Double Take (24 page)

Rafe walked slowly to them. “John.” He nodded at him, then turned to Kait and noticed her bloody temple. He lifted a walkie-talkie. “Get me an ambulance and a tow truck, Maggie,” he said.

“Ten-four, boss,” came the crackling female reply.

Then his arm shot out. Kait had no chance to recoil—he grasped her by the arm before she could move. Her gaze leapt to his and she was frantic with fear. His eyes narrowed but did not leave her face as he urged her to the hood of the car. Kait realized he wanted her to sit on it. “You can let go of that jack,” he said matter-of-factly.

Kait looked into his fathomless green eyes and didn’t know what to think. She was shaking. For one moment, she had thought that he might strangle her, never mind that John had been present. “You hate me,” she said weakly. But she dropped the jack.

“Yeah, I sure do. But you’re hurt.” He released her and folded his arms across his chest. “What happened here, Lana?”

“Someone hit me from behind,” she said. “No, someone followed me from town and rammed me from behind.” Too late, she realized what she had said. She stiffened, but if he had known she was spying upon him and Zara in town, he gave no sign.

He said, “You get a look at the vehicle—the driver?”

Kait shook her head. “It happened too fast.”

“Think he or she was drunk?”

Kait looked right into his eyes. “No.”

“No?”

She didn’t bother to tell him that the vehicle hadn’t been weaving. Or that its speed hadn’t varied. “I think it was someone who wants me dead,” she said.

Trev arrived at the exact same moment as the fire department. He came striding forward, followed by two paramedics. Kait took one look at his expression—another police car had arrived and the entire scene was thoroughly illuminated by headlights—and knew he cared.

Concern was written all over his face. He paused, his eyes widening as he saw her temple. Kait hadn’t bothered to look in a mirror, but she guessed she looked pretty bad. “I’m okay, really,” she said softly.

He took her arm and with his other hand, turned her face to the side. “Glass?” His eyes went to the cracked windshield of the Porsche.

“I have no idea. But the air bag inflated, so what else could it be?” For one moment, he did not speak. “What do you mean, someone ran you off the road?”

“Someone came up behind me and did not slow. Not even a hair. I may have even been followed,” Kait said in a low tone. The two paramedics now stood behind Trev, and she didn’t want to be overheard. “I was rammed once from behind. The driver did not stop.”

He stared. “Who would follow you, and why? And where were you tonight, anyway?”

Kait froze.

“Excuse me, sir, but we need to take a look at the lady,” one of the firemen said.

Trev didn’t move.

“Sir?”

Kait licked her lips. “I followed Max from the farm. It’s a bit of a story, but I’ll share it with you when they’re through.”

His jaw flexed and he gave her an enigmatic look. “That’s a good idea.” He stepped aside.

Kait was quickly examined by the first paramedic, who checked her vitals and pronounced her no worse for wear. He cleaned up her cut, informing her that it looked a lot worse than it was and he doubted it would scar. It had been caused by a piece of glass, as Trev had thought.

During the examination, Trev turned to view his brother. Rafe and another police officer stood in the road, which had been cordoned off with flares, examining what Kait supposed were marks left from the tires of the Porsche. Then he gave Kait a brief look and walked over to the pair. Kait wished she could overhear what they were saying, but there was not a chance in hell.

John Davison hadn’t left. He remained standing by the hood of his sedan, and every now and then he would glance Kait’s way. She wished he would get in his BMW and drive away.

“Well, that’s that,” the blond medic said cheerfully.

“Thanks,” Kait said. A tow truck was finally pulling up behind the second police vehicle.

Trev remained in the road with Rafe and the other officer. John strode over, and as he approached, Kait flinched. “So, you are all right?” he asked.

Kait met a pair of dark, unwavering eyes. “Yes.” She hesitated. “You certainly appeared in the nick of time.”

“I certainly did,” he agreed. Then, his voice dropping, “I heard what you told Trev. Why would anyone deliberately try and run you off the road? What is going on? Surely this was an accident.”

“I don’t know,” Kait lied. “But I guess I’ve made a few enemies in the county.” She watched him.

He glanced over his shoulder. Trev was watching them. John faced her, putting his back to her husband. “This is a small town. The women are all jealous of you, and you’ve certainly jilted a few of my friends, but no one would do something like this. That would be insane.”

