Chapter 2

2

D on't look back. Gwen forced her gaze straight ahead, her heart pounding like a panicked horse. What she really wanted was to run away.

Instead, she clung to Will's arm, soaking up the strength coming through his tight muscles. Behind her, lingering in the forecourt of the building, stood the guy with long, black hair who'd been staring at her in Midtown. And taken the same bus downtown. He must have gotten out of the taxi that had turned the corner a few minutes ago and now waited for her to be alone.

"What made you change your mind?" Will asked, his steady gaze focused on her. His body radiated an intensity typical of athletes, who always seemed wired for the next quick change. A lightning smile flashed over his face. "Not that I object."

That sounded as if Will were angling for a compliment. She didn't know him well enough to be sure about that, but he was male, after all.

"I figured I should grab a sandwich and a coffee while I could." And she'd wanted company . She indicated the deli with its wraparound windows across the street. From there, she'd be able to keep an eye on her "stalker."

This was the same guy as before, right?

She'd only caught a glimpse but now turned to confirm, remembering not to make eye contact. That had been her mistake earlier. But she needn't have worried. The guy in question sat next to a concrete planter full of petunias messing with his phone. She couldn't see his shirt but she'd seen enough to recognize him.

He could have gotten here by staying on the bus and now waited to meet someone like her. He wasn't even looking her way. She was letting Lila's recent experience make her paranoid.

She dropped her hold on Will's elbow and put a few more inches between them. She'd also been running on adrenaline, working late every day to prove to her boss he could trust her to supervise the research lab.

A large, warm, very masculine hand encircled her arm.

She jerked her gaze up and met Will's intense blue eyes. His chiseled features, not to mention the tan that couldn't quite camouflage a scar on his chin, gave him a slightly dangerous look, and one deadly serious. His gaze searched her face, a furrow cutting between his mahogany brows. "You okay?"

"Sure," she answered, maybe a little too quickly. Will didn't look convinced, so she smiled. "It's been one of those days."

"I know about those kinds of days." He pulled open the door to the coffee shop.

She flicked her gaze toward the bench again, only to see that the rock-band fan had vanished. Gone. He really must have been waiting to meet someone. That she and this guy were going to the same place at the same time was simply a coincidence. Those kinds of things really did happen. Her shoulders relaxed, and she forced herself to breathe.

* * *

As soon as he'd exited the elevator, he'd been unable to take his eyes off Gwen, but now he let his gaze skate over the pots of flowers, the empty lobby inside his building, and the vacant benches outside. Nothing looked out of place or unusual. What had Gwen seen to cause her to stiffen?

She'd relaxed now, so any threat she'd sensed had vanished. She was so much prettier and livelier than he'd imagined, and he'd been totally distracted, taking in everything: her face, her voice, her slender body.

He followed her into the coffee shop where the manager looked up from swabbing down the back counter. "Sorry, I'm closing in a few minutes."

"If you've still got coffee, we'll take two, please, Henry." Will grabbed a tray off the stack. "Grab what you want, Gwen. I'll get the coffee."

She pulled a wrapped sandwich off the shelf, and Will added one of tuna for himself. She dropped some sugar packets next to the coffee cups, and he ran his card.

They settled at a table of her choosing. The little gold studs in her ears winked at him through her fluffy dark hair. This was a serious woman, and not one to draw attention to herself with big dangly earrings.

Because he'd eaten here so often, he'd probably sat at each of the seven tables. Which were all empty now except theirs. He swept a gaze over the sidewalk outside, searching for a clue as to why Gwen had tensed when they left the Meta Hellenic tower. Seeing nothing alarming, he draped his jacket over the back of his chair and sat.

She'd uncapped her coffee to add sugar, the rich, dark aroma drifting his way. He usually stayed away from caffeine this time of day, but sipped his own brew as if he hadn't had a drop all day. Why? Was this his sixth sense at work urging him to fuel up for a long night?

It sure wasn't looking that way. She wanted to catch her train, and he would escort her to the station and say goodnight.

