added.
Jill closed her eyes, fighting the disappointment, the rising fear. Had Tess showed up, Gary could’ve put her in protective custody. As she hung up, Jill touched her lips. How perceptive Dane had been. He’d tried to protect Tess.
As she hung up, a warmth flooded her heart. Dare she trust Dane? Had he held back something about her sister’s involvement with the studio?
Dane had a fire going in seconds and the room began to lose its chill. The amber glow played off the angles and planes of his face and highlighted his dark good looks. “Any news about Tess?” he asked.
“Nothing.” Worry weighed Jill down and drained every drop of energy. “She hasn’t even called. Gary checked the university, thanks to you. And he talked with Tess’ neighbors. They described friends and cars coming and going; however, no one could give names or license numbers. No one at the gym could tell him anything new either.”
Jill stared into space, losing herself. She felt her heartbeat quicken as Dane tenderly tucked a wisp of hair behind her ear.
“I don’t know what to say,” he murmured. “I can’t tell you not to worry, because I’m as worried as hell myself.”
“It helps to have you here.”
The warmth from the fire and the silence that settled between them made Jill drowsy.
She yawned and rubbed her eyes. “I’m bushed. Watch your newscast, then let yourself out, okay?”
He nodded. “Don’t worry, I’ll lock the place up tight.”
Jill heard the television come on as she left the room. Perhaps it was rude to leave him in there alone while she got ready for bed, but she was too drained to care.
She glanced at the mirror. The blood was gone. Dane must have cleaned it while she napped. How thoughtful. She would thank him tomorrow.
Jill stripped and got into the shower. She began to relax a bit as the hot water beat down on her neck, but the warmth did nothing for the bruise on her hip. At least, she was alive.
How had the hit-and-run driver known she was in Dane’s car? Maybe the driver was the person who’d followed her. Did that mean he’d been watching her all this time? Was he outside now—waiting for her to be alone?
As she dried herself, she heard her dishwasher running. It was rather pleasant to have a bachelor around who was used to cleaning up after himself. She felt safer with him there. But, what about when the newscast was over and he left?
****
Morning light sliced through the blinds. Fighting the pain that shot from her neck into her skull, Jill eased out of bed. The accident had cost her a day, and she couldn’t afford another. Please, God, don’t let the word NEXT printed in blood-red letters on the back of that picture mean the killer already has my sister.
By the way things were adding up she feared her prayer was too late.
Jill shivered and slipped into her robe. What she needed was a pain pill and a hot cup of coffee. She wondered what time Dane had left? Her breath caught at the fluttery feeling in her heart. She’d actually fallen asleep with him there, comforted by his nearness. Memories of his warm touch sent a surge of blood through her veins. He’d stuck by her in spite of her short temper. And he did make a mean omelet.
She didn’t want to like him, but she’d always been a sucker for a little kindness. Who was he really, good guy or part of the video underworld?
Jill stopped and stared at the sofa, unable to believe her eyes. Dane was still here!
The sight of his lean, shirtless body stretched out on her couch as if he belonged, made her heartbeat race. Her gaze trailed over his muscled shoulders, chest, and flat stomach. His dark curly chest hair formed a T and disappeared inside the waistband of his pants.
To her dismay, she felt twinges of arousal.
No. She couldn’t let herself feel this. This nervy reporter had invaded her home. Suppose she’d walked out here naked? She yanked the pillow out from under his head and flung it into his face.
Dane’s
Jill closed her eyes, fighting the disappointment, the rising fear. Had Tess showed up, Gary could’ve put her in protective custody. As she hung up, Jill touched her lips. How perceptive Dane had been. He’d tried to protect Tess.
As she hung up, a warmth flooded her heart. Dare she trust Dane? Had he held back something about her sister’s involvement with the studio?
Dane had a fire going in seconds and the room began to lose its chill. The amber glow played off the angles and planes of his face and highlighted his dark good looks. “Any news about Tess?” he asked.
“Nothing.” Worry weighed Jill down and drained every drop of energy. “She hasn’t even called. Gary checked the university, thanks to you. And he talked with Tess’ neighbors. They described friends and cars coming and going; however, no one could give names or license numbers. No one at the gym could tell him anything new either.”
Jill stared into space, losing herself. She felt her heartbeat quicken as Dane tenderly tucked a wisp of hair behind her ear.
“I don’t know what to say,” he murmured. “I can’t tell you not to worry, because I’m as worried as hell myself.”
“It helps to have you here.”
The warmth from the fire and the silence that settled between them made Jill drowsy.
She yawned and rubbed her eyes. “I’m bushed. Watch your newscast, then let yourself out, okay?”
He nodded. “Don’t worry, I’ll lock the place up tight.”
Jill heard the television come on as she left the room. Perhaps it was rude to leave him in there alone while she got ready for bed, but she was too drained to care.
She glanced at the mirror. The blood was gone. Dane must have cleaned it while she napped. How thoughtful. She would thank him tomorrow.
Jill stripped and got into the shower. She began to relax a bit as the hot water beat down on her neck, but the warmth did nothing for the bruise on her hip. At least, she was alive.
How had the hit-and-run driver known she was in Dane’s car? Maybe the driver was the person who’d followed her. Did that mean he’d been watching her all this time? Was he outside now—waiting for her to be alone?
As she dried herself, she heard her dishwasher running. It was rather pleasant to have a bachelor around who was used to cleaning up after himself. She felt safer with him there. But, what about when the newscast was over and he left?
****
Morning light sliced through the blinds. Fighting the pain that shot from her neck into her skull, Jill eased out of bed. The accident had cost her a day, and she couldn’t afford another. Please, God, don’t let the word NEXT printed in blood-red letters on the back of that picture mean the killer already has my sister.
By the way things were adding up she feared her prayer was too late.
Jill shivered and slipped into her robe. What she needed was a pain pill and a hot cup of coffee. She wondered what time Dane had left? Her breath caught at the fluttery feeling in her heart. She’d actually fallen asleep with him there, comforted by his nearness. Memories of his warm touch sent a surge of blood through her veins. He’d stuck by her in spite of her short temper. And he did make a mean omelet.
She didn’t want to like him, but she’d always been a sucker for a little kindness. Who was he really, good guy or part of the video underworld?
Jill stopped and stared at the sofa, unable to believe her eyes. Dane was still here!
The sight of his lean, shirtless body stretched out on her couch as if he belonged, made her heartbeat race. Her gaze trailed over his muscled shoulders, chest, and flat stomach. His dark curly chest hair formed a T and disappeared inside the waistband of his pants.
To her dismay, she felt twinges of arousal.
No. She couldn’t let herself feel this. This nervy reporter had invaded her home. Suppose she’d walked out here naked? She yanked the pillow out from under his head and flung it into his face.
Dane’s
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