Kait shook her head. “I happen to agree with you—about the insane part.”

Their eyes locked. For one moment he didn’t move. Then he said, “When can we meet?”

“After the weekend,” Kait said, pleased by her answer. For Lana would have returned and she would be Kait London again and she would not have to deal with this.

He seemed skeptical but he nodded. As he walked away, he came abreast of Trev. They exchanged words, but Kait could not overhear them. They seemed cordial and Kait knew that Trev had no idea that Lana was sleeping with his friend.

She had a headache now, and she doubted it was from the superficial cut on her head. Trev and Rafe approached. Rafe said, “Got a skid mark from the other vehicle. Looks like we got paint all over the back of the Porsche, too. Must have been a truck or SUV that rammed you—it sure wasn’t bumper to bumper. We need to send everything to the city lab boys, but we’ll see what we can come up with.”

Kait nodded uneasily. Should she trust this man or not? Was he now trying to help her when a few hours ago he had promised to bring her down? How she wished that he really was on her side, that he was really going to find out who had done this.

“If you remember anything, give a holler,” Rafe said. “Anything at all.”

Trev took her arm. “Let’s get you home,” he said.

Kait hesitated. Rafe hadn’t moved. “Rafe—thanks. Thanks a lot,” she said.

His eyes narrowed. “I’m only doing my job,” he said. But he was staring at her. Then, “This doesn’t change a damn thing.”

Kait walked into the kitchen, aware of Trev following her into the dining room but then veering aside. Lights had been left on. She sat down at the center island on a stool, untying and removing her boots. Fear claimed her and she began to tremble.

There was very little doubt in her mind now that she was a killer’s target. Someone who was after Lana was out there, and believing her to be her sister, he was now after her. Kait couldn’t take it anymore. As soon as Lana returned, she had to know everything and they had to go to the police for protection and help. For what if the would-be killer decided to target Marni next? And was the killer a thug, involved in whatever shady business Lana was into, or was it someone who hated Lana with a personal vengeance? And would Rafe Coleman honestly protect her when he was determined to “bring her down”? Kait couldn’t be sure.

Trev appeared, two glasses of scotch in hand. Not speaking, his eyes on hers, he offered her a glass.

Kait stood. “No thanks.” She walked grimly over to the freezer and withdrew a pint of Ben & Jerry’s Chocolate Fudge Brownie, grabbed a teaspoon, popped the lid, and sat back down. Aware of his eyes upon her, she looked up almost defiantly—and very close to tears. She dug in.

Chocolate ice cream was her favorite version of chocolate, period. In general, it was heaven on earth. Then she assessed Trev as he silently sipped his scotch, while regarding her over its rim. No, Trev Coleman was heaven on earth, in just about every way, but Chocolate Fudge Brownie ran a distinct second. Tonight, however, it was not doing its job.

“Damn it.” Kait had taken one bite and now she set the pint aside. Tears finally filled her eyes. She cradled her head in her hands.

“What is it?” Trev sat down on the other side of the island, facing her.

“Chocolate always calms me down. Makes me happy. You know. Best drug around. Tonight, I can’t even taste it.” She didn’t look up.

He was thoughtful. “I never realized you were into chocolate of any kind, or Milanos, or pizza.”

She slowly shifted so that their gazes met and held. Did she have to stay in character even now? It was simply too much. “I’m on a binge. Every woman has her day.”

He set his scotch down and took her hand. Kait looked at their clasped palms in real surprise. Then she looked up into a pair of mesmerizing green eyes. “It was a drunk. I feel pretty certain, Lana.”

“Someone’s trying to kill me,” she whispered. “I know it, Trev.”

Trev hesitated. “There are a lot of people in this county who don’t particularly like you. But to try to kill you? I can’t grasp it.”

“That’s because you’re sane,” Kait whispered unsteadily. She looked up into his eyes. “I’m scared.” She thought about the terrible lie she was engaged in. “I can’t take it anymore.”

Trev stood. And suddenly he was angry. “Why do you keep doing this? One minute, I look at you and I feel like you’re the woman I should take into my arms. The next minute, I look at you and remember all the lies and all the other men.”

