Page 7 of Under Control

There was something so in control, so persuasive, about him. It shocked her how she hadn’t just said no. That wasn’t like her.

Her anxiety spiraling out of control, Danica tightened her lips as the SUV turned onto a downtown thoroughfare that was decorated for Valentine’s Night. She observed carefree couples lining the sidewalks to make their way to their destinations. Meanwhile, she was imprisoned in the back seat of a truck, isolated.This guy… I don’t know the first thing about him.But Danica felt an undeniable intensity coming off the mass of tall, strong muscle sitting beside her.

It was shaping up to be the worst Valentine’s Day she’d ever had. She’d managed to lose her boot bag in the shuffle somewhere outside the rink. Now, in the back seat, in socks, she eyed the door for an escape. Could she subtly reach down, grab her skates and bolt? She bit her lip, wishing she had the guts.

Her frame stiff, she covertly glanced to the right, where Carrick sat beside her. As he studied their surroundings out of the window, she observed his powerful structure…presence. He slowly took in air, his mind clearly in deep focus. His masculine scent filled her nose. It was rich and warm and full of something she didn’t understand. One thing was very different about them. He was collected, dominating.

Meanwhile, she was frozen in place,shrinking.

She surveyed the profile of his face. That long, patrician nose was perfectly situated in the middle of a face peppered with a dark five o’clock shadow. He had dark hair frosted with gray at the temples. Wise-looking yet virile, his face was framed by a powerful jaw. The lines at the corner of his eyes spoke of experience, something she wanted to know more about.

The more she knew, the more advantages she would have.

She always tried to feel what was inside people—what made them tick. Her instinct told her that Carrick was a born guardian, strong and stoic. Yet, something indicated that there was a shadow lurking inside him, an element that she couldn’t quite put words to, something unusual.

A shadow flashed across his face as he turned back to her—assessing her from the passing streetlights in the poorly lit back seat. His dark eyes promised curiosity and depth. Calculation. Control.

“Who—who are you, really?” she asked, nearly tripping over the words.

“I’m Carrick. I told you that.”

A steel vault—just perfect, she thought as she chewed her lip.

“And who’s he?” Danica continued on slowly, motioning to the front. “Is he your driver? Bodyguard?”

Carrick smirked like she’d made a joke and shrugged her off. His lack of answers was telling and bothered her intensely. It was like he was talking down to her—as though she were a child. She should have guessed he would be that way, and the same wave of frosty wind chill splashed over her, just as if she were being dunked in icy-cold water.

A little voice in the back of her head reminded her not to let him make her feel small, but she still shrank involuntarily under his sight, feeling less and less like a someone—less and less like the two of them were on the same side.

As he watched her, the memory of his warm, weathered hand on her cheek flashed across her mind, sending her torment into overdrive. That intimacy was something she was even less prepared for. All the memories of the night came crashing down—how he’d saved her from the fall, how he’d spun her on the ice, how he’d made her wonder if he was really going to help her. And the way he looked at her… She’d allowed herself to believe that it was real.

It was never real.

Realizing her grave error, Danica shrank back from Carrick’s cold gaze. She had no doubt that this was who he truly was. She’d made a fool of herself believing otherwise. She should have run when she’d had the chance.

She found the door handle of the SUV as they came to a stop at a red light. Her mind raced as she tried to silently talk herself into doing what she had to do. She had to bolt, to get away. There were trees right beside where they were. She could jump into them and run. She knew the parks better than anyone. She could find a way to escape.

But she wavered, blinking rapidly to hide unwanted tears.

As the tires slowly rolled to a stop, Carrick flexed his shoulders, and he let out a deep breath as he surveyed the area, shaking his head slightly. He didn’t look impressed. In fact, he looked concerned. Then he was reaching back into his waistband as he craned his neck to look around.

It seemed he had good instincts. The same dark car that had watched her at the skating rink skidded to a halt in front of the truck, blocking them at the vacant traffic light.

“God!” She flinched, terror driving her to the breaking point.

Carrick reached across her lap and put his hand over her in what seemed like a natural movement of defense. With his wide body, he shielded her from threat. As he pulled a pistol out of his pants, their driver revved the truck’s engine, sending a clear threat to the dark sedan blocking them.

“Get us the fuck out of here!” Carrick roared.

Danica could see through the tinted glass that the driver up front had his pistol in hand as well. Without pause, he hit the gas, screeching the tires. In immediate response, the dark sedan blocking them whirled out of the way, preventing a collision.

Her heart thumped rapidly, threatening to break through her chest. She refused to let those tears fall from her eyes, pursing her lips and tightening her body to encourage some semblance of self-control.

As silence engulfed the back seat, the SUV drove several miles down the road, darting in and out of side streets. Exhaling low, Carrick finally put his pistol back into his waistband, continuing to study everything surrounding the truck. And for a man who felt as cold as mercury, she sensed an anger within him. A fire.A hunger.

Danica looked at Carrick again, assessing his behavior, his intentions.Actions speak louder than words.Carrick had instinctively protected her—ferociously and without question. He’d thrown his body in the way.

“Carrick…what do you want from me?” Danica finally breathed out, realizing there was a lot more to his story.

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