The Perfect Husband - Lisa Gardner [118]
“You can’t drive, you have only one arm!”
“You’re probably right.” He started the engine. He looked at her long enough to smile grimly. “Fasten your seat belt,” he drawled, then slammed the car into gear. He roared the car through intersection after intersection while she gripped the dash with both hands.
“Slow down! For God’s sake, slow down!”
“Scared, Tess?” he murmured, turning and staring at her as a sharp curve appeared in the narrow back road. “Hell, you’re planning on taking on Beckett. My driving oughta be boring compared to that.”
“The corner, the corner!” she screamed.
He smiled at her and jerked the wheel, sending her careening against the door. “No problem.”
Her heart beat rapidly in her chest. She could taste the sweat beading up on her upper lip. She understood what he was doing now, and that he wouldn’t slow down. He was angry, and angry J.T. could be juvenile, selfish, and dangerous.
“I’m not going to change my mind, J.T. And I’m really tired of games.”
He didn’t reply. His jaw set, his biceps bulged as he corralled the speeding fury of the automobile and bent it to his will. A dirt road appeared to one side, looking bumpy and forgotten. Maybe meant for tractors or heavy pieces of equipment that traveled at five miles per hour.
Tess squeezed her eyes shut.
Pedal to the floor, J.T. attacked the road. The car hit a bump squarely and for three seconds they were airborne. The vehicle hit the dirt hard, shocks groaning, car doors rattling, trunk heaving. Tess felt her teeth grind and her bones crunch. Beside her, she heard J.T.’s breath and knew it had hurt him as well.
She opened her eyes and whirled on him.
“Enough!” she cried. “Stop this idiocy now! Right now!”
Just like that he slammed on the brakes.
The car came to a heavy halt. Unprepared, Tess landed harshly against the dash, but J.T. didn’t apologize. He yanked open his door and rocketed from the vehicle.
Tess scrambled to follow, having no intention of backing down now.
Dust still swirled around their feet, the crisp fall chill immediately bracing their skin. She saw no house, no vehicles. Just flat, barren fields that were beginning to frost over, and the distant promise of mountains.
J.T. stalked around the car, his eyes boring into hers.
“You won’t serve as bait,” he declared. “I forbid it!”
She opened her mouth to argue, but he stormed right up to her, backing her up against the car, trapping her with his body. He smiled, but it wasn’t pleasant.
“So eager to die, Tess?”
“No,” she said breathlessly. Her hands were pinned to her sides by his body. She jerked them free and planted them against his chest. If he wanted to fight, she’d fight. She’d learned to give as good as she got.
“You’re not going to do it,” he said curtly.
“Yes, I am.”
“There’s a flaw in your plan, Tess—a man like that isn’t afraid of pain. If he attacks, the only way to stop him will probably be to shoot him. And then what, Tess?”
“He’ll be dead.”
“And Sam? What about Sam? With him dead, how are you going to find your daughter?”
“I . . . I—” She didn’t know. “I’ll make him tell me where she is,” she said stubbornly. “I will.”
“Dammit!” he roared. “I won’t let you do this!”
“Like hell!” She heaved with her hands, trying to push him away.
He pushed in closer, his eyes dangerous. “Attacking an injured man, Tess?”
“Whatever works.” She wiggled her hips, determined to break his hold. It was useless.
“This injured man is trying to save your life!” he snarled, leaning closer, his breath hot against her cheek.
“Save my life? What do you care about my life? You haven’t even acknowledged its existence for the last two hours!”
“Feelings hurt? Because I didn’t flatter you or gaze longingly into your deep brown eyes?” Abruptly his right hand slid down her sweater and cupped her breast. He knew her body too well. One flick of his thumb and her nipple grew hard. She resented him doing that to her. She arched helplessly into it anyway, wanting him to touch her again.
“I thought of you,” he whispered. “I thought of your