Page 82 of Her Wicked Hero

“Is this it?”

“Yep.”

“It’s not even a good picture.”

Zed was off the bed, putting on his tie.

“The only picture that might take its place is you in a wedding gown.”

She stopped fidgeting with the cleavage on her dress and looked up at him.

“Wedding gown?”

She saw his cheekbones flood with color.

“I hadn’t meant to say that.” He came up to her and cupped her face and looked into her eyes. “Marcia, you know this is where this heading, right?”

She felt tears prickle. “I’d hoped.”

“Well hang onto your hat and expect a proper proposal very soon because we’re going to be married before the summer is out.”

“What?” she squeaked.

“I just want this perfect for you and with things still unsettled...”

“You only have another two weeks of PT.”

“That’s one of the things.” He grabbed her hand. “Come on, we’re going to be late for dinner.”

Marcia was swept out the door to his jeep where she waited for Zed to open the car door for her. While Zed was driving to the restaurant, Marcia wiped the palms of her hands on the hem of her dress. Was he going to propose tonight? It would be just like him to mess with her and make her think the proposal was still off in the future.

“Fuck!” Zed yelled out as a Ford F250 pulled out in front of them. He swerved to avoid it.

Crrruunnnch.

Marcia saw stars and smoke as her airbag was deployed when they were hit from behind.

“Zed!” she shouted.

“Marcia, it’s going to be okay,” he rasped.

She couldn’t turn her head. Her car door was yanked open.

“Zed,” she shouted again.

“Got her,” a man yelled. She was dragged from the jeep. She tried to scream, but she was out of air. Where was Zed?

Oh God, not another van. Her head hit the metal floor.

She heard someone talking on the phone.

“Tell Jefferies we got the target.” Marcia whimpered. Oh Lord, her Neanderthal had been right. “We’ll be at the marina soon,” the driver said.

The van was going a good speed, but she wasn’t tied up. She got on her knees to see if she could open the door and jump out.

“Get her!” the driver yelled.

She heard the scuttling as the man in the passenger seat scrambled back to her. He lunged and pulled her away from the door. She toppled back to the floor and she ended up staring up at him. “What do you think you’re doing?” he grinned down at her. He smelled foul.