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  A horn blared.

  Slamming on the brakes, I held the wheel in a death grip. “Son of a…”

  Turning in the seat, he looked out the back window. “Hold on.” He jumped out of the car.

  Adjusting the rearview mirror, I tried to see what he was doing. Bright lights glared in the back window, making it impossible to see. A dark form raced by the back. The passenger door opened again and he jumped in.

  “What was that about?”

  He raked his hand through his hair, knocking water to the floor. “Nothing, let’s go.”

  “Fine.” Reaching up, I adjusted the rearview mirror again. The lights were even brighter, like whoever was behind us, turned on their high beams.

  A horn blew again, the sound long and drawn out.

  “What a wad.” I punched the gas, squealing wheels through the parking lot.

  Vincent laughed. “I like that.”

  “What?”

  “Your names for stuff,” he said.

  “Oh.” Pulling to the stop sign just like last night, I turned on my blinker and took a left.

  “So, you must like shopping or did you run out of food already?”

  “Nah.” I shook my head. “My mom needed me to get a few things for dinner.”

  “Something special going on?” he asked, glancing in the back seat.

  “She has a friend coming for dinner.” I frowned and slowed around a turn.

  “You don’t like him?”

  “How’d you know?”

  He shrugged. “Your face,” he said. “You’re frowning.”

  “Oh, well, I don’t know. He seems nice, I guess.” I glanced over at him. He looked different.

  I hit a pothole, bottoming out. The car bounced and I jerked the steering wheel to the left. A loud hissing noise came from outside and my steering wheel pulled to the right.

  “I think you’re losing air,” he said. “You better pull over.

  “Where do I pull over to?” I asked, trying to stay on the road.

  “Turn here, there’s a driveway.”

  I didn’t see a driveway, but I turned into a little graveled path leading down into the woods. “You call this a driveway?” I put the car into park.

  “I didn’t say it got used very often.”

  “Where does it lead?”

  “To old man Fletcher’s house,” he said.

  “I take it he doesn’t go out much?”

  “Not really. He’s dead.”

  “Oh.” I turned off the ignition. “What happened to him?”

  He shrugged. “Don’t know.” He opened the door. “Wait here. I’ll check your tire.” He jumped out of the car and slammed the door.

  Not sure what to do, I grabbed my messenger bag and pulled out my phone. It wasn’t too late but I didn’t want my mom freaking out. But then again I didn’t want her asking where I was either.

  After a moment, I got out of the car to see how bad it was before I called. The rain had slowed to a drizzle. The trees groaned with each gust of wind, creaking eerily. A white mist swirled in the air.

  Pulling up my hood, I walked around the front end of my car. Headlights appeared over the hill from the main road, slowing. Momentarily blinded, I shielded my eyes against the bright light. It was a black SUV with tinted windows. I couldn’t help but wonder if it was the same one that almost ran Vincent over yesterday.

  A window rolled down. “You need some help?” a deep voice called.

  “I’m not sure,” I called back. It was too dark to see inside.

  “Let me pull over and I’ll see if I can help.”

  “Okay.”

  The engine roared as the SUV sped up the road and did a quick u-turn, and pulled over on the opposite side.

  The door opened. A dark figure jumped out. Even from this distance, I could see who it was. My heart thumped.

  He sprinted easily across the road and came to an abrupt halt. “Oh, it’s you,” he said, sounding less than enthused. He shoved his hands pockets. “What happened?”

  “I hit a pothole and gave myself a flat… I think.”

  “You don’t know?” He gave me a look like I was stupid.

  “I haven’t looked yet.”

  He muttered something I couldn’t understand and stepped around me.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I am going to look at your tire.”He glanced at me over his shoulder. The wind ruffled his dark hair.

  “I don’t need …” It was too late, he would see Vincent. I couldn’t help but wonder if they knew each other. “So, do you guy’s…”

  I moved around the car. Vincent wasn’t there and Viktor was squatting down, feeling my tire. Ducking down, I looked in the window. The car was empty. “Where did he go?”

