Hot Pursuit (8 page)

The officer took some notes on an electronic pad, making a thoughtful sound. “The driver of the SUV didn't stop at all after hitting you?”

“No,” Blake said. “The asshole kept right on going without even slowing down. Cara didn't see because she was knocked out for a minute.”

The image of her in the truck, helpless and out cold, made Taylor's blood boil. He'd like to get his hands on the bastard who did this to her and Blake. He listened as Schwartz asked them a few more questions, but there really wasn't much else either of them could relate. Being a detective, Taylor liked details. The lack of them bugged him, but even more so in this case.

Other strange facts teased at the edges of his mind. A few days ago, Taylor had almost been flattened by a truck he could have sworn belonged to Cara. Now that truck was kissing a pole, erasing any evidence that might have supported that claim. Coincidence? He didn't much believe in them. But there was no reason he could fathom why the two incidents should be connected.

“You can take her now,” Zack said, breaking in to his thoughts.

Glancing up, he saw Cara and Blake waiting, the two of them regarding him with very different expressions—Blake's open and trusting, Cara's carefully closed. It was almost as if she was trying hard not to show any reaction to his presence, and he couldn't understand why. When she let her guard down they had great chemistry. Then the walls went up again. Maybe she'd been hurt in the past by an old boyfriend or husband. If so, he'd done a real number on her.

“Ready?” he asked them.

“What about my truck?” Cara gestured to the vehicle.

“You'll need to have the towing company take it to a repair shop,” he told her. “I recommend Turner Collision, but they charge a bit more than other places. And then there's insurance, and they'll probably want at least two estimates—”

“Screw the insurance company, and I don't care about the money. I just want it fixed.”

He couldn't help the short, surprised laugh that escaped. “Really, now? I know a bit about cars, and I'm guessing you're looking at several thousand dollars in repairs. Especially on a nice truck like that one.” His detective instincts, which seemed to have dropped into his pants since he'd met her, suddenly kicked back in full force. He narrowed his eyes.

“Come to think of it, where does a bartender and part-time singer get the money to afford a brand-new pickup, a pretty house, and all that band equipment—”

Her gaze turned chilly. “When my finances become your business, Detective, I'll share them with you. Until then, fuck off.”

His dick stirred even as anger began a slow burn in his veins. “Rude little thing, aren't you?” Leaning forward, he whispered for her ears only. “Perhaps you need a good spanking. I've got just the right paddle if you want to give it a try.”

Heat flashed in her eyes, and for a second he truly thought she'd slap him. But as a slow smile curved her lips, he saw something very different from anger in her gaze. There was amusement and a hint of challenge. And no little arousal, which she barely managed to keep leashed, if the low, husky tone of her voice was anything to go by.

“That's not much incentive for me to behave, cop.”

“Oh, my
gawd
,” Blake bitched. “Do I have to listen to you guys getting your kink on? I need bleach to scrub that image from my poor brain.”

Taylor stepped back from Cara, cursing his lapse in judgment, baiting her with others around. On the job, no less. Looked like stupidity on his part was going to be a regular thing with this woman. “Let's get you to the hospital.”

“A complete waste of time,” she grumbled.

But she followed, after giving the tow-truck driver instructions to take her vehicle to the place Taylor had recommended. He smiled to himself, pleased that she'd followed his advice.

Blake jogged to the vehicle, reached inside, and retrieved a sheaf of papers. In minutes, they were in Taylor's new Challenger and headed toward the ER. Chris rode shotgun, and Taylor ignored the detective's smug glances while Blake
ooh
ed and
aahh
ed over every single feature of the car.

“This machine rocks,” he exclaimed for the third time.

Taylor smiled at the young man in the rearview mirror. “My
really
cool car is at Chris's place,” he said, gesturing to the man beside him. “You remember my partner, Shane? He, Chris, and I are working on my old Chevelle, fixing it up.”

“Dude! You have a Chevelle? What year?”

“'Sixty-nine.”

