Like a Knife by Annie Solomon Page B

flowers. A dewy film made her graceful shoulders and neck glow. He buried his gaze in the phone books "Get dressed."
    "Nick-"
    "If you want to get to school before the kids do, you have two minutes."
    Silence. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her pivot and march down the hall to the bedroom.
    Thank God.
    When she reappeared, she wore another skimpy dress that bared her shoulders and showed her legs. In pale orange, the sundress set off the peachy rose in her cheeks and the highlights in her braid. He smothered a curse and. turned toward the front door, ordering her inside while he scouted the hallway. Determining the corridor was safe, he let her advance to the elevator, then checked it before letting her enter.
    Rachel watched the James Bond moves with increasing apprehension. "Nick, you're scaring me."
    "Good." He bit off the word the way he'd been biting off all his words since she'd woke up. As though he wanted to bite off her head.
    But the thing was, she didn't need him to underscore the danger. She was scared enough already.
    Outside, he guided her away from the parking garage.
    "Where are we going?"
    "My car is across the street."
    "Your car? But-"
    "We don't need two, and mine is in better shape."
    When he led her to his car, she understood why. The silver Porsche was sleek and shiny in the early morning light. "Better shape is an understatement," she said dryly.
    "It's Rennie's," he snapped.
    "Uh-huh. Part of that... standard he requires of his associates."
    She shouldn't have needled him, but she couldn't resist. At least sarcasm might break through the aloof shell he'd grown overnight. She knew her decision to stay in her apartment had been incomprehensible to him, but this morning he was like a bear with a burr up his butt. Was it fear for her, or something else?
    She didn't know, and she wasn't going to risk losing a finger or toe, or some other tender part of her, by asking. She laid her head against the seat and bottled up the surge of dread when be took the gun from his waist and stuck it in the glove compartment. He pulled away, and she looked out the window, forcing her breathing into a normal rhythm.
    He dropped her at St. Anthony's, pulling up to the front steps instead of the yard. "Go through the church. It's more public. I'll pick you up at six. Stay inside until you see the car."
    Despite her best efforts, her heart started thudding. "Do you think he'd do something at fee school?"
    "If I did, I wouldn't leave you here."
    "Then why-"
    "Because it makes me feel better." Another biting reply. Her distress must have shown because he cursed softly, clearly struggling with his temper, his patience, or whatever else was bothering him. '1 have an errand, and I don't want to worry about you while I run it, okay?"
    "Are you going to look for the boy?"
    "Maybe. Look, just do me a favor, okay? Keep the kids inside, or let Felice take them to play in the yard. Send out for lunch, and stay away from windows and doors."
    She bit the inside of her cheek, anxiety making her skin tight. "All right." She slid out of the car and walked up the steps to the church doors.
    Nick watched her disappear into the church. She hadn't asked him to go in with her, and he hadn't offered. Hell, the last thing she needed was him showing up again. But he got out of the car and hung around the street, keeping an eye out until the rest of the teachers arrived.
    The irony wasn't lost on him. Yesterday, he would have done anything in his power to keep her away from him. Now, he was doing everything he could not to let her out of his sight.
    And the bridge that went from there to here was Ren-nie Spier.
    Just then, his cell phone rang. It was one of the carpenters he'd called earlier.
    "I need a security door installed in an apartment in Forest Hills," Nick told him. "Steel reinforced with an electronic lock and two heavy-duty deadbolts."
    "No problem. How about two weeks from Thursday?"
    "I need it done today."
    The man laughed. "Good