Candy grabbed Brian by the back of the neck, pulled his face down to meet hers, and boldly thrust her tongue into his mouth. She kissed him like that for what felt like an eternity to Gwenyth. Candy’s attention was never once distracted, not even when the patrons began making whistling sounds and cat calls.
And then she released him. With the same gusto and flair, Candy pivoted on her high heels and strutted out of the bar, not even bothering to look back.
Bemused, Gwenyth craned her neck around to gage Brian’s reaction. Oh yes, there would be a story there. And if Brian Goodman could close his gaping jaw long enough to make his next move, the story would probably end pretty interestingly.
Chapter 22
Gwenyth left the post office at a quarter till four, figuring she had about two hours left to pick up some dinner and get it home in time to meet her hungry husband. Sam always came home famished from ball practice, and since her day was typically over and done with a good two hours before his, she was generally the one that took care of supper time.
Gwenyth put the keys in the ignition of her jeep and the engine croaked to life. Literally. Frowning, Gwenyth made a mental note to tell Sam that it was time for her to get a new car. The jeep had definitely seen better days.
Pulling out of the parking lot, Gwenyth made a left at the light and headed toward a Greek diner down the road that carried Sam’s favorite gyros and baked the best baklava Gwenyth had ever eaten on this side of the Mediterranean. Grinning, she patted her belly and cooed to the baby. “It’s okay, little one. Mommy’s hungry for something sweet too.”
Gwenyth glanced inattentively into the rearview mirror, then back to the road ahead. Frowning, she peered into the mirror again to make certain she had really seen what her distracted eyes had told her she had. Unfortunately, her vision hadn’t failed her.
The white sedan was back.
Biting her lip, Gwenyth coasted into the parking lot of the Greek diner and veered into a parking space in front of it. Turning around in her seat, she waited to see what the white sedan would do.
Much to Gwenyth’s chagrin, it pulled up behind the jeep, effectively blocking her into the parking space. Her heart racing, she clutched her belly and breathed deeply as she waited for the scene to play out. Very slowly, so slow that it felt like something out of a nightmare, the driver’s side window rolled down.
“Devin,” she murmured.
Gwenyth’s green eyes rounded to saucers as the lawyer saluted her with the well- known two-fisted symbol commonly used by NAM supporters. The calculating glimmer in his dark, lifeless eyes sent shivers down her spine. The man was crazy. He was going to kill her. He would never stop until she was dead or he was in prison. Or both.
And then he drove away. Leisurely. Like he had all the time in the world. The wink Devin gave Gwenyth before pulling out of the parking lot suggested that their paths would cross again. He’d see to it.
Gwenyth turned around in her seat and closed her eyes while she collected herself. She would just have to make certain that they never did.
* * * * *
“I just got off the phone with my company. Devin hasn’t shown up for work in over a week.” Marc let out a long sigh, then gestured toward Sam. “When will Detective Anderson be here?”
“About thirty minutes.” Sam stroked Gwenyth’s hair as he held her securely on his lap. “Unless he comes up with a full proof plan, I’m backin’ out of my contract and stayin’ at home to watch over my wife.”
Gwenyth’s head shot up. “Sam, you can’t do that. It will cost us too much money.” “I don’t give a damn about the money, Gwenyth Marie.”
“Well I do.” She patted him reassuringly on the hand. “Don’t worry, honey. I’ll stay with Candy if need be.”
Sam rolled his eyes. He snorted disbelievingly. “Is that supposed to make me feel better or worse?”
“Hey!” Candy piped up for the first time since she’d arrived. “Just what does that mean?”
“It means that I’ve met detonated bombs with more stability than you.”
Candy thrust her hands indignantly to her hips. “Name one.”
Sam shook his finger and glowered. “Now listen here—”
“Enough.” Gwenyth closed her eyes and rubbed her temples. “You know Candy would never do anything to endanger me or the baby, Sam. You owe her an apology.”
Sam gritted his teeth at the haughty look Candy threw his way, but relented in the end. “Oh alright, damn it. Candy, I apologize. I’m sure you have more stability than the majority of detonated bombs out there on the market today, blowin’ up land mines and derailin’ passenger trains.”
Candy lifted an ebony brow. “In the history of apologies, that was the worst apology that I’ve ever had the misfortune of being subjected to.”
Sam blew out a beleaguered breath. “Probably.” Running his hand frenziedly through his hair, he closed his eyes briefly and sighed again. “I’m sorry, Can. I know you’ll watch over Gwenyth better than anybody. I just hate the fact that it can’t be me.”
Candy strolled over to where Sam and Gwenyth sat and took his hand between her own. “I know, Sam. It will be alright. I promise.”
