Page 13 of Accidentally Kidnapping the Biker

“Kat, I’ve fallen in love with you,” Wylie whispers in my ear.

“What?”

“I’m not going to let this fucker kill me without saying the words. I love you.”

“Wylie!”

I hear a boom, and then what sounds like two or three firecrackers. A man grunts. Then there’s a lot of shouting. The pressure on my head eases after I hear somebody ask, “You all okay down there?”

“We’re good,” Wylie answers for both of us. He’s not getting off me.

“You don’t have to say it back,” he whispers. “I know it’s too fast.”

“Things become very clear when the bullets are flying, Kyle Wylie. Now that I know we’re not going to die, I can tell youthat I’m falling in love with you too. I’m not sure what’s going to happen between us, but I know we have the trust thing down.”

He grins, then kisses me. Only after that does he climb off me and help me to my feet. We landed in a puddle, and I’m covered in mud and dead leaves. “You are good, right?” he asks.

“I’m fine, but what the fuck just happened?” The question explodes out of my mouth.

“JD and Moritz—he’s a state trooper we know—were already at the campground when I texted,” Wylie explains. “We just needed to buy them a few minutes to catch up.”

I turn to see Jefferson face down in the dirt, with a uniformed officer handcuffing his hands behind his back. “Do you think we have enough to arrest him now?” Wylie asks, snickering at Jefferson Cross’s cursing and threats.

“I think Moritz has it covered, Wylie,” JD says.

“Can we go?” Wylie asks. “She’s soaking wet.”

“We’ll get your statements back at the campground,” Moritz says.

“It’s okay,” I tell Wylie. “We are all keeping an extra set of clothes in the salon these days. Just in case.” My teeth start chattering. I’m not sure if it’s because that asshole almost shot me again or Wylie’s unexpected revelation.

“I thought I was the prepared Boy Scout in this relationship,” Wylie teases.

“I may not be cut out for this level of excitement.” A tear leaks from the corner of my eye. I inhale to calm myself and realize I stink of adrenaline. “I think I need to find myself a nice, boring man. An actuary, or a guy who runs a used bookstore.”

“Too bad, sweetheart. You’ve got me.”

His arm is warm around my shoulder. I let the heat sink into me, and my tremors subside. I wait until we’re out of earshot. “You pulled a gun on me in the van. Why didn’t you just shoot him?” I ask.

“I didn’t have it on me for a visit to my girlfriend. In my defence, I didn’t think Cross was that stupid. I assumed he was long gone.”

“Okay, but you must know there’s a precedent now. Being taken hostage at gunpoint rates expensive wine, a very nice meal, and dessert,” I say shakily.

“You bring the sexy dress. I’ll handle the rest.”

“Are you sure we’ll both survive a fourth date?”

“I don’t think I’ll survive without one.” He stops me in the middle of the woods, takes my face in his hands, and proceeds to kiss the living daylights out of me. “If I’d been better prepared with a blanket, I’d be inside you already. As it is, we’ll have to wait till tonight. I’m not letting you walk away now, sweetheart.” He stares down at me. “You good with that?”

“Hell, yes.” I’ll be good with Wylie for the rest of my life.

THE END