Page 71 of Her Reluctant Hero
Chapter Thirteen
The ease they’d shared was gone. Isabella sat as far across the truck as she could as they drove out of the forest in search of a cell signal. Alex’s rare grin was again missing, and she had to wonder if it was because they were trying to contact the real world. He seemed to prefer the isolation of the trailer.
He’d barely spoken since he rolled off the bed and she’d headed for the clean shower. When they got back in the truck, he’d given her the assignment to watch the bars on his phone, to let him know when they got a signal. At least she had something to do to make her feel productive. And to keep her mind off his sudden desire to put distance between them.
He had the truck radio on, a country-western station. She let the music wash past her, too sad at the emptiness of her lost connection to Alex and her helplessness in finding her son to listen to someone else’s heartbreak.
She perked up when the news came on. The shuttle launch again.
“Why are they making such a big deal about this?” she asked, forgetting for a minute he’d ignored her since they’d made love.
“First Muslim woman on a shuttle. She moved to the US to join the program, left her family behind. A big decision for her.”
“Hector’s fascinated with rockets. All the noise, I guess. And the idea of seeing stars up close.”
“If we find him in time, we’ll take him to see the launch.”
She blinked in surprise. Had he really offered to see her, to see her son, after this was over? Was he talking about a future? His jaw clenched, as if he hadn’t meant to say the kind words aloud, as if he hadn’t meant to talk about a time after they found Hector, a time when she wouldn’t need him anymore.
The future she was holding her breath trying to reach.
“He’ll love that.”
She turned away when he nodded once, brusquely. She studied the scenery out her window, trees giving way to brush and marsh, large birds wandering the side of the road, picking their way through high grass, searching for food, not spooked by the rumbling of the truck’s engine. Strange, since she didn’t see any other cars along this stretch of road. Where was everyone?
They found a signal about the time they found a gas station. Alex traded her a pair of twenties for the phone.
“You go in and pay. I’ll pump it when I get done here.” He indicated the phone.
“I know how to pump gas,” she protested, but he was already moving away, pressing his free hand over his opposite ear as he spoke into the phone. She followed his movement with her gaze, wishing she knew who he was talking to, what he was telling them. Who did he trust with their whereabouts? After last night, she wasn’t sure who she trusted, even Alex’s friend Danes. She didn’t think Alex had told him where they were staying, but he’d turned up at their hotel. Yes, he’d gotten them out of danger, but she had to wonder why he’d been there.
Alex was still on the phone when she was done pumping gas, so she went inside the tiny gas station to retrieve his change. The headlines announced news on the shuttle launch. Intrigued, Isabella picked it up, then gathered some snacks. She’d forgotten how ready treats were in the United States, there for mere cents.
So easy, she’d weigh a ton if she didn’t cut back.
She wondered if Alex would mind if she put on some weight. She wondered what he’d do if she ended up pregnant with his child.
That thought came out of nowhere, kicking her in the sternum. When had she started thinking about after she got Hector back? That had been her goal for so long, she’d been afraid to consider what would come next.
She knew better than to expect Alex would be part of her future. He was more likely to bolt once she had Hector safe and sound. For all that he enjoyed her body, she didn’t get the idea that he liked her very much.
If he didn’t bolt, did she want a man in her life who had a job that put his life at risk? She needed security for her and her child. Alex was not that man.
It didn’t matter. After this was over, he would no longer be in her life. He didn’t love her. She didn’t love him. She only needed him. She would be wise not to confuse the two.
She stepped out of the station as he flipped the phone closed and made his way back to the truck. She tossed him a candy bar, which he caught one-handed against his chest.
“Anything?” she asked.
He motioned with his head for her to get in the cab. “I was talking to my captain, who’s been in touch with the DEA. They found Pablo in Texas. No sign he has Hector. They have him in custody in San Antonio.”
“And Carmen?”
He shook his head. “Nothing yet.”
“No word on Santiago.”
“Not yet.” He opened the bottle of Coke she’d passed over. “I’m sorry.”