The scent of mustard wafting from her turkey sandwich reminded him he'd last eaten hours ago. He glanced at her as he unwrapped his tuna salad.

She swallowed a bite and took another sip. "I only got a text from Erin. Did you talk to her?"

"Yes. Over the internet connection." He gestured to the envelope in the tote hanging from the back of her chair, set his coffee cup down, and unwrapped his own sandwich. "I was mostly discussing the freighter repairs with Nikos. Erin only spoke to me once I mentioned the workbook. Why? Do you have a specific concern?"

"Just curious. They're probably in Athens by now," Gwen said. "Erin was really looking forward to visiting there. What about you? Have you been to Athens?"

"When I was in the service. Before I joined Meta Hellenic." He watched the flash of light in her beautiful eyes for a second. Before he could become entranced again, he picked up his sandwich and took a bite. She drew him with a magnetism he didn't understand. But focusing all his attention on her might put her back on the defensive when she'd only now begun to relax. He chewed another bite and scanned the deli, alert to trouble. Henry hauled a full garbage bag into a short hall and propped open the service door.

"Which branch?" Gwen asked, drawing his attention back to her.

"The best one." He grinned, and she smiled in return. "Navy."

"That explains the naval engineering." She smiled and took another bite.

She'd wondered about him?

"I've loved boats since I was a kid." Will set his plate aside, more interested in their conversation—and her.

"That explains both, then."

Warm, humid air swept across them when the street entrance opened. Will slid his gaze to the tall, skinny guy entering the deli. He saw all types in this part of town, tourists returning from a cruise to the Statue of Liberty, harried businessmen needing a coffee after a long day. This guy with the shoulder-length black hair didn't fit—not here, not at this time on Friday night. He didn't know what to expect, and he braced himself to fend off any sudden moves that might come his way.

"I'm closing in ten minutes." Henry lifted the coffee reservoir out of the dispenser.

The newcomer nodded, chose a cellophane-wrapped slice of pie from the display, and paid. Will looked for the telltale bulge of a handgun in the guy's pockets. He didn't see one, but his instincts still kicked into high gear.

The dude chose a table next to the window and sat with his back to them. Tension sizzled off Gwen like before. Something about this guy scared her. He wanted to know why, but he wouldn't ask her here and now. Any conversation they had would carry easily in the quiet.

Her gaze swung from the wall clock to the other customer. Then her blue eyes landed on him, her jaw tightening. "You ready to go?"

Since she worried about the other customer, Will didn't want to leave before him, and checked on Henry's progress. Until the manager finished they could stay.

"Will." Gwen reached across the table and tapped his hand. "We should leave."

Her touch sent sparks up his arm. He squeezed her hand and caught her gaze. "Let's sit a while longer." Trust me .

A frown flitted across her forehead. She started to speak but then glanced behind him and gave a little shrug. "Okay."

But she still pulled her tote into her lap, ready to bolt any minute.

"I'm closing now. Everyone out." Henry came around the counter.

Will stood. The long-haired guy left through the front entrance but remained standing on the curb. He did not cross the street or move off. Gwen spun on her heel and made for the open service door in the back. Will reached for his windbreaker. "Gwen…?"

"That's the alley, miss." Henry collected their discarded plates. "For the garbage and stuff. Not nice."

She ignored them both and started down the short hallway, obviously wanting to avoid the other customer.

"I'm coming," Will called. He had no idea what was going on with her, but he didn't want her to be on her own. He glanced at Henry. "Lock the front door now."

"Hurry." She waited for him before rushing out the service door.

He followed her into the small cul-de-sac full of trash cans. "Stick with me," he said. "I'll keep you safe."

"I'm more interested in losing him." Her face turned grim as she charged ahead. "And I need to get uptown."

"There a subway station only a few blocks away."

"If I miss my train…"

"Don't worry. I'll make sure you get home." One way or the other. He took her hand. "We need to be careful. This alley opens onto the block next to the deli and if the guy is still standing in front he will see us."

