The officers quickly stepped between the two men and moved Tony to the curb. Travis caught her eye and nodded before he slipped into the small crowd that had gathered, his cell phone to his ear.
MacGyver stepped back beside Kellie and reached for her hand. “Are you okay?”
“I’m a little lightheaded from the suddenness of our wedding.” She peeked sideways and smiled when he laughed softly. Twenty minutes ago, her decision not to place her life in MacGyver’s hands had seemed like the right one. Yet, the bulletproof moment she was enjoying now was entirely his doing.
“Yeah. I’m not sure where that came from, but…” He winked and smiled slightly, capturing her full attention as he leaned to whisper in her ear. “Let’s convince ’em, shall we?”
“What?”
The warm softness of his lips caught hers already open, and she went still as his mouth possessed hers with infinite tenderness. He swirled his tongue lazily around the edges of her lips and took his time tasting, probing and gently nipping her bottom lip. When he finally pulled away, she opened her eyes to find him scrutinizing her, something that might have been disbelief etching frown lines around his beautiful mouth.
She didn’t know if they’d convinced anyone else, but,shit!He’d very nearly persuadedherhe’d meant every panty-melting second of his seduction. Kellie tore her gaze away before she could do something she’d regret, like pulling his head down for one more long, soul-shattering kiss.
“I want that man arrested, Officer. He obviously kidnapped my fiancée and brainwashed her. If she goes with him, she’ll probably end up dead.” Tony’s rage and wild accusations were met with stoic expressions from the cops.
The policeman, whose badge identified him as Officer Jensen, turned to her with an embarrassed shake of his head. “I’m sorry, miss. I have to ask. Did anyone here kidnap you?”
Laughter rumbled from MacGyver’s chest as he squeezed her hand.
Kellie smiled patiently. “No, Officer, but Iwaspromised a honeymoon—one I think we’re about to be late for.”
The young, uniformed man blushed as a grin cracked his grim expression. “I just need to see some ID from you and your husband and you can be on your way. I’ll be right back.” He strode to his partner, who was doing his best to calm Tony, and pulled him away.
The undisguised hostility in Tony’s eyes as he surveyed the muscular man at Kellie’s side emphasized the threat MacGyver had taken upon himself and made her question whether she was doing the right thing.
Abruptly, Tony snapped his scrutiny to her, and his lip curled in a sinister smirk. “Well, Kellie. Apparently, you’ve forgotten our deal. I’ve already authorized my men to exercise my contingency. I expect I’ll be visiting with Charlie very soon.”
A chill wrapped itself around her heart. Of course he’d go right for the jugular, but she wouldn’t let him know his threat had hit its mark. “You’re too late. You won’t find him.” She fought to keep her voice from trembling. If only she could be sure Pop was far enough away.
MacGyver stepped closer to her side, sliding one arm around her waist. “He knows, Kellie. He tore your place apart, looking for some clue to where your stepdad went. But he didn’t find anything—did you, Palazzi?”
Tony’s anger seemed to confirm that MacGyver had spoken the truth. He didn’t have Pop. At least not yet.
His wild-eyed rage swept to MacGyver. “You seem well-informed. I didn’t catch your name.”
“I didn’t mention it.”
“Let me give you some advice. A man who doesn’t want trouble should keep his nose out of other people’s business. This is between Kellie and me. It has nothing to do with you.”
MacGyver tensed even more. “Seriously? What part ofwifedidn’t you understand?”
The officers’ private meeting broke up, saving them from Tony’s furious reply.
As soon as Officer Jensen rejoined them, MacGyver handed him his driver’s license and identified himself as one of the owners of PTS Security, in town on business. The revelation showcased just how little Kellie knew about him. Was he even telling the truth? And just how did he learn so much about her stepfather? Her original reasons for declining his offer of help still stood between them. Except, now she would be forced to leave with him or give away their charade to the police.
Jensen took her license also, told them to wait and returned to his cruiser, where she assumed he was on the radio, checking them out. The other officer apparently told Tony and his men they could leave. They stalked toward their vehicles, and, a moment later, all three of them wheeled out of the parking area.
An involuntary shudder shimmied along Kellie’s spine.
MacGyver bumped her shoulder. “It’s okay. We’re almost there.”
It’s not over.Kellie desperately wanted to be done with Tony Palazzi, but she knew better. Tony being questioned by the police on a crowded street had only made it worse, if that was possible. This would never be over, because the man would never give up.
While they were waiting, Travis came from the lobby, a small bag slung over his shoulder and another in his hand. He walked by them with barely a nod. Just then a red Mustang pulled into the valet express lane, and Travis moved toward it. He opened the trunk and threw the bags inside, tipped the valet and ducked behind the wheel.
* * * *
Even MacGyver was starting to fidget by the time Officer Jensen returned, handing them their IDs.