They both still whittled, though. It had become one of the many new things they did together. She now carried his small pocket knife with her all the time like he carried his sobriety chip in his pocket. It reminded her she could face her fears and do hard things.
She patted the knife in her pocket again, just as she did before going in to examine Clint's ankle.
"Are you okay, Riley?" Vera's voice pulled her from her musings.
She grinned at her medical assistant. "I'm great!"
Vera's smile matched her own. "Glad to hear it."
They chatted for a few minutes about work, then family, and finally their plans for the weekend before Riley went to her office and finished dictating her notes for the day. Vera and Lisa, the other medical assistant, were gone by the time she walked out of her office.
Riley’s phone rang as she was about to push open the door to the rear parking lot. Juggling her purse, lunch bag, and water bottle she pulled her phone from her pocket. Warmth filled her when she saw Daniel's name on her phone.
"Well, hello, Tarzan."
"Hey, Pockets." A sultry tone filled his voice, and her heart did a series of backflips. "I was sitting here thinking that something was missing from my day when I noticed how late it was, and I realized I'm missing your pockets. On my lap." His voice took on a seductive quality, making her heart do more crazy gymnastics. Her stomach even dipped, joining in on the action.
"I'm sorry. I got caught up talking to Vera." Riley pushed through the door and squinted when the bright sunlight hit her full in the face. She brought the arm carrying her empty lunch back up to shield her face as she walked to her car. "But I'm headed home right now."
"Glad to hear it. Would you like to drive to Pasco tonight to catch a movie? Or would you rather go for a ride?"
Because of the time of day, only a handful of cars remained in the parking lot, so Riley didn't have to watch too carefully where shewalked. Which was a good thing because the late-afternoon sun was blinding.
"I bet Misty and Rebel are missing us, but I'm not sure you should ride until your shoulder is completely healed."
"That's right, I'd better hurry and put my sling on before my girlfriend gets home. She can be such a tyrant."
Riley laughed. "Very funny."
She knew Daniel well enough, however, to know that he wasn't kidding. She'd caught him without it twice in the past two weeks. Other times, judging by his bunched collar, she was certain he slipped it on after he heard her park beside the house. At least his work was not physically taxing on his shoulder.
When she reached her Jeep, she turned her back to the sun, held her phone against her shoulder, and did more juggling as she fished in her purse for her keys. The door of the car next to hers opened, so she shifted closer to her car to get out of the person's way.
"Hello, Riley Darling," a familiar voice said behind her.
A sudden cold chill hit Riley with the speed of lightning. Every muscle in her body seized up, including her lungs. Alarm bells rang so loud in her head, she could no longer hear Daniel's voice.
No. No. No.
Why did she have to freeze at the mere sound of that scumbag's voice when she had no problem taking down Rudy or kneeing Daniel in the groin?
Because deep down I knew they weren't real threats. But Collin is.
Hands settled on her shoulders before she managed to mobilize her body. The contact caused her to snap out of it. Dropping everything she held, including her phone, she brought her elbow back hard and fast.
Collin grunted and swore. Then his arms closed around her in a vice-like grip. "You're such a spitfire. I've been looking forward to taming you."
Full of disgust, Riley lifted her right foot and stomped her heel down on what should have been his instep, but she missed her mark,and her soft soled shoe didn't do the damage that her cowboy boots would have.
"I was counting on a struggle, but this is even better than I imagined." He pinned her against her Jeep as he pressed his cheek close to her ear. "And believe me, I've had plenty of time to imagine how this moment would play out after you got me fired from my job." His voice grew more menacing and strained as she continued to squirm and fight against him. "I was hoping we could do this without the use of my little weapon, but you leave me no choice."
Weapon?
Additional alarm bells blared in her head.
"Help! Help me!" She screamed at the top of her lungs, knowing it was in vain. There was no one else in the nearly empty rear parking lot. And it wasn't likely someone in the front parking lot would hear her.
One of Collin's arms released her, so she spun, intending to deliver the fist-to-the-throat death blow they'd only talked about but never practiced in self-defense class. But Collin slammed her up against her Jeep so hard she saw stars. Then something sharp pierced her neck.