“Shit,” the boy breathed in reverence. “If I had a car like that, I'd drive the hell out of it. I'd wash and wax it every weekend, and I'd never let it out of my sight.”

“Yeah? That's a worthy goal. Now you just have to save up some money.”

“I'm getting a second job,” he said with enthusiasm, holding up the papers he'd fetched from the truck. “Since I only work for the band two days a week, that leaves me plenty of hours free to save up for an apartment and a car.”

“Is that the reason for the new haircut and the clothes?”

Blake's voice was excited but laced with a bit of anxiety. “For the most part. I can't show up at an interview looking like the street rat I was. Do I look okay?”

“Kid, you look fantastic.” Taylor winked. “You're gonna break some boy's heart very soon.”

“Boy?” Chris's brows shot up as he got the memo.

“You got a problem with that?” Blake fired back quickly.

“No, not at all,” the detective said smoothly, holding up his hands in surrender. “Peace out, man. I say live and let live.”

Taylor brought the topic back on track. “Looks like you've got it all figured out.” Blake settled down again. The tension had eased as quickly as it had flared.

“Yeah, I hope so. My plans haven't worked out so good until now, but I think I'm due.”

“Definitely,” Taylor said. “You're gonna make it. Besides, you've got us to support you.”

“Me, too,” Chris put in. “Whatever I can do.”

“Thanks, guys.” Blake's voice had a suspicious catch in it, but everyone pretended not to notice.

The hospital loomed ahead, and Taylor parked. They all ignored Cara's grumbling as they trooped into the ER and a receptionist waved her over to begin the paperwork. Taylor looked at Chris as they hovered near a group of chairs.

“Sorry about the side trip. You want me to call someone to take you back to the station?”

“Naw, I'm good.”

Blake eyed the other detective. “Man, you don't look so hot. Maybe you should be in there getting checked out instead of Cara.”

Chris shook his head. “I'm fine.” But his face was pale, and he reached up with a trembling hand to wipe a bead of sweat from his forehead.

Taylor frowned in concern. “He's right. Why don't we—”

“Why don't
we
forget about it?” he snapped, suddenly annoyed. “I'm not doing this right now. You know what? I think I'll call for that ride after all.”

“Sorry, dude.” Blake stared at Chris, then glanced between the two men, biting his lip. “I didn't mean to stir up any shit.”

Just like that, Taylor was pissed, too. Blake had been hurt enough in his young life. He didn't need a simple statement meant as kindness being thrown back in his face. “You didn't,” he hurried to assure the younger man. “You did nothing wrong.” He turned to take a chunk out of Chris, but the man was already contrite.

“I'm sorry, Blake,” Chris said with a sigh. “I haven't been myself lately, and I was an asshole for taking it out on you. Forgive me?”

“Hey, we're cool. Forget I said anything.” The apprehension still on his face belied his words.

“No, you and Taylor are right. I'm going to make an appointment with my doctor today.”

The younger man began to appear more at ease again. “Good deal.”

Chris extracted his cell phone. “Excuse me while I give Shane a call, see if he can come get me.”

“See you at the station,” Taylor said.

“I don't know,” the other man hedged. “I might ask Rainey if he'll let me go home early.”

Taylor watched Chris exit through the ER's doors with a sense of dread. “I've known him for about a year and a half, since he moved to town to be near Shane, and I don't think I've ever seen him leave work early.”

Blake was frowning. “Any idea what's wrong with him?”

“Could be a lot of things.” Taylor clapped Blake on the shoulder. “It's not my place to say.”

“I get it.”

Just then, Cara walked over from the receptionist's desk to join them. “Frigging paperwork. I could be dead by the time they call me back there.”

“Don't even joke like that,” Taylor said softly. Placing his hand at the small of her back, he urged her toward the seats. “Come on, let's go sit down.”

He half-expected her to retort that she wasn't an invalid, but he was pleasantly surprised. She went without a fuss, and they sat in comfortable silence until Blake piped up.

“So, why did Chris move to town to be near Shane? They have a thing going on? Is Chrissy in denial?” He waggled his brows, and Taylor laughed.

