“It doesn’t matter,” she finally said. “I mean, just because we both feel it, doesn’t mean we have to follow through on it. We’re both adults.”
“Hmm, of course the fact that we’re both adults is a good reason for following through on the attraction. Get it out of our system. As long as we both understand the rules.”
“Ah, yes, the rules of seduction, right? No promises, no commitment.” She eyed him thoughtfully. “Have you always played by those rules?”
He was silent for so long she wondered if he would answer her at all. “A long time ago I didn’t play by those rules,” he finally said, his voice so soft she had to lean toward him to hear. “I committed, I promised, I married the woman of my dreams and on a rain-slick road a drunk driver destroyed it all.”
“Oh, Hank. I’m so sorry.” She touched his arm, unsurprised when he jerked away from her touch.
He shrugged. “It was a long time ago. A lifetime ago. There’s a truck stop just ahead. We’ll stop and get some breakfast.”
Colette realized he wouldn’t share any more of hispast with her, was probably irritated that he’d said as much as he had. Part of her was glad. The tragedy of his past only sharpened his appeal, and that’s the last thing she needed.
Within minutes they sat at a table in the Star Truck Stop, waiting for their breakfast to be delivered. Hank sat facing the door, his gaze moving around the well-lit interior like a hawk seeking prey.
“Everything all right?” she asked.
“Fine. Just being cautious.”
“Aren’t you going to read the menu?” She gestured to the slick tri-fold menu in front of him.
“It’s been my experience that the best thing to order in a place like this is the daily special.”
She closed her menu. “I guess I’ll trust you on this and do the same.”
His lips curved up at the corners. “Ah, we’re making progress. You’re beginning to trust me.”
“For the moment I have little choice but to trust you,” she returned.
The waitress arrived to pour steaming coffee and take their orders. She cooed over Brook, winked flirtatiously at Hank and smiled briskly at Colette, then left their table.
As she sipped the hot coffee, Colette noticed that each time the door opened, Hank tensed, his eyes narrowed in wariness. “You think we’re still in danger?” she asked.
“Collier knows we have to head toward California. Whoever he had working at the ranch will have told him we left. Collier’s men will be looking for us.”
“You don’t have any idea who at the ranch might be working for Collier?”
Hank shook his head. “We ran a background check on the ranch hands, but it turned up nothing substantial on anyone.”
“I know how we can fool them.”
“How?”
“You could take me to Mexico instead of San Bernardino.”
“Nice try.” He smiled thinly. “I think I liked you better with your memory. At least then you were determined to testify against Collier.”
“Then why did I run?”
His gaze slid away from hers. “Who knows? Maybe you got tired of me beating you in gin rummy, or maybe you got sick of fast food. I don’t know why you ran. I only know you’d be a fool to do it again.”
“I promised you I wouldn’t try,” she reminded him.
“And you never break promises.”
She nodded. “And you never make them.”
Their conversation halted as the waitress reappeared with their breakfast orders. Colette eyed the heaping plate in dismay. “Maybe I should have ordered from the menu. This special would feed three hungry women.”
