Free Love & Redemption by Chantel Rhondeau

spotted the shoe and pulled beside it. Gavin didn’t even have to get out of the car; he just leaned out and grabbed it. The driver took off again almost before he even sat back up, goaded on by Shelley’s panicked urging.
    “Why did you do that?” she demanded, yanking the high heel from him and shoving it on her foot. “We could have bought a new pair at the station. Are you trying to get us caught?”
    It seemed, now that the heat of the moment was over, Shelley shifted her fear and anger to him. So much for his hopes of slipping the shoe onto her foot and being Prince Charming for the day. Gavin sighed and looked out the window. The cab turned onto a new street and promptly became blocked by the row of stopped cabs. It would take time to reach the train station in the busy traffic, and he was stuck with an angry woman. How lucky.
    “Of course I don’t want to get caught,” Gavin finally answered softly, hoping the taxi driver wasn’t listening to them. Luckily, the man had taken a phone call and talked loudly in a language other than English, not interested in their conversation. “I was trying to do something nice for you. If this is your normal reaction, I can see why you aren’t familiar with the concept.”
    Shelley stared at him for a long time before looking down at her clasped hands. “It was thoughtful. I shouldn’t have yelled.”
    That was probably as close to an apology as she would give. Although he knew it could get him in further trouble, Gavin put his hand across the top of hers and patted them. He did understand why she was upset, after all. “Don’t worry about it. We were both afraid. That wasn’t the greatest way to start our morning.”
    “I haven’t even had coffee yet.” She sighed loudly. “I’m kind of grouchy without my coffee.”
    Gavin was grateful she decided to calm down instead of pick a bigger fight. “I wasn’t kidding about not having much left to my name, but if you pay the cab fare, I’ll spring for coffee and donuts before we get on the train.” He paused, wondering about that. “We are getting on a train, aren’t we?”
    Shelley nodded. “Yeah. My rental car’s not going to get us to D.C.”
    No kidding. “Do you think it’s smart to go to D.C.? When you tried to make me leave you, I thought you said they’d know that’s where we headed and I shouldn’t go there.”
    Shelley scooted closer to him on the bench seat and wrapped her arm around his waist. Though it surprised Gavin, he cradled his arm around her back and let her lean on his shoulder.
    “Thanks for not leaving me,” she said softly. “I haven’t been much help to you so far, but I’m glad you played hero today.”
    Her words left him warm throughout. Shelley was so assertive and in control, he was sure she didn’t often find herself thanking others.
    “You helped me last night,” he replied. “It seemed fair. Plus, it would be a waste to let that lovely body get shot by Stephen or Terrance.”
    She giggled. “Nice to know you have your priorities straight.”
    Though Gavin expected she would move away from him, Shelley snuggled closer as the cab finally started moving again.
    “I wish I knew how they found us so fast,” she said.
    “It’s not my fault.” Gavin shook his head. “I did exactly what you said to with my phone. Besides, I don’t think they even know who I am yet.”
    “I agree,” she said. “That means they either followed us from the opera, which I really don’t think happened, or they somehow found us through my phone.”
    “Or Nick’s.” Gavin hated to point out the obvious, but if this Paul guy was Nick’s sworn enemy or whatever, wouldn’t he look for ways to hack into Nick’s networking system? “If I were hiding from Nick, he’d be the person I’d hack.”
    “Which means I can’t contact anyone in the organization.” Shelley sighed. “Maybe President Sharp, himself, but I’m sure he’s much too busy to take a phone call from me.”
    Gavin