Heat Wave (8 page)

Her blood seemed to turn to ice. “Followed! Why on earth would …”

She knew before the sentence was complete. Cole was a wealthy businessman with several lucrative ventures. Kidnappers might profit handsomely from abducting him. Her heart began beating faster and it was an effort to keep from turning around to peer at the traffic behind them. She slid back to her side of the car.

“What’ll you do?”

A muscle worked in his jaw as he abruptly changed lanes, cutting narrowly across traffic to whip onto an exit. He swore while behind them brakes squealed and horns honked.

“They almost wrecked their car,” he said, “but they made it off the expressway too. They aren’t going to be easy to lose.”

The Thunderbird shot down the narrow exit ramp to an access road running parallel to the highway. At a four-way stop Cole slammed on his brakes, then accelerated to spurt across the intersection. His body was tense; his hands gripped the wheel tightly. Marilee squeezed her eyes shut as another car halted abruptly to avoid hitting them broadside.

“It’s the green Buick behind us,” he said tersely.

She glanced back at the busy intersection to see a dark green dented Buick and its two male occupants. One look at the bushy blond hair of the driver and Marilee gasped.

“It’s Fred!”

Cole’s head whipped around. “Fred?”

Shaking with relief, she let out her breath as Cole swept up a ramp and reentered the expressway.

“It’s Fred Lake and Scott Hogart. They’re my pupils.”

“My God! I just aged a year.”

“Now you know how it feels.”

“Why’re they following us?”

“Why do you think? After your appearance at school there are one hundred and fifty teenagers from all of my classes who have nothing but time on their hands and enormous curiosity.”

Laughing, he shifted in his seat, relaxing his shoulders as he slowed down.

“It’s not funny,” she said, crossing her arms over her chest. “I don’t care to be watched like a monkey in the zoo.”

“A monkey? Oh, not a monkey. A long-legged, classy cheetah maybe, but not a monkey,” he drawled softly, sending a delicious shiver down her spine.

He put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close again. Smoothing the soft black crepe of her dress over her knees, she said, “It’s a good thing school lets out this week. Are they still behind us?”

“Yep.”

“You know they saw you put your arm around me and they can see how closely we’re sitting. Tomorrow will be pure torture. I’ll have to be an ogre to keep everything under control.”

“My sweet ogre.” He kissed her temple and settled back against the seat. “I’d lose them, but I’m afraid they’ll take some risks and get hurt. They had a close call back there when they cut across the highway.”

“Drive a little slower, please. I wouldn’t want anyone hurt.”

“They must like you or they wouldn’t be interested in what you do.”

“We get along all right, but they’re going to wonder why I’m so mean the last week of school. They’ll follow us to dinner.”

“That’s okay. They won’t eat with us.”

“I know, but it still makes me feel like something in a zoo.”

He squeezed her and laughed. “Forget them. Maybe I should help you forget …” His hand slipped across her collarbone and down the front of her black dress.

She caught his blunt fingers and moved them back to her arm quickly. “The last thing I need is for them to pull up beside us and see your hand all over me.”

“Give them something to liven their day.”

“Oh, brother. Not at my expense. You’ve given them enough as it is!” He exited off the expressway, then drove down a wide street lined with elms. Tires crunched on gravel as they turned into the driveway of Luciano’s, one of Wichita’s most elegant restaurants. Marilee gave a silent sigh of relief. It was expensive and required reservations and dress other than blue jeans. She hadn’t been convinced that they might not have her students at the next table while they ate, but now she relaxed.

When she stepped out of the Thunderbird, she saw the green Buick whip past on the street.

“There they go,” Cole said. “Now you can forget them.” He took her arm and escorted her up a canopied walk lined with pots of pink geraniums.”

A white-jacketed waiter seated them in a secluded alcove. Adding to the elegance of the thick red carpet, crystal chandeliers, and white linen tablecloths, a bouquet of rosebuds and tulips sat in the center of the table. In the distance a young man softly played a piano and a few feet away from their table was a window where mock orange and spirea bushes bloomed outside.

Marilee sat across from Cole and each time their eyes met, sparks were set off. Her attention focused on him alone, shutting out awareness of their surroundings. She barely noticed when the wine list was placed in front of them and was surprised when Cole asked, “What kind do you like best?”

