She backed away, putting the patio furniture between them. "Why did you rescue me?"
He smiled slowly. "I need a dentist."
Not with a smile like that. Damn. A smile like that could melt a woman into a puddle of quivering hormones. I'm melting, I'm melting. "How.. how did you get me up here?"
His eyes glimmered in the dark. "I carried you."
She gulped. Obviously a few extra pizza pounds hadn't overly strained the guy. "You carried me all the way to the roof?"
"I.. used the elevator." He pulled a cell phone from his back pocket. "I'll call someone to pick us up."
Us? Who was he kidding? She didn't trust him any farther than she could spit. But he had saved her from the hit men. And so far, he'd behaved like a gentleman. She ventured toward the edge of the building, keeping a safe distance from the mysterious rescuer.
She glanced down. Wow, he'd been honest with her. They were across the street from the clinic. Three black sedans were double-parked in the street, and a group of men stood there, talking. Planning how to kill her. She was so screwed. Maybe she could use an ally. Maybe she should trust the crazy but gorgeous Wolfman.
"Radinka?" He held the cell phone against his cheek. "Can you give me Laszlo's cell phone number?"
Radinka? Laszlo? Were those Russian names? Her skin chilled with goose bumps. Oh God. Big trouble. This guy was probably pretending to be her friend so he could lure her away from the city and¡ª
"Thanks, Radinka." He punched in a new number.
Shanna looked around and located the stairway entrance. Now, if she could just ease over there without him noticing.
"Laszlo." His voice became authoritative. "Bring the car back immediately. We have an emergency situation here."
Shanna moved slowly. Quietly.
"No, you don't have time to go to the lab. Turn around now." A slight pause. "No, I didn't get the tooth fixed. But I have the dentist with me." He glanced her way.
She froze and tried to look bored. Maybe she should hum a tune, but all that came to mind was the one she'd heard earlier in the evening. "Strangers in the Night." Well, that fit.
"Have you turned around yet?" Wolfman sounded irritated. "Good. Now, listen carefully. Do not, I repeat, do not drive past the clinic. Go one block north of the clinic, and we'll meet you there. Do you understand?"
Another pause. He turned to look over the ledge. Shanna resumed her stealthy approach to the stairway.
"I'll explain later. Just follow my directions, and we'll be safe."
She slipped past the patio furniture.
"I know you're just a chemist, but I have full confidence in your abilities. Remember, we don't want anyone else to know about this. And now that I think about it, is our.. passenger still in the car with you?" Wolfman walked toward the corner of the building, keeping his back to her and his voice low.
So the rascal didn't want her to hear this. Can you hear me now? The phrase goaded her. No, she couldn't hear,dammit. Quickly she tiptoed after him. Her old ballet teacher would have been impressed with her speed.
"Look, Laszlo. I'll have the dentist with me, and I don't want to alarm her any more than necessary. So take Vanna out of the backseat and stick her in the trunk."
Shanna halted. Her mouth dropped open. Her throat seized up, making it hard to breathe.
"I don't care how much crap you have in the trunk. We're not driving around with a naked body in the car."
Oh no! She gasped for air. He was a hit man.
He whirled around suddenly to face her. With a strangled squeak, she leaped back.
"Shanna?" He turned off the phone and held it out to her.
"Stay away from me." She backed away, fumbling in her purse.
He frowned. "Don't you want your phone back?"