Free Test Drive by Marie Harte

“Shut up.”
    “You are so red right now.” He snickered. “Actually, Rena told me where you lived a while ago, since she thought we’d make a nice couple.”
    Friggin’ Rena considered herself a matchmaker. She still took credit for Del and Mike McCauley hooking up, despite the fact that Del had met Mike through his son.
    They drove in silence for a while before Johnny spoke again. “You sure you’re okay?”
    “I really am. I think I was just freaked out because it all happened so fast.”
    In the passing shadows, she saw his expression darken. “Yeah, it can go down like that. I see that guy again, I’ll turn him into a human pretzel.” He glanced at her. “You let me know if he bothers you.”
    “I will.” She most certainly would not . She refused to be responsible for Johnny landing in jail. Ron was just the type to goad Johnny into roughing him up where he’d have witnesses. Then he’d involve his many important connections to put her friend away.
    Johnny Devlin—her friend.
    They pulled into the parking lot of her building, and she directed him to her empty spot. Then he walked her upstairs to her unit. The halls were blissfully empty at ten o’clock on a Tuesday night. She could hear televisions, a few shouts, and laughter through the thin walls. She nodded at a familiar face, a cop who had a sister who lived in the place.
    “It’s not much, but it’s home,” she said as they stopped at her apartment. She fished the keys out of her purse and unlocked her door, then turned to him. He’d come to her rescue tonight in a big way. She owed him. That, and she wasn’t ready for him to leave yet.
    “Lara?”
    “Come on in and let me take a look at that bruise.”
    “That’s right. You’re the nursing student.” He watched her, looking for what, she didn’t know.
    “Please. It’s the least I can do.” She didn’t want to beg him to stay, but she wanted to thank him, if at least in a small way.
    “Okay.” He stepped inside.
    She closed and locked the door behind him, not sure what to do with him now that she had him. Fortunately, she’d gone grocery shopping yesterday.
    “Can I get you something to eat or drink?”
    He stood in her entryway, looking huge in her tiny apartment. Tucking his hands in his jeans pockets, he shrugged. “I’m good.” His glance passed over her living room and kitchen and settled on the kitchen counter. On her plate of cookies.
    She smiled. “How about a chocolate chip cookie? I baked some to take to class tomorrow.” She had class work at the college instead of the hospital, so she’d baked some goodies to take her classmates’ minds off their grueling schedule.
    “I don’t want to mess you up for school.” Yet he took an awfully long time to look away from the plate.
    “Come on. They’re amazing. I’ll even throw in a glass of milk…” she tempted. “Mmm. You know you want to.”
    He gave a mock sigh. “Peer pressure. Guess I’ll have to say yes.”
    “Great. Go sit, and I’ll be right back.” She set the cookies and milk on the table and rushed down the hallway.
    Now to change, force herself to relax, and figure out why it felt like everything between them had turned some weird but important corner.

Chapter 5
    Johnny called himself five kinds of fool as he sat at the table in Lara’s homey apartment. Too restless to remain seated, he snooped around, needing to know everything about her. The place was in a rough neighborhood but not so run-down he’d call it a slum or anything. She had a couch and table that had seen better days. A handcrafted quilt thrown over the back of the sofa made it cozy, and the stacked magazines and TV remote had been neatly placed on the coffee table.
    A TV stand and potted plants in a windowsill sat across from the couch. In a small area near the tiny, open kitchen, a table and three chairs looked in decent enough condition. The kitchen had clean counters, a ceramic jug full of fresh-cut flowers, and an