“I’ll trust your judgment.”

“Good!” He winked at her, making her pulse jump with anticipation. “Keep that attitude. How about champagne?”

Her brows raised with surprise, but she simply said, “Fine.”

Cole gave the order and the waiter returned shortly with a bottle in a bucket of ice. As soon as Cole approved the champagne, the waiter poured two glasses.

Once they were alone. Cole gazed at her across the centerpiece of flowers. His dark hair was feathered away from his forehead, but one unruly curl twisted over his temple. His blue eyes had darkened to a smoldering indigo. Beneath his scorching study, she felt her heart beat faster. He lifted his glass, extending it to her. “Here’s to faulty balloons.”

“And soft, cushy swimming pools,” she answered breathlessly.

“What happened to your voice?”

“I don’t know.”

“Liar.” A lazy smile played across his features.

Hastily, she clinked her glass against his, raising it to drink. She sipped the golden, bubbling liquid and lowered her glass. “This is nice.” Nice, exciting, dangerous …

“I think so too.”

He settled back in his chair and glanced around. Suddenly his dark brows flew together. “Dammit,” he said softly.

“What’s wrong?”

Cole stared out the window. “I’d swear I saw a face at that window just now.”

She stared at the spirea and mock orange bushes. “Someone may be gardening.”

“No, he ducked down when I looked.”

“Are you sure? Why would … Oh, no! Fred and Scott.”

Cole swore again and Marilee laughed. “What’s wrong? What was it you said? ‘It’ll give them something to liven their day.’ “

“I don’t want two pimply peeping Toms ruining my romantic dinner with you!”

She laughed. “They’re outside. They can’t do much. But I don’t think I’ll drink the rest of my champagne.”

“Why not?”

“Have you forgotten your teen years?”

“Thank God, yes.”

“If I drink a whole glass of champagne, tomorrow the rumor will be all over school that I’m an alcoholic.”

“That’s ridiculous.”

“It isn’t. I’ll guarantee you it—” Movement caught her eye and she turned. Bushy red hair ducked out of sight below the window and a spirea bush shook frantically.

“That was Horse Jones!”

“Horse?”

“His real name is Valentine Jones. He asked me to call him by his nickname. He’s close friends with Fred and Scott.” While she talked she watched the window.

“Well, hell! We’re not going to go through dinner this way.” He scanned the dining room. “This place is a bunch of damn windows.”

“You’re getting very touchy. You didn’t think much about it when I said I felt I was on display in a zoo.”

His blue gaze returned to her. “Don’t rub it in. I could go out there and run them off.”

“I don’t know how you raised a younger sister,” she said, shaking her head with mock wonder. “You don’t know one thing about teenagers. They’d lead you a merry chase.” She looked at the window in time to catch dark hair ducking out of sight. “There’s a bunch out there. That looked like Terry Hankins.”

“Let’s go to the farm and I’ll cook steaks again.”

“Your ignorance is appalling.”

“What now?” He sounded annoyed.

“They’d follow us unless you drove so recklessly that they might wreck their car.”

“Well, dammit! What’re you laughing at?”

“You run several successful enterprises, but these kids have you buffaloed!”

“Watch out, woman. You’re pushing your luck,” he threatened in mocking tones.

She grinned, glancing at the window to see two heads drop out of sight. “There went Fred and Horse. You’ve really brought yourself some trouble with your little visit to school.”

“My, you sound smug.”

She wrinkled her nose at him. “Revenge is sweet. You’ll know better next time than to walk into my classroom and stir up everyone.”

He rose to his feet, walked a few steps, and surveyed the restaurant. While he stood still, a few customers turned to observe him. She couldn’t suppress a laugh at the scowl on his face. He was so damned handsome, standing there with one hand resting negligently on his hip. Her gaze ran the length of his body, down his long legs before rising to meet his eyes as he returned.

“I don’t know why it’s so funny to you now.”

“If some of your employees could see you!”

He glowered, rubbing his forehead thoughtfully. “They’re ruining our evening. There isn’t a table in this place that isn’t in sight of a window.”

He sat in silence for so long, she asked, “What’s going through your mind?”