  “Where did who go?” He glanced up at me.

  “Ah…someone was helping …” I didn’t finish.

  He stood up, brushing off his hands. “You picked up a screw in your tire.”

  “Can I drive on it?”

  “I wouldn’t.” He shook his head. “Do you have a spare?”

  “Um, I’m not sure.”

  “Open your trunk and I’ll check for you.”

  “Okay.” I scanned the tree-line.

  “You said someone was helping you?” He stepped in front of me, his sheer size dwarfing me in comparison.

  “No.” I shook my head. “I was going to call someone to help me but you came so….”

  He gave me a look like he didn’t believe me and lifted his face, inhaling deeply.

  The trunk sprung open and I took a step back. I didn’t know why I didn’t tell him about Vincent.

  He leaned inside and pulled up a rubber mat in the back that I didn’t know could move.

  “Is there a tire?” I asked looking around his side. He smelled nice.

  “Yeah,” he said, pushing against it. “It’s flat.” He dropped the mat back down.

  “Well that is just perfect,” I sighed. “My mom is going to kill me.”

  “Why’s that?”

  “We only have one car and she’s expecting me home with the food for dinner.”

  He gave me a curious look.

  “She has company coming,” I explained. I didn’t mention it was Deputy Dawg.

  “Well, I can give you a lift home.”

  “What about my car? Should I call a tow truck or something?”

  “Nah, I can come back later and fix it for you.”

  “You’d do that for me?” I asked surprised.

  “Yeah,” he said, his brow creased.

  “I don’t want you to go to any trouble.” I felt bad.

  “No. It’s fine.” He shifted and looked into the woods. “It’s a pretty easy fix,” he said. “Come on, I’ll get you home and come back later.”

  “Don’t you need a jack and tools?”

  “Yeah, I’ll get them too.”

  “Okay.” Indecisive, I stood there. I couldn’t leave Vincent. What if something happened to him?

  He looked over his shoulder. “What are you waiting for?

  “Ah, I have to get the food.” I opened up the door, slipped my messenger bag over my shoulder, and grabbed the keys. A box of Red Hots sat on my seat along with a note. Quickly, I opened it and read what it said.

  Had to jet

  V

  I shoved the candy and note in my pocket, then grabbed the food from the back. That was weird. Couldn’t he have just told me? Well at least now I knew he was okay.

  Crawling out, I shut the door and locked it. A gust of wind blew against me. The temperature was dropping steadily and the fog was getting thicker.

  Feeling jittery, I looked around. I couldn’t see him. Great, was I going to get ditched by two guys in one night?

  A twig snapped. My heart thumped erratically. Oh—crap! I had a bad feeling. “Hey,” I called. Strange noises were coming from the woods. I fumbled with my keys, trying to unlock my car. Leaves crunched, and I heard footfalls approaching, fast. I dropped my k
eys. “Shoot!”

  “I’m here,” he said, stepping out of the woods.

  “What are you doing?” I pressed my hand to my chest.

  “I needed to take a leak.”

  “Oh.” My face bloomed with color.

  “Come on.” Reaching out, he took the bags.

  I suddenly wanted to hug him. “Thanks.”

  “Not a problem.” He smiled. “Let’s get out of here.”

  “Okay.” I followed him across the street. He hit a button and the back opened up. He put the bags inside.

  Walking over to the passenger side I waited for him to get inside and unlock the door. Instead, he surprised me once again and opened the door for me. “It’s kind of high.”

  “I think I can manage.” Taking off my bag, I climbed inside. Sitting down, I set my bag on the floor. The interior was a tan leather and super clean. It smelled like Viktor. On the console was a stack of cd’s. I glanced at the titles, surprised that he liked some of the same music.

  He jumped in. “You ready.”

  “Yeah.” I pushed my wet hair from my face and pulled on my seatbelt.

  Turning the key, music filled the interior, thumping loudly.

  Reaching out, he turned it down low. “Sorry.”

  “It’s okay, I like that band.”

  He lifted his brow. “You do?”

