Chapter Thirty. Kat got Jake to eat the warmed-over dinner while she iced her swollen knee and rewrapped the splint on her wrist

Kat got Jake to eat the warmed-over dinner while she iced her swollen knee and rewrapped the splint on her wrist. They didn’t say much during the process. Jake’s mind was still churning over Kat’s revelations, and Kat was preoccupied with what she was doing. But they looked at each other frequently, warmly. Exchanging shy smiles.

When both were finished, Kat removed the tray and returned to the bedside. "Need a trip to the bathroom before I go?"

Jake nodded. She put her good arm behind Kat’s neck as she was picked up. Without thinking, she threaded her hand through the hair at Kat’s neck. She ran her fingers through the silky strands, lightly caressing the back of Kat’s head and neck. Jake heard Kat’s sharp intake of breath at the intimate touch and felt her stiffen slightly in surprise, but only for a moment.

Kat’s mind was entirely on how fast her heart seemed to beat whenever she got close to Jake--it hammered now in her chest--when she felt the delicious touch of Jake’s hand on her neck. She froze in place, halfway to the bedroom door. A soft groan escaped her lips as she relaxed into the caress. After a moment, Kat turned her head slowly toward Jake’s, not wishing to break the caress but needing to look into Jake’s eyes.

They were shining at her, pulling her in. She closed the inches between them and kissed Jake, softly at first, then deepening the contact, her tongue seeking Jake’s.

Jake’s lips parted and her tongue met Kat’s. She moaned, a soft, brief hum more felt than heard. Her hand behind Kat’s neck tightened its hold, pulling them even closer together.

A rush of heat enveloped Kat as the kiss grew more and more passionate, making her suddenly wobbly on her feet. She pulled away enough to take a deep, unsteady breath.

Jake sighed in disappointment at the separation. Her eyes were half closed. She licked her lips.

Neither could speak.

Kat faced forward on rubbery legs and continued toward their destination. Jake’s hand stayed entwined in Kat’s hair, only reluctantly extricating itself when she was set down on the commode.

Soon after, Jake was back in Kat’s arms, and then all too quickly back in bed. Still neither had said a word, but they hadn’t needed to. The kiss was an affirmation of the profound attraction they could no longer deny and a promise of things to come.

Once Kat had Jake settled back in bed, she left to don a snowmobile suit and gather the things she’d need for her trip to town: her GPS device, binoculars, flashlight, cash, her small kit of lock-pick tools, and her Glock. She also retrieved her.38, which she carried with her back into the bedroom.

"I want you to have this with you while I’m gone," Kat said, holding out the revolver where Jake could see it. "I don’t expect our two uninvited ’guests’ to go anywhere. They’re restrained, and there is a security door between them and you. But it doesn’t hurt to take every precaution."

She extended the gun grip first for Jake to take it.

"It’s loaded. Six bullets," Kat continued matter-of-factly. "Here’s the safety."

Jake accepted it, but reluctantly. It felt cold and alien, and she once again pondered how she could possibly be the bounty hunter whom Kat had described. She hefted the gun in her hand. It was much heavier than she expected. It gave her a small measure of security, but she hoped she would never have to use it. She nodded toward Kat, who took it from her again and placed it under a pillow. It was out of sight but within easy reach of Jake’s good hand.

Kat impulsively leaned down to kiss Jake on the forehead. "Get some rest. I’ll be back before you know I’m gone."

Jake reached out with her good hand to touch Kat’s forearm as she withdrew. "I’ll know you’re gone."

Kat went to her computer for one last check of the weather radar and forecast. It was still snowing fairly heavily. She headed for the tunnel, stopping to put on her boots and hat. She stuffed her mittens in a pocket. Then she went to the security panel and punched in the code to open the steel door.

Kat stepped into the generator room to find both Frank and Otter staring at her. Frank looked like he’d been caught doing something he shouldn’t. Otter glared at her with undisguised loathing. "Long time no see, little man," Kat said cheerily to the latter. She couldn’t help it. He was such a worm, she had to taunt him just a little.

A part of Otter remembered how dangerous Hunter was and warned him not to egg her on. But he had waited too long and thought about her too much during those long years in prison not to seize the opportunity to say the things that had been festering inside him. "Fucking bitch," he spat at her. "You fucking owe me." His rage pushed aside any voice of reason that might have tried to intercede.

Kat smiled at Otter. It was a smile that warned him to shut up. But he was too worked up to see it. Frank did, and it made him wish he were anywhere else but chained to the guy who could provoke such a look in this dangerous woman.

"You’re going to pay for leaving me there, Hunter," Otter wailed in fury.

Kat approached the two men, the ferocity of her smile matched by a predatory look in her eyes. Frank thought she resembled a panther stalking its prey.

She kneeled on the floor next to Otter. Leaned down and cocked her head so she could be face-to-face with him. Her eyes bored into his. But she said not a word. Daring him to say anything else. Finally he saw and understood the threat, and he knew his next words could decide whether he lived or died. He remained silent and looked away, his concession evident.

Kat leaned into him so she could speak directly into his ear. "I understand your anger, little man," she said in a voice full of menace. "But I’ve no more patience for you. We’re even now. Don’t tip the scales again and make me kill you."

She stood and looked down at Otter for several long moments--an open challenge for him to say or do something he’d regret. But he had learned his lesson, for the moment anyway. He stayed quiet and unmoving, keeping his eyes downward.

Kat glanced at Frank, who’d been watching her interaction with Otter with a look of growing trepidation. In the mood she was in, he really wanted her to forget he was even there. So he was stunned when the cruelty in her face suddenly melted away and she asked in an almost friendly tone, "Anything I can get you, Frank?"

He couldn’t believe the change in her. The rapid transformation was startling. As much as he wanted to get away from Otter’s stench, he wanted even more to be Mr. Agreeable to this unpredictable woman. He wanted her to have no reason whatsoever to look at him like she had at Otter. "No, I’m okay."

"Good boy. I knew we’d get along just fine. Be patient. And remember what I said," she added, tipping her head toward Otter.

Frank nodded.

Kat punched in the security code to open the main entrance. She started up her snowmobile, let it warm up a little, and took it outside, where she left it idling. She pulled Otter’s snowmobile into the generator room and parked it where hers had been, pocketing the keys. She searched the vehicle and removed the tool kit and Otter’s cell phone, which she examined a minute or two before she slipped it into her pocket. Then she checked the spare gas cans on the two rental machines and took the one that had been on Frank’s. Still ignoring the two men, she left, shutting the panel behind her.

Otter rolled over to face Frank as soon as the door closed. They could hear the muffled roar of Hunter’s snowmobile as she sped away from the bunker. "Okay. Whaddaya say we figure out a way to get out of here, huh?"

Дата добавления: 2015-10-30