“God, no. For one, Shane's straight and married. Second, he, his twin sister, Shea, and Chris are all cousins.”

“Oh.” That obviously dashed his hopes of a police bromance going on.

“Chris doesn't have any other family left, so he came to Sugarland, looking for the connection he'd lost when his folks died.” He thought a moment. “It must be tough to be alone in the world with no family who loves you.”

Blake's gaze sobered. “Trust me, it is.”

“Dammit, I'm sorry,” Taylor said with a groan. “I wasn't thinking.”

The younger man shook his head. “Why don't we stop apologizing every time something uncomfortable comes up? I'm not that fragile.”

“Sounds good.” His mouth tilted upward. “And you're not fragile at all. You're strong to survive what you have.”

“Well, I'm going to do way better now, thanks to you guys.”

For one unguarded moment, Cara smiled at the younger man, and Taylor's world tilted. Stripped of her prickly attitude, the genuine kindness, the warmth, on her face blew him away. These glimpses of what he suspected was the
real
Cara were rare, but they made him long for one of those looks to be turned in his direction.

“Cara Evans? Come on back.”

A nurse was waiting patiently in the double doors leading into the ER's examination area. When Taylor and Blake got up and followed, Cara tried to protest, to no avail. There was no way either of them was going to let her get away with downplaying her health if it turned out to be worse than they thought.

They passed several numbered rooms, which were really just cubicles separated by either a solid wall or a curtain. Taylor wasn't sure why some rated a wall as a divider and some didn't, but he was no expert. Perhaps some emergency situations required more privacy.

“Here we go,” the nurse said. “If you'll step in here, the doctor will be with you shortly.” After casting him and Blake a curious glance, she left.

“I'm surprised they let us come back with her,” Blake observed.

“They'll let us come this far, but if they have to take her back for a scan or whatever, we'll have to stay here.”

Cara sat with a resigned sigh. “You guys can take a walk or something. There's really no need for us all to be bored, sitting around.”

“Not happening,” Blake said staunchly. Taylor agreed.

“Besides, Blake was in the same wreck,” he pointed out. “Shouldn't he get checked, too? Especially after what happened the other night.”

Her gaze snapped to the younger man. “I should've thought of that. Taylor can take you to the registration desk.”

“No way. I never even lost consciousness, and I'm not in any pain.”

Taylor knew the truth: the boy didn't want to feel as though he was in debt to them for another hospital bill. Blake wanted to pay him back and was about as stubborn as they came.

In the end, he and Cara let the matter drop. Blake settled down, satisfied to have won that round. But they'd both keep a sharp eye on him, Taylor knew.

The doctor came in almost a half hour later and examined Cara, checking all her vitals, the responsiveness of her pupils, and her reflexes.

“You were in an accident?” the doctor inquired, peering into her eyes.

“Yeah. Some jerk cut me off, and I ran into a telephone pole.”

“You lose consciousness?”

“Only for a minute or so.”

“Hmm.” He paused, then rolled his stool back to address her. “I think you have a slight concussion, nothing too serious. But on the side of caution, I'm going to order a CAT scan. If it shows all is clear, which I'm guessing it will, then you'll be free to go as long as there's someone to watch you for the rest of the day and tonight. Do you have any family to stay with you?”

“No,” she said quietly, giving Taylor the oddest look. “I had a sister, but she's dead. My mother and I don't get along very well and, besides, she doesn't live close.”

“I'll watch her,” Blake said, beating Taylor to the punch. “I live with her right now, anyway, so that'll be easy.”

The doctor nodded. “Good. I'll go order that scan.”

Taylor was disappointed not to be the one taking care of her, though he shouldn't be. He had to work, and even if he didn't, he and Cara had just met. As much as he hated to admit it, Blake was her friend and had more right to see to her than he did.

Well, that was a situation he planned to rectify as soon as possible.

Almost two hours later, they were headed out the door. Cara had received the green light and had stopped grumbling now that she was free. In fact, she lapsed into blessed silence and began to doze in the passenger's seat. Then her breathing evened out.