  “Why do you look so surprised?”

  “I didn’t figure you for the type that would listen to The Cult.”

  “Well I do.” I gave him a smug look. “I have all of their cd’s.”

  “Even this one?” He pulled out the case and handed it over to me.

  “Did you cut yourself?” Something red was all over his hand.

  “What?” He gave me an odd look.

  “There’s blood on your hand.”

  “Is there?” He glanced at his hand.

  “I think I have a napkin in my bag.” Lifting my bag off the floor, I pulled out an old napkin.

  “It’s not a big deal.”

  “Don’t be silly.” I reached for his hand.

  He pulled it away. “It’s fine.”

  “You’re getting blood on your steering wheel. Here let me just…”

  “I said its fine,” he snapped.

  “Jeez, fine.” I stared out the window, the trees blurred. Tears welled in my eyes, which was so stupid. I dashed them away before he could see.

  He cranked the heat. “You warm enough?”

  “Yeah, I’m fine.”

  A long silence followed.

  “So, where were you going?” he asked finally breaking the silence.

  “I was um…going home.”

  “You live in the opposite direction.”

  “Oh, I must have got lost.” I shrugged, like it happened all the time.

  “You were lost?” He sounded doubtful.

  “I’m not good with directions.”

  “I see you made it to the store all by your lonesome.”

  “Yeah. So. What’s your point?”

  “You only need to make three turns.”

  “It was raining and hard to see.”

  “Hmmm.” He frowned. “Well, next time just make a right and go straight. You live in the old Seabrook Victorian on Mora Drive, right?”

  “Yeah, how’d you know?”

  “Small town, people talk.” He lifted his brows.

  ”Oh.” Great. “So what else have you heard?” That my mom is batshit crazy?

  “Not much.” He adjusted the heat. He had long fingers.

  “You play the piano?”

  He laughed. “No.” His dimple appeared.

  “Do you play any instrument?” I asked just for something to say.

  “I have an acoustic guitar, from my Grandfather that I mess around with a bit but I wouldn’t say I play well.”

  “Well at least you can play an instrument,” I sighed.

  “You could if you wanted to. It just takes some practice.”

  I shook my head, laughing. “No, I’m not musically inclined.”

  “I read a book once on how to be great at anything.”

  “Really, what did it say?”

  “It only had one word in it.”

  I gave him a doubtful look. “And what’s that?”

  “Practice.” He grinned at me.

  “Funny.”

  “It’s the truth,” he said. “You just need to practice.”

  “Well, I don’t have anything to practice with…so…”

  “That’s not a problem,” he said. “I can show you some basic chords sometime on mine. If you like it, I know a little shop in Port Angeles that sells second hand instruments for pretty cheap.”

  “Wow. Thanks.” I wasn’t expecting to like talking with him so much. It was strangely unsettling.

  “So when do you want to hookup?”

  My gaze drifted to his lips.

  “Amber?”

  “What?” I looked back into his eyes and immediately wished I didn’t.

  His brows pulled together. “You know for English… the paper?”

  Stupid. “Right…the paper.”

  “What did you think I meant?” He looked like he was biting back a laugh.

  “Ah…I don’t know.”

  “Really?” His brow hitched up a notch.

  “Yeah… really,” I said. Luckily, the front door opened saving me from having to embarrass myself further. “I better go, my mom is waiting.”

  Grabbing up my bag, I opened the door. “Thanks for the ride.”

  “Amber…” Reaching out he grabbed my arm.

  I turned and our eyes locked. He leaned forward and I instinctively closed my eyes.

  “You’re forgetting your groceries.”

  My eyes popped open. His face was inches from my own. I couldn’t tell what he was thinking. “Oh, right.” If I wasn’t holding onto the door I probably would have face-planted into the puddle at my feet. How embarrassing. “Thanks.” I shut the door.

  He jumped out of his door. “Wait up,” he called “I’ll help you carry them in.”

  Mom was standing in the doorway, all dolled up. “Oh, it’s just you,” she audibly sighed.

