Just in Time: Portals of Time by Kathryn Shay Page B

against him. All right, so she liked his touch.
    Hellor, it had been a long time since her last joining. Though she couldn’t remember the name of the man, she did recall the assignation had been mutually enjoyable. A quick flash of her and Luke Cromwell doing what the people on screen had just done immobilized her.
    “Hey, guys?” Jess yelled up, his brow furrowed.
    His comment brought Dorian back to reality and she started down the stairs. She stumbled and had to grasp on to the railing.
    “Did you like the movie?” Helen asked her.
    “Yes.”
    “She’s never seen a
Mission Impossible
film.” Luke spoke from behind her. So only Dorian could hear, he mumbled, “Or any one.”
    “Not everybody’s into cops and robbers,” Jess said easily. “I hope it was okay for you, sitting through all of them. We like marathons.”
    “I enjoyed myself.”
    “She stole some of my popcorn. I’m not sure she ever had that, either.”
    Helen began, “Why wouldn’t she—” but Jess cut her off by tugging her down the steps.
    Outside the theater, they waited for the rush of people to pass, then Helen walked down the street with Luke, and Dorian hung back with Jess. When they were far enough back from the other couple, Jess whispered, “You all right?”
    “Yes.” She pitched her voice lower. “I have a thousand questions.”
    “I’m sure you do. Let’s grab some dinner, and maybe later, we can catch some time alone.”
    “All right.”
    “What do you feel like eating?”
    She placed a hand on her stomach. “My supplements. This food is not good for me. Or for you.”
    He laughed. “Chinese. You might tolerate that.”
    The theater was in downtown Brooklyn, and soon they came to a crossing of the roads. As they waited for the traffic to stop, she noted the many vehicles out at this hour but with few people in them. Why weren’t they at least filled with passengers?
    The light turned to red—which meant the vehicles must stop—and all four of them stepped off the curb.
    From the north, Dorian caught sight of a yellow automobile called a taxi speeding toward them. Her eyes widened and her heart raced. Instead of stopping, the vehicle picked up speed.
    “Luke, the vehicle,” she yelled as she yanked Jess onto the sidewalk, the momentum carrying her back into a utility pole. Just before she hit the steel structure, she got a glimpse of Luke grabbing Helen and hauling her to safety, too.
    As the taxi whizzed past them, Dorian banged her head against the pole and slumped down to the ground.
    o0o
    DORIAN LAY STRETCHED out on Jess’s couch an hour after the renegade taxi had barreled toward them. She’d lost consciousness for a little while after she’d banged her head on the steel pole. Though she was achy, she was awake now. Everyone was grim-faced. To calm them, she said, “I’m all right.”
    On the loveseat, Helen hovered next to Jess, and Luke sat on the edge of a chair.
    “You seem better than you did an hour ago,” Helen commented. “Even the bruise looks like it’s healing.”
    The discoloration and swelling would be completely gone by tomorrow if she could manage to be alone and use the Multisalve she’d brought from her time. Its healing powers were myriad.
    “I told you there was no need for the medics.”
    Luke sighed. “What do you think happened, Dorian?”
    She couldn’t read his expression. “It may have been connected to the threats Jess’s been getting.”
    “Duh? Of course it was.”
    “That’s impossible.” This from Jess. Now that she was more aware, Dorian noted his ashen face and how he was furiously twisting his marital band.
    “Why, honey?” Helen hadn’t let go of Jess’s hand since they’d returned to this dwelling.
    “Because if the cab had hit us, you would have been killed and not just me.”
    Suddenly, Dorian was fearful of the truth coming out, which didn’t make sense, since she’d requested that these two people be told.
    Jess’s expression was wild-eyed.