“I’m not dumb, I figured that out, but you’re going the wrong way!”
He knew his sense of direction was sound, but he was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt, as she knew the area better than him. “What don’t I know?”
“The shortcut.”
In an attempt to get a sight of their pursuers, Josh looked around but he caught no sight of them. He may not be able to see them, but he knew his height was a moving beacon that telegraphed their position.
The crowd began to thin and Josh made a decision he knew was going to start an argument if he allowed it. Pulling Lux around a corner, he spun her around to face him. “Get on my back,” he said with urgency.
“What?”
“I know you heard me; get on my back!”
Seeing she was about to protest, he swept her up, swung her around even as she stiffened, thwarting his intent. Knowing he would pay for it later, Josh threw her over his shoulder and clamped her legs in place.
Determining that being able to travel faster by his route would equate to her shortcut, he took off running. As his pace increased, Josh felt her arms clamp around his waist as she held on for dear life. It took him thirty-five minutes at a blistering pace before he finally reached the place where they’d left the car.
Unceremoniously dumping her to her feet, Josh took three swift steps backwards. Fully expecting her to come up swinging, he was surprised when all she did was bend over and clutched her knees in an attempt to catch her breath. Already recovering, he allowed her the time she needed.
“Where is the key for the car, Lux?”
Slowly pulling herself to an upright position, she narrowed her eyes and glared at him. “Back at the park, so what are you going to do now, macho man?!”
Aware he was on shaky ground; Josh hoped he could defuse the situation. Moving towards her with deliberate steps, he stopped just outside of her reach. “I’m sorry, Peaches–”
“Don’t you dare go there, Joshua!”
“Peaches,” Josh repeated, ignoring her obvious anger. “I had to do it, you left me little choice.”
His words or his endearment weren’t having the desired effect so he decided to unleash the one asset every Kingdom man could rely on; his dimples, Josh smiled. Then he relaxed his body and took a half step closer. He was now within her reach, but he was relying on his charm to get him out of a tight situation.
Her punch to his solar plexus had Josh falling into her as he bent over in reaction to her direct hit. His hands shot out and surrounded her, ostensibly in response to her blow. Pulling her close, he held on to her and sucked in a deep gasp of air, as though filling his lungs.
Stepping back, he smiled. “The key,” he said holding up the underwire of her bra. Josh ignored her cursing as he returned to the car. A click later and he held the door open for her to get in.
If their situation weren't so precarious, Josh would have laughed at her look of outrage at his actions. As soon as Lux was in the car he knew their slight respite was at an end. They needed to keep moving.
Behind the wheel, he ripped out the console panel. Locating the right wires he brought the car to life. Looking over at her, Josh waited for directions. Nothing, she gave him nothing.
Each moment they remained stationary was a moment closer to disaster. The people who were after them were in deadly earnest. They wouldn’t think twice about killing them and leaving their lifeless bodies where they fell.
“Lux,” Josh demanded her attention with the full knowledge she had yet to grasp the severity of their situation. “I came here to protect you. You may not value your life, but I do, just as I value mine. So stop your sulking and give me those damn directions!”
Something he said galvanized her because, even through her reluctance, she began to direct him and not a moment too soon. Headlights were coming their way, fast. Josh floored the gas and sped off; tires spinning; the only thing on his mind was putting as much distance as possible between them and the bad guys. That her car was a piece of slow moving shit was something he refused to dwell on.
He somehow managed to pull everything out of the little car. Yet no matter how much he demanded he could hear the sound of the other vehicle drawing ever closer. Aware their headlong rush was dangerous; he demanded she put on her seatbelt. When she carried out his instruction, he concentrated all his attention on her directions and staying ahead of their pursuers.