Vanishing Act by Liz Johnson Page B

called breathlessly. She took a quick step around the man and hurried to Nate’s side but stopped just before touching him.
    He looked at the other man, who pursed his lips and nodded at them. Ridley Grant. All suave moves, perfectly coifed hair and trendy clothes. Nate didn’t like him already. “Ridley.” He offered only a nod and scowl in return, unwilling to take a step closer and extend his hand for a shake with his classmate.
    Danielle took a tiny step closer to Nate, and he could feel the warmth of her body on his arm. He could also see the trembling of her hands as she crossed her arms around her stomach.
    â€œWe should get to class,” Nate said, looking the other man in the eye and daring him to disagree. Putting his hand behind Danielle’s back, he guided her through the rows of parked cars without actually touching her. Ridley stalked ahead of them so that the gap between them quickly became large enough that Nate could put his arm around her shoulders, tugging her gently to his side in a friendly embrace. “You all right?” he whispered.
    â€œYeah. He just surprised me as I was getting out of the truck.”
    â€œDid he try to hurt you?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œAre you sure?” he double-checked.
    â€œMmm-hmm.” She nodded emphatically and continuedlooking straight ahead at the back of Ridley’s quickly disappearing head.
    He squeezed her shoulder, trying not to think about how well she fit into his side, and she leaned into him even more. “Do you want to tell me what happened? What he said?”
    She took a shuddering breath. “He didn’t say much really. I’m not really sure what he wanted. I was just getting out of the truck, and then all of a sudden he was there. He scared me at first, put his hand on my arm.” She placed her own hand on her forearm to demonstrate. “But when I screamed and jumped back, he just got closer and closer, leaning toward me but not really saying much. Then he touched my hair.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    Rubbing several strands of hair between her thumb and forefinger, she cringed at the memory. “I don’t know. He just touched it. He ran his fingers through it at the end right here. He just said it looked pretty.”
    Nate had half a mind to agree with the jerk. Her hair was soft and shiny. Even in the growing darkness, he could see how it reflected the tiniest fraction of light. He didn’t blame the guy for wanting to run his fingers through her hair. If he had something more than heartbreak and pain to offer a woman and he didn’t have a case to focus on…well, no use wondering about those things.
    â€œThen he leaned toward me, almost like he was going to kiss me.”
    He went rigid, anger sparking inside him. He knew he wouldn’t be kissing Danielle. But a pang in his gut told him he sure didn’t want anyone else doing it, either, so long as he was around. “What did you do?”
    â€œI don’t know. I guess I just stared at my feet and triedto push past him. But he didn’t budge. Then I saw your headlights.”
    â€œAre you sure you’re all right?”
    â€œYes. I’m fine.” Her body was still shaking slightly, and he hated to let her go. But they were almost to the classroom, and she didn’t need Ridley or anyone else thinking that there was something romantic between them.
    Dropping his arm from around her shoulders as he used the other to push open the door, he said, “I’ll walk you back to your truck after class.”
    â€œThank you.” Her voice was soft, and the gentle clasp of her hand on his even softer. She looked up into his eyes and offered him a world of heartfelt gratitude in that one glance.
    He certainly understood her fear from Ridley’s inappropriate actions. But something else reflected in her eyes. Something had her spooked.
    For a second he wished he had the time to hunt it out.