Page 48 of Triggered By Love
What kind of car are you driving?
His text returned almost immediately.
Black Dodge Hellcat Challenger.
The car was black, but it was a sedan. She had no clue what a Dodge Hellcat Challenger looked like, but it sounded expensive. What was a cop doing driving something like that?
It’s not the car you were driving in the city, is it?
Nope. That’s an undercover cop car. This one’s mine.
She texted.If you’re idling in the orchard, honk two times to let me know.
His message came back.That’s not me. Has he seen you yet?
Don’t think so. But he’s coming closer. What do I do?
Stay still. I’m on my way.
Avery pressed her back against the tree. Sweat prickled her brow, and her heart was jumping up her throat.
Who would be skulking around the orchard?
Who even knew she was up here?
The car came closer, and she slid slowly down onto her knees, hoping the brush around the tree would hide her. The power window lowered with a whir, and she could feel a pair of eyes searching for her.
It was dusk, getting too dark for sunglasses, and she was too petrified to peek. The car’s motor rumbled, slowing down as the tires crunched over the leaves and twigs littering the dirt road.
She didn’t dare move, in case her motion drew his attention, and she was glad she’d pulled on an olive-drab jacket. But her overnighter was a bright turquoise, and it was sitting in plain view a few yards from her position.
The creaking of a car door swinging open had her heart in her mouth. A mosquito buzzed in her face, but she didn’t move to slap it. She heard the approaching footsteps, and her body trembled in flight or fight mode. It was all she could do not to jump out of her hiding place and run screaming like a quail flushed by a persistent spaniel.
Stay or go? Stay or go? Had he seen her? She didn’t hear more than one set of footsteps. No dog panting, no commands. No baying of a bloodhound.
Another car approached, bouncing over the ruts in the mud.Please, please, please be Jason. Please, put on the siren or something.
Whoever was stalking her ran back to his car. The door slammed, and the car, which had been idling, revved. It threw up clods and a plume of dust and cut across toward the road.
The second car, a black muscle car, probably the Hellcat Challenger, sped toward her instead of chasing the sedan.
The muscle car braked to a stop, and Jason jumped out with his gun drawn.
“Avery? Avery, you okay?” He stepped toward the turquoise overnighter while whipping his gun from side to side.
“I’m behind the tree.” Her voice squeaked. “Don’t shoot.”
She raised both hands up and slowly appeared from behind the old tree.
“Avery.” He grabbed her hand and gave her a swift assessing glance. “You okay?”
“Yes, but why’d you let him get away? I thought you’d chase him down.”
“I wanted to be sure you’re safe. Who was it?”
“I didn’t see him, and I don’t recognize the car.”
He picked up her overnighter. “It was a black Lexus ES-350. Do you know anyone who drives one? Your family?”
