Hed been planning on hanging with his baby sister in Zavala Springs for a while after the funeral. Just long enough for him to figure out what he wanted his life to be outside the Rangers and without the alcohol. He wasnt exactly great company.
Parking and shutting off the engine in the shadowed lot, Josh cleared his throat once more and tried to think of something civil to say.
The woman turned her face toward him and he caught the gleam of white teeth through the darkness. Hot damn, but her smile must have terrific wattage. He had a feeling she was going to turn out to be a real babe when he got a decent look at her in the lights.
Thisll be fine, she said. Thanks for rescuing us. I think the least we can do is buy you dinner.
Yeah? Well, I think I can manage on my own. Hell. Now he felt like a real jerk. What wouldve been wrong with letting her pay or saying something nice, like hed already eaten?
Swinging down from the trucks cab, Josh hauled himself around the pickup to help lift her and the kid down. He wasnt sure why he automatically did that, but it seemed like the thing to do.
He ushered them into the relative safety of the well-lit restaurant and a hostess seated them. Without sitting, the woman excused herself to change the kids diaper. It took another ten minutes to locate a high chair. This baby business seemed to be a real pain in the butt.
Finally all together in the booth, theyd placed their orders and now had coffee, iced tea and a sippy cup with juice sitting in front of them. It was then he took a moment
Im not going to get out, he told her as he idled by the curb. Ill just drop yall off. Youll be okay, right?
He couldnt wait until she got out of his truck. The sexy vibes shed been throwing off were a distraction, and he needed that about as much as another hole in the head.
She nodded as she unbuckled and prepared herself and her son to go. Sure. We really have to thank you again for all you did for us. I dont think we wouldve made it without you, and I wish there was something more I could do to say thanks.
The various ways he could think of were not suitable to say aloud to a near stranger. No problem. Take care of yourself and Jimmy, ya hear?
Josh watched as she carried the toddler to the end of the line. She looked vulnerable. Vulnerable, worldly and sexy. What a strange combination. He didnt think hed ever met anyone like that before in his entire life.
While he sat in the pickup with his tongue hanging out and watched as her line inched toward the bus door, two dark figures came out of nowhere and grabbed her and Jimmy. The same two dudes whod tried and failed at the roadhouse. Ah, hell!
He was out of the truck in an instant.
Chapter 2
Jimmy! Clare shouted while fighting the other guy.
Before Josh could intervene, she stomped her foot on the goons instep, shoved her open palm up under his chin and then rammed her knee into his groin. That guy crumbled, and Josh took off after the one with Jimmy.
Josh caught up to him with no trouble. But slowing the slime-ball down without hurting the kid in his arms was tough. Josh finally had the guy in a choke hold at about the same time as Jimmy started squealing and squirming. The boy wiggled like a greased calf at a fair, which seemed to confuse the goon, who couldnt hang on to the kid.
Josh used the opportunity to take his shot, poking his fingers hard into the guys eye sockets while jerking Jimmy from his grip with the other hand. Josh didnt spend time gloating over his handiwork, just tore back toward the bus and Clare with Jimmy thrown over his shoulder.
Jimmy, thank heaven, she sobbed when Josh reached her. Relief and gratitude filled her eyes.
Lets go. He grabbed her elbow, heading outside.
Go where?
Anywhere but here. Get in the truck. Yall are safer with me than on that danged bus, no matter where we end up.
After about a half hour of silently driving in circles, trying to lose the goons for sure, Josh thought better of his last remarks. So where were yall headed? Is there some other way you can get to wherever youre going?
Clare turned to him, the tension in her face clear and alarming. Um
Well, that wasnt much of an answer. In fact, this babe had been real slow coming up with any straight answers. He doubted that a word shed said since the moment theyd met had been on the level. Well, hed had enough.
Josh spotted an all-night discount department store in the next block. The huge lot was busy with people coming and going and he figured they could join up and get lost in the crowd of trucks. He pulled in under the low-hanging branches of a willow and shut down the engine.
What are we doing here? Clare softly asked.
When he turned to answer her, the sight he beheld left him flabbergasted and holding his breath. There, through the low light and in the passenger seat of his old beat-up pickup, sat the most beautiful woman hed ever seen holding a sleeping angel in her lap. Was it just a trick of lighting that made her suddenly look like a Madonna? Her skin was exquisite, like fine china. Every strand of her hair lay in silky perfection. Her nose wasnt too small or too large, but just right. And her long lashes lay against high cheekbones as she gazed down at the babe in her arms.