They wove around the garbage cans and dumpsters in the narrow passage as quickly as possible. Shadows cloaked the exit of the alley. To his left, lay the deli—and the lone figure standing outside.

At that moment, Henry turned off the lights, throwing the man and the sidewalk into darkness. Sweat trickled down Will's back. Now the dude would be harder to track.

They rushed down the block in the opposite direction and rounded the corner before stopping. Gwen clung to his arm, her body shaking. "I think he saw me."

"Put this on." He shed his jacket. "It'll hide your sweater."

She juggled her tote to push her arms into the sleeves and closed the zipper. "Uh-oh. I hear him coming."

The edge of panic riding her voice rocked him, and adrenaline poured through him. The sound of footsteps grew louder. They might belong to someone else, but that didn't matter. They would still take evasive action. "We can lose him."

Halfway down the next block he ducked into another office building through the door that remained accessible until midnight for patrons of the restaurant and bar on the top floor. Where his colleagues were now getting drunk.

Gwen tugged him to a stop. "Do you know where you're going?"

"This is a little detour to the subway station," Will explained. "The most direct route would have taken us past Henry's deli."

"Are you sure?" She swiveled to look at the way they'd come, holding her dark hair away from her face.

"Yes. I know this area well." He took in her doubtful expression and raised his eyebrows, needing her to trust him with this. "Okay?"

"Fine."

He lifted a hand to the night guard at his desk. "Just passing through."

They strode down the marble-tiled lobby past the art deco panels rising to a high, gilded ceiling and passed through the elevator bay. He pulled her past the grill closing off a concession and newsstand tucked into a narrow connecting passageway. A short hallway led to exit doors onto a cross street. He caught her elbow and steered her that way.

A sudden premonition had him drawing her into an alcove that once housed pay phones. Outside the glass front doors, he caught movement. The guy with the long locks pushed on the handle and then cupped his eyes to peer inside.

Gwen leaned into his back and whispered. "What's happening?"

The press of her body threatened to distract him, and Will squelched his body's automatic reaction. "I saw the guy you're trying to avoid."

He waited a beat for her to explain who and what this was all about. When she didn't, he continued, "He doesn't know the doors are locked this time of night."

"So how do we get out?"

"They're locked from the outside. Like fire doors." He gave the cold hand resting on his sleeve a quick squeeze. "Wait here. Let me see if he's gone."

She clung to his arm. "You're leaving me here?"

"Just until I check the area out front."

"Wait. I'm coming, too. Tell me now which way we're going when we get outside. Please?"

"We'll turn left and go to the corner. Come on. Stay right behind me." Will left their hiding place and strode to the heavy brass and glass doors. A streetlight illuminated the empty plaza-like area in front of the skyscraper. "I don't see him out there."

"I doubt he's giving up," she whispered. "But it's all clear now. Should we go?"

"Right." There would be plenty of time for explanations later. He hoped.

They dashed out of the exit. At the end of the block, he glanced down the street that the skyscraper faced. Gwen's stalker waited there. Before they could duck back out of sight, he saw them.

They'd lost their advantage. No point trying to hide now. They'd just have to outrun him and hope they could board the subway before he saw which car they chose. He pointed to the metal banister around the subway entry stairs on the next corner. "Hurry."

Gwen kept up with him, panting hard as they reached the bottom of the stairs.

He pulled his metro card from his wallet and swiped her through the turnstile and then himself, nearly bumping into her as she looked up at the directional signs and shook her head. "This is the wrong direction."

"Keep going. There's a hallway up ahead."

They raced past the grimy, graffiti-filled walls to another platform with two tracks. The rumble of trains filled the tunnel. Will raised his voice. "This will take us north."

"Yeah, but this line doesn't go to Grand Central." She glanced around for options.

"There's a connection from Penn Station."

Hurrying footsteps thundered behind them. Will caught sight of the stalker, tugged Gwen into the shadows under the stairs, and held a finger to his lips. Gwen peered around him and sagged.

