Annie on the Lam: A Christmas Caper by Jennifer Archer Page A

worry about it,” Annie repeated, her voice a mere squeak. “My purse latch needs fixing. I’ll pick those all up.” If her body temperature rose any higher, she would self-combust.
    He rocked a little on the balls of his feet, then stood with the packet in one hand, a towel in the other. His Adam’s apple bobbed. “Here,” he said, and held both items out toward her.
    She took them.
    The phone rang. They jumped. Joe cleared his throat then turned and left the room.
    Annie dropped to her knees, scooped everything into her purse, backed into the bathroom and closed the door. She braced both hands on the sink and stared at herself in the mirror. If her heart beat any harder and louder, the police would show up all right, but not because she’d stolen Harry’s files. They would arrest her for disturbing the peace.
    Â 
    J OE HEADED for the cordless phone on the nightstand beside his bed, wondering who in the hell would be calling at this hour.
    And thinking about Annie.
    Why would one woman carry around so many condoms in her purse? He laughed silently at his stupid question. Sweet tea. Yeah, right . With a couple of shots of bourbon in it. She had looked about as sweet and innocent as a centerfold model when she opened that bathroom door. Hair wild, cheeks flushed, nipples beaded against that black satin bra.
    He reached the nightstand and lifted the phone, punched Talk. “Brady here.”
    â€œWhy haven’t you called?”
    SMACK . Joe felt as if he’d stepped on the tracks in front of a speeding train. Nothing like lusting for a woman while talking to her father. Especially when the father was a paying client.
    He couldn’t get out of the bedroom fast enough.
    Relieved to hear the shower come on in the bathroom, he took the phone and started into the living room.
    â€œWhere’s my daughter?” The frantic tone of Milford Macy’s voice had Joe hastening his step. “I’ve been calling her apartment half the night. Yours, too. Your cell isn’t working.”
    â€œThe battery died. Relax. Your daughter is with me,” Joe said quietly, one eye on the closed bedroom door as he sat on the couch.
    â€œDid something happen? God almighty as my witness, if one hair on my daughter’s head is out of place you’ll be sorry as a two-dollar bill. Is she—?”
    â€œLook,” Joe said, recalling with chagrin how tousled Annie’s hair had looked when he’d left her moments ago. “Slow down. I’m on your side, remember? She’s fine. And before you start threatening me, you might want to keep in mind that I’m doing you a favor.”
    â€œA favor? I’m paying you—”
    â€œTo follow her, not babysit, which is what I’ve ended up doing.”
    The old man’s sigh traveled clearly across the line. “Is Annie okay?”
    â€œLike I said, she’s fine. But you were right to worry about Landau. He chased her out of the building right into my cab.”
    â€œHe—why?”
    â€œShe stole files from his office.”
    A pause, then, “Lord have mercy…that girl. Thank God you were there. She probably would have gone straight to her place and Landau would’ve been right behind her.”
    Joe cleared his throat. “We did go to her apartment.” He relayed all that had happened since then, stopping before he reached the part where he dropped Annie’s purse and she opened his bathroom door in her underwear.
    â€œThank heaven she’s okay.” Another pause. “You haven’t told her about our arrangement, have you?”
    â€œAs far as she knows, I’m only a cab driver and an ex-cop who was in the right place when she needed a quick escape.”
    â€œGood. Keep it that way. She’d never forgive me if she knew the truth. Of course, her safety is my greatest concern, but there’s more than one way to lose someone, and I don’t want