Page 39

Not a great way to start the trip.

We’re on our way, but I can tell Dax is frustrated. His hands are gripping the steering wheel tightly, and he’s barely said a word since we left the hotel. Though his face is carefully calm, there is a stillness about him that is out of character.

And although I am enjoying the silence, I feel like I should say something.

“It’s okay, Dax. We’ll make up the time. It’s only thirty minutes,” I say reassuringly.

He doesn’t say anything right away. I begin to wonder if he won’t respond. His gaze travels to the rearview mirror and pauses. When he looks at me, his brow is furrowed in concentration.

“I don’t think the flat tire was an accident.”

“What?” I ask, vaguely comprehending what he said. “You think it was done deliberately?”

He glances at the rearview mirror again. “Yeah. I do,” he says simply.

“Why do you think that?”

He studies the road carefully before responding. “There were two nails stuck in the tire, not just one. If it were one, I could easily believe it was an accident, that maybe we ran over something. But two? I don’t think it’s a coincidence. Not only that, but the placement of the nails is suspicious.”

“Do you think someone from the show did it?”

He hesitates. “I’m not sure.”

“There’s something you’re not telling me,” I tell him.

Dax glances up at the camera, likely checking to make sure it isn’t recording. “Did you tell your ex-fiancé where we’d be? Have you contacted him at all?”

I consider telling him about all the messages Anthony has been leaving on my voicemail, but quickly reject the idea. Those vile, horrible messages are the reason my cell phone has been on silent this entire trip, and that’s not something I want to discuss with Dax.

“Anthony? No. I have had no contact with him since before leaving New York. He has no idea I’m doing this show.” I look at him with narrowed eyes. “There’s no way he could find me. It couldn’t have been him.”

“You’re sure there’s no way? Maybe you told one of your friends, and they told him where to find you?”

I shake my head in denial. “No, I didn’t tell anyone about the show. Anthony doesn’t even know many of my friends, anyway. He wouldn’t know who to contact. Even though we were together for ten months, we never really got to know each other’s friends.”

Dax swings his shocked gaze my way. “You were only together for ten months?” His voice is raised in disbelief.

I shouldn’t let his tone get to me, but I do. He probably thinks I’m an idiot. Who buys a condo and gets engaged to a guy after knowing him for only ten months?

Me, that’s who.

“Yeah, don’t say it. I know what you’re thinking. In hindsight, I realize I should’ve gotten to know him better before jumping fully in. I’m paying the price for it now. I made a mistake, and it’s one that’s going to haunt me for a long time.”

The windshield wipers swish against the remaining drops of rain and it gets quiet in the car. Just when I think he’s not going to respond, he surprises me.

“That’s what life is about, making mistakes and learning from them. Don’t beat yourself up too badly. Your only mistake was in trusting the wrong person. Just think. If not for the Anthony debacle, you probably wouldn’t be on this adventure with me. Sometimes, you have to go through some bad stuff to get to where you’re meant to be.”

I laugh lightly. “Look at you, getting all philosophical on me. I’m not sure what to think about this softer side.”

“Babe, there isn’t anything soft about me.”

For some reason, I find his boastful comment hilarious. I let out a huge laugh. Dax doesn’t join in but watches me with a look of chagrin on his face.

“I’ve determined you’re not good for my self-esteem,” he says wryly.

I give a cheeky grin. “And does your self-esteem need any help? Somehow, I highly doubt it.”

He raises his eyebrow. “If you’re through? Maybe we can get back to talking about our suspects.”