Deadly Chase by Wendy Davy

know what to think about it.
    “You’re welcome.” He stood and found the empty donut wrapper. He lifted it between two fingers. “Is this what you ate for lunch?”
    She nodded. No wonder her head spun. The sugar rush had waned, leaving her weak and disoriented. “I didn’t have a lot to choose from.” She considered telling Chase about what happened in the convenience store, but just because she’d caught the scent of peppermint didn’t mean Kevin was the source. Deciding her fears were unjustified, she kept the incident to herself.
    “There’s a diner next door. Let’s grab something to eat.”
    “I’m not sure I can eat anything right now.”
    “You should try. You need to keep up your strength. I don’t want to give Eason any kind of advantage.”
    Chase was right. She had to remain vigilant. After adjusting her jeans back over her bandaged leg, she took his offered hand and stood, bringing her eye-level with his chest. His masculine presence filled the small room, and her heart skipped a beat. Wary of her strong reaction, she slipped out of his grasp. “I guess it wouldn’t hurt to see what they have there.”
    Chase answered with a smile. Pressing his hand to the small of her back, he followed her out the front door. “Do you have your key?”
    Sierra checked her pocket, trying unsuccessfully to ignore the warmth and gentle pressure of his fingers. “Got it.”
    He nodded and shut the door behind them, double checking to make sure the lock caught. His lingering smile faded, and his features tensed as he scanned the area and fell into step close beside her. “Keep the key accessible in case we need to get inside quickly.”
    The sun had set, leaving shadows stretching far into corners and crevices. The darkness, along with Chase’s sudden mood change, made her uneasy. “You’re making me nervous. Do you really think Kevin could be close by?”
    “Eason’s not in Seattle.” A muscle bunched in Chase’s jaw, and his lips formed a tight line as he continued to look around. “He could be anywhere.”
    Immobilizing fear caused her steps to falter. “How do you know?” Frantic, she looked around. Shadows created haunting images everywhere. She watched cars as they passed, trying to catch glimpses of the drivers.
    Chase wrapped an encouraging arm around her waist, keeping her moving. “I’m a detective. I know things.”
    “Right. Kevin knows things, too. That’s what worries me.” After checking for oncoming traffic, they stepped off the curb and onto Market Street. “He always seemed to know more than he should, about me…personally.”
    “He kept tabs on you from the beginning.”
    “You talk as if all this is common knowledge.” Sierra drew her brows together.
    “I’ve been watching him as much as possible, keeping track of his moves.”
    As they approached Carl’s diner Sierra stopped him with a hand on his arm. “So, you’ve known about me since the beginning of my relationship with Kevin?”
    “Yes. The first time I saw you was when Eason took you to see The Phantom Of The Opera .”
    “That was our first date, last fall.”
    “It was October fourteenth.”
    “You remember the exact day?”
    “I keep detailed records.”
    “Oh.” Sierra wondered what else Chase knew about her.
    “I wanted to warn you about Eason, but without evidence to back up my claims—”
    “I wouldn’t have believed you. At least not at first. In the beginning Kevin had charmed me and treated me so well I even ignored my family’s concerns. My sister saw through his masquerade long before I did, and if my parents were still alive, they probably would’ve too.”
    Chase glanced around, keeping an eye on their surroundings as they talked. “Loved ones often pick up on odd behavior before the victim does.” He paused. “But not always.”
    Sierra suspected a deeper meaning lay beneath his comment, but she didn’t press him. “I’d rather see a person for who they really are, faults and