She trembled—she felt ready to cry. “But I am scared. If someone rammed you from behind and drove you off the road, wrecking your car, you’d be scared too.” She felt her chin tilt up. “And I’m sorry there are moments when you actually like me!”

He didn’t move.

Determined not to cry, Kait reached for the ice cream and dug in. It tasted like sand. “We should record this moment,” she muttered. “We can rename my favorite flavor Chocolate Cardboard.”

Trev didn’t answer. She felt a tear trickle down her cheek. She swiped at it and stood, not looking at him. She shoved the pint in the freezer. “Sorry to be a burden,” she said. She finally looked at him and managed a bright, brittle smile. “Must be the monsters in the night. Tomorrow will be a whole new day. Yippee.”

He was staring very grimly at her.

Kait was as tired of his internal battles as she was of everything else. She walked out.

Upstairs, she picked up the phone and dialed her own cell phone. When she got the voice mail, she said tersely, “I’m at the end of my rope. Someone tried to run me off the road tonight—I’m pretty sure someone is trying to kill me. We have to go to the police. If you can come back sooner than Monday, please, Lana, please do.” She hesitated, but she was angry as well as fed up and didn’t know what else to say. She hung up.

And she did not feel better. There was no relief. Because nothing had really changed—she remained in her charade, and Marni and Lana remained in danger, as she did, too.

In either case, her charade was almost over. Tomorrow was Saturday. She had two more days to get through.

And then on Monday Trev Coleman was about to be devastated. Would he hate her forever?

Kait thought so. But at least the temptation of never telling him the truth was finally gone. This was one lie she simply couldn’t wait to get rid of. It had become an impossible burden.

She turned away from the phone, about to collapse into the bed. Trev stood in the doorway.

She froze. How much had he heard? Had she left the door wide open while calling her sister or had he opened it? She hadn’t heard a thing. She stared, trying to read his expression. But it was impassive and she had not a clue as to what he was thinking—or if he had heard her phone call at all.

But even if he had, surely he hadn’t understood—and she hadn’t used Lana’s name, had she?

“May I come in?” he asked quietly.

She realized he was holding a bowl of her chocolate ice cream in his hand. “Sure. It’s your room.” She tried to smile and failed. In fact, her heart was starting to beat a bit too fast.

He came in and handed her the bowl. “Try this.”

She looked down and saw that a dark liquid had been dribbled heavily over the ice cream. She smiled. “Kahlúa?” How could she not love Trev Coleman?

Then her smile vanished. She was not allowed to let her thoughts go in that direction!

He smiled a bit in return. “One better. Godiva Chocolate Liqueur.” Her heart flipped, and not because of the alcohol-laced sundae he was handing her. But because of the thought behind it, because of his smile, because of the sincere way he was regarding her with his green bedroom eyes. “Why?” she asked helplessly, and that emotion she had tried to fight began to blow up inside her chest, powerful and potent, heady and exciting, and she felt herself sliding headlong past the crevice of infatuation and into the abyss of love.

“Because I can be a prick at times,” he said. He dipped the spoon into the ice cream and then posed it before her lips.

Kait met his eyes as her insides tightened and her breath completely stopped.

His eyes changed, becoming emerald green. She opened her lips and let him insert the spoon. The ice cream had flavor again—fantastically sweet, thickly chocolate, and spicy hot from the Godiva liqueur. Trev withdrew the silver spoon.

And she saw the heat in his eyes just before his thick black lashes lowered, shielding his gaze from hers. Kait didn’t move. For one moment she could not, because her lower body had begun to throb in the most wild and insistent and primitive way.

She took the sterling spoon from his long, graceful fingers.

He glanced up.

She smiled a little and dug up some ice cream. “Your turn,” she breathed.

“Is it good?” His tone had turned rough.

She nodded. “Very good.”

His mouth quirked. He had the most beautiful, mobile mouth, and Kait wanted to run her tongue all over it. Instead, she lifted the spoon of ice cream and prodded his lips with it.

He slowly opened. She glimpsed his tongue as the ice cream disappeared. Their eyes met.

Locked.

He took the bowl from her hands. “I can think of a really good place for that ice cream.”

She thought she might die. “So can I.”

His lips lifted in a bare smile as they stared at each other.