  “Yeah, Mom, it’s just me.” I guess she was hoping I was Deputy Dawg. She stepped away from the door and checked her reflection in the mirror. “You look great Mom.”

  “I do.” She turned sideways. I couldn’t tell if she was asking me or agreeing with me.

  Viktor cleared his throat behind me.

  “Oh, this is ah….”

  “Viktor,” he supplied his voice deep, velvety.

  “Oh.” She cut me a sideways look. “I didn’t know you had a friend with you.” Her entire face brightened.

  I frowned. “Yeah, he gave me a ride.”

  “What happened to Peggy Sue?” She looked horrified.

  Seriously, she looked horrified over her stupid piece of crap car…but not me. Typical.

  “I picked up a screw in the tire. Your car will be fine.” I assured her. This seemed to settle her down a bit.

  “When is Deputy Daw…I mean Ken getting here?”

  “He’s going to be late,” she said breezily. Of course her lackadaisical attitude was merely a show for Viktor’s benefit. “There was another incident,” she continued.

  I didn’t bother asking her what the incident was, I was sure Ken would give us a blow by blow when he arrived.

  “So how do you know Amber, Viktor?” She practically purred his name.

  “We go to school together.”

  “Amber.” She hit my arm. “You didn’t tell me you had such good-looking boys in school with you.” She tucked her hair behind her ear.

  Was my mom flirting with him? Gross. “I’ll just put these groceries away.” I pushed past her and then stopped. There was no telling what embarrassing things she would say about me when I wasn’t in the room.

  “Mom, aren’t you going to marinate the steaks?” I asked, hoping she would get away from Viktor,
before she embarrassed me for like ever.

  “Oh, yes, I’m coming.” She dropped a book on the floor. “Oops,” she giggled, and made a big show of bending over. I could see straight up her short skirt, which meant so could Viktor. “Mom!” I wanted to hide under a rock.

  “Yes, honey.” She stood again, flipping her hair back, like she was in some kind of big-hair band.

  “Come on.” I angled my head toward the kitchen. “You need to marinate the steaks or they won’t be ready when Ken comes.”

  “Oh, right,” she said offhandedly, still salivating over Viktor.

  Getting my mom away from Viktor was turning out to be a lengthy endeavor. I gave up, walked into the kitchen, and pulled out a Hefty plastic bag. Breaking the steaks out of the packaging, I dropped them in the bag and then added a cup of soy sauce, honey and some minced garlic, then gave the bag a good shake. Leaning back, I looked out into the living room. Viktor had his hands shoved in his pockets, nodding his head each time my mom asked him something.

  “Jesus.”

  I ripped off three pieces of foil, scrubbed the potatoes, wrapped them up and tossed them in the oven. Grabbing a colander, I dropped in the green beans, splashed in some white vinegar, and let them soak for a moment while I dumped the almonds on a baking sheet to toast quickly in the oven.

  The phone rang.

  “Hello,” I said, tucking the phone between my ear and shoulder as I rinsed off the green beans in the sink.

  “Are you…”

  “Hello,” I repeated, filling a pan with water.

  “I am…” The phone crackled.

  “What?” I patted the beans dry with a paper towel.

  “I’m waiting for…” The connection broke and all I could hear was dial tone. “Weirdo.” I dropped the phone on the counter.

  “Who was that?”

  I jumped. “Jeez, you trying to give me heart failure?” My hand pressed to my chest.

  He pushed off the door and stepped into the kitchen. “Sorry.”

  I didn’t think he looked sorry at all.

  “Where’d my mom go?”

  “She said she needed to do something.” He shrugged. “I didn’t ask what.”

  “Good thing.” I shook my head, rolling my eyes. “Sorry about that.”

  “What are you sorry for?”

  “You have to ask— my mom talking your ear off.”

  “I don’t mind… she’s nice.”

  “Yeah, she’s something.” I slid the almonds in the oven. Wiping my hands on a towel, I glanced at the time. It was already seven thirty. “So what was she saying to you?”