he’ll let you down easy. Ranger’s decent about the whole thing. Once he knew I was starting to get serious, he ended it.”

“Who’s he dating these days?” she asked, unable to resist.

“Last I heard, he was seeing three or four women. One of them is Linda McFadden, the anchor for channel eight news.”