Summer's End (Wildflowers #5) - Jill Sanders Page 0,67

too worked up.”

“Want to head back, change, and then go for a run?” he offered.

“Now that sounds more like it. I have all this…”

“Pent-up anger?” he offered.

“What I really want to do is find a dojo and kick someone’s butt. Preferably someone bigger than I am.”

He chuckled and wrapped his arm around her as they walked out onto the street. “Remind me never to get you angry.” He kissed the top of her head. “And never forget that I am thoroughly intimidated and turned on by the way you can move.”

She turned into his arms and chuckled softly. “Most men are afraid. So far you’re the only one who hasn’t run in the opposite direction.”

He’d just stepped back from kissing her when he spotted the woman leaning against the brick building opposite the hospital. She’s dyed her bright blond hair to a rich jet black, which somehow made her stand out even more. She had a cigarette between her fingers, raised as if she were about to take a puff, when she froze. Instantly, he could tell that she knew that he’d spotted her.

“Call the police,” he shouted as he rushed across the street.

He was halfway there when he realized Bridgett had taken off. She’d been wearing jeans and tennis shoes under a long black raincoat.

“I’m faster. You call the cops,” Aubrey shouted at him as she darted past him and disappeared around the same corner Bridgett had fled around.

“Shit,” he said loudly as he pulled out his phone.

Aubrey was right, she was faster than he was, but he was bigger and… he cursed again. Hadn’t he just told her that she intimidated him with her self-defense skills. He knew she could take care of herself, but his fear for her safety kept him a few yards behind her. He was huffing and puffing while he spoke to the nine-one-one operator. He set a mental reminder to start jogging again.

“Aub, I’m behind you,” he called out when he gained some ground on her. “Cops are on the phone,” he shouted as people separated for them.

“Move!” Aubrey had shouted several times.

He couldn’t believe how fast Bridgett was. The taller woman’s legs seemed to eat up the pavement, and it was apparent to him now that she knew exactly where she was heading.

Since the snow had made ground slippery, most shops and restaurants had shut down their outside displays.

But when he turned the last corner and almost bumped into the back of Aubrey, he realized she’d led them to probably one of the only outdoor farmers market being held in the big city on that evening.

“Shit.” Aubrey glanced around. “Do you see her?”

“No,” he said after a moment of looking around. Since he was a deal taller than Aubrey, he could easily see over most of the people’s heads.

“There,” he said after spotting a dark head in a black raincoat.

They both rushed across the area, only to realize a few feet away that it wasn’t Bridgett, but a younger woman with two small children.

“You don’t think she’d double-back, do you?” Aubrey asked.

“It’s worth a look.” He took her hand, and they started walking briskly back the way they’d come.

“Are you okay?” she asked as they walked.

He realized he was still breathing heavy and tried to catch his breath. “I suppose I need to get back into my morning routine of jogging again.”

“You could always join one of my classes,” she suggested with a nudge.

“How did Bridgett outrun you?” he asked when the hospital was in sight.

“She has almost a full foot on me,” Aubrey replied.

He wasn’t surprised to see several officers outside her father’s room when they stepped out of the elevator. It was the same two officers that had been in the room with Detective Rhodes the evening before.

“Anything?” he asked the two men.

“No. We’ve checked on Mr. Smith, and he’s resting comfortably and alone,” the older officer answered. “Did anyone join in your chase?”

“No,” Aubrey answered as she peeked her head into her father’s room. “I’m going to…” She motioned inside.

He nodded and figured he’d stay outside with the officers to fill them in on how Bridgett had changed her appearance.

When Aubrey stepped outside again, he could tell instantly that she was tired. The chase had burned off all of her anger.

“We’re going to head back and get some rest,” he said, taking Aubrey’s hand.

“We’ve been assigned here for the night. We’ll take shifts sitting with him. From what it sounds like, the doctor is going to release him in