“I’m thinking about other restaurants. A place with no windows.”

“If it allows jeans and isn’t too expensive, they’ll eat at tables around us.”

His scowl deepened. “I could call the waiter to chase them away.”

“They’d just come back when he went inside.”

His blue eyes flashed. “You know so much about those monsters. Do you have any suggestions? Can’t you step outside and threaten them like you did in class?”

She shook her head. “Sorry. If I headed for the door they’d shoo like flies. When I returned to my seat, they’d be right back. Relax, Cole. I do this every day over lunch.”

“Dammit! I wanted a secluded, romantic dinner with a sexy, beautiful woman. What do I get? A bunch of half-baked adolescents leering through the window at us every few minutes!” He finished his champagne in a gulp.

He had called her beautiful and sexy! She felt like purring. “Don’t drink too much or they’ll spread the rumor that I’m dating an alcoholic,” she teased.

“Look, Marilee …”

“I guess it’s not important with school out this week.” She looked at the window and caught Horse with his nose against the glass. She waved. He ducked out of sight, spirea stems jiggled, sending showers of white petals flying, then five faces rose into sight and grinned at her.

“Smile, Cole, we have an audience.” She waved while Cole turned to the window.

“Dammit!”

“You better smile.”

“I’d like to clobber every one of them!”

The five boys grinned and waved.

“They’re harmless and they’re outside,” she said calmly.

“Oh, yeah. And isn’t this romantic! Waving to a bunch of grinning goons won’t set the right mood.”

She gazed at him innocently. “Mood for what?”

“Stop laughing, Marilee! I’ll be right back.”

He shoved away his chair and crossed to the window. Marilee watched with curiosity and amusement. She couldn’t see anything except Cole’s back and his hand gesturing and pointing toward the door. In a moment he turned to go outside.

The boys waved again and left, shaking more blooms off the spirea and mock orange. She picked up her glass and drank, laughing softly. Since it appeared their entire evening was going to be chaperoned, she certainly didn’t have to worry about Cole’s getting too close. But he had been so endearing as he tried to figure out what to do with five pesky teenage boys. … She looked up to see Cole walking toward the table, looking pleased.

He crossed the restaurant in his long, easy stride, his jacket open, swinging loosely. Breathing became difficult for Marilee. Her heart was hammering by the time he sat down. He refilled both of their glasses, raised his in a toast, and smiled into her eyes, sending her pulse into orbit.

“Here’s to money. I paid the little devils off.”

“Oh no!”

He lowered his glass a fraction while his eyes narrowed. “Now what?”

She shrugged, clinking her glass against his. “I don’t want to worry you. You looked so happy when you came back,” she said sweetly, enjoying herself. When she was with Cole everything seemed sunshine and roses, so good. She knew his anger was on the surface, that a stronger emotion tugged at both of them, and she felt safe enough with her self-appointed chaperones to revel in that emotion. “We’ll wait and see if your method was successful.”

“I don’t like the sound of that. Why won’t it be successful? They promised they’d go away, although it cost me a bundle. I wanted to knock their heads together. I don’t know how you keep your hands off them.”

Sweetness dripped from her voice. “Now you know why I wasn’t happy to see you in my classroom.”

“But it did get me a date. Next time don’t hang up on me.”

“Mmmmm.”

“Now, why won’t it work to pay them off? Don’t be evasive.”

“You sound like a hungry bear.”

He took a deep breath and expelled it slowly. “Marilee …” His voice was threateningly soft.

“Let’s forget them.” She glanced out the window. “Your idea to pay them was grand!” she said cheerfully. “They’re gone, so we’ll enjoy our dinner.”

He stared at her suspiciously for long moments before looking out the window again. Finally he settled back in his chair and relaxed.

“All right. Let’s start the evening over.”

The waiter appeared with menus. Cole recommended the specialty of the house, fresh salmon flown in from the Pacific Northwest, and they ordered it cold, poached, along with boiled new potatoes, and salad with a lemon dressing.

They were halfway through the delectable meal when Marilee glanced out the window. “Cole, I hate to tell you this, but there’s another face at the window.”

His eyes widened as he turned to look. He swore softly. “I paid them! They promised me …”