An incoming train on the opposite track swooshed to a stop. More rumbling intensified, and suddenly, the train on their track arrived.

Riders flooded the platforms on either side. The good thing was that the stalker had walked toward the opposite end from where they hid. Will didn't think he'd seen them, but he'd get Gwen's opinion. "Do you want to let him board and take the next train?"

"I don't know." The doors of the nearest car slammed open. "I doubt I have time."

The dude following Gwen blended in with the others crowded onto the platform. He still hadn't approached her, and Will couldn't figure his motive. He would protect her, though, if things came to that, and reached for her hand. "Let's go."

He pulled her into the closest car seconds before the doors clamped shut and they lurched forward. With plenty of standing room, they moved away from the exit and clasped a pole. The train lurched over the tracks, the clattering wheels creating a din which intensified as they entered a tunnel.

Gwen studied the route map on the wall next to the doors and then looked at him. Her frown had taken up permanent residence, and he wished he could smooth it out. They were okay, doing good, in fact.

She grimaced. "We have to go to Penn Station to change."

"The connection is quick." He leaned close so she could hear him over the clattering of the train, catching a whiff of her fragrance. Spring flowers? "There was another line about five more blocks away, but I figured you wanted to get off the street as quickly as possible."

Her lips quirked up at the corners. "You were right."

One of the passengers seated on the bench next to them, a college-aged girl with curly blond hair, closed the book she'd been reading, stood, and moved past them to the exit.

"Go ahead and sit down." Will nudged Gwen.

The student got off at the next stop. A passenger jumped up from beside Gwen, and Will slid into the seat beside her. She tugged her tote bag to her chest, tucked the straps under her chin, and swiped at a trickle of sweat running down her cheek.

The doors closed. Will braced himself for motion and leaned toward Gwen. "I can help if you want to take off the jacket now."

"Let's wait until we get off." She let out a deep breath. "Thanks for coming along."

"No problem." Their gazes caught. He sank into her mesmerizing blue eyes, faceted like diamonds. The train lurched to the left and he shook himself mentally, focusing on the squiggly lines of the subway map. He knew this route by heart, but he needed to keep alert. "We just have two more stops, but I think we've lost you know who."

"I hope so." Gwen tucked her tennis-shoe-clad feet close. He hadn't noticed them before, but he liked that she preferred practicality over image. He wasn't sure what that meant to him, except that everything he was learning about her made him want to get to know her better. Would she let him?

At the next station, commuters swarmed the platform. Guys with dreadlocks in T-shirts with slogans. Kids wearing tees with Spiderman images. Couples off for a Broadway show. Gwen's shadow guy had vanished.

The train slowed to a stop. Will stood. "This is where we change."

Everyone on the train flooded onto the crowded platform. They followed the mob out of the car, up the steps, down a corridor, and down more steps where they only waited a few seconds before boarding the cross-town shuttle.

He barely had time to grab a pole before the train lurched forward.

"Let me see the time," Gwen, pressed against him, grabbed hold, her hand just below his.

He displayed his watch face and pushed a button. She took in the time, and he raised his brows in question. "How are we doing?"

"I'm going to have to run when we get to the station. But look—" She paused. "It was nice to meet…"

Gwen's words faded as the train filled with more passengers. Will froze. He waited for the man in his sights to turn slightly, but yup, that was the same black hair and Zeppelin tee. And he wasn't in this car by coincidence. Will's blood simmered, and he clenched his jaw. Who exactly was he following? Him or Gwen? And why?

He leaned in close to Gwen. "Stay here."

She glanced past him and her fingers gripped his arm as if he was a life preserver. "Why?"

"I'm going to confront him because I want to know why he's following us."

"Please, don't." She shook her head.

The train thundered into the next stop. This was their destination. He'd have to let this go—for now. He wanted to stay with her until they could be sure they'd lost the stalker. Would that be sooner or later?