I’d taken every evasive measure in my arsenal, and this black Caddy was still on my ass. It must’ve been a new driver, one with actual skill. I led him out of the city, as far away from the public as possible. “Hang on,” I told Vanessa, while instinctively reaching across her chest to brace her against the seat.

With my free hand, I spun the steering wheel to the left and slammed on the brakes. Gravity forced her body closer; we almost occupied the same space in the driver’s seat. I feared I’d overdone the maneuver, that we’d end up on two wheels. But just as I was about to try to correct the action, our equilibrium resettled back to the midpoint.

We were now facing the opposite direction, and I got a good look at the new driver of the Cadillac as he flew past us.

“What the hell just happened?” Cruz yelled through the truck’s speakers.

“Under control. He’s heading South on Delaware.”

“Copy.”

In my rear-view mirror, I watched the Caddy attempt to pull the same maneuver and fail. He skidded into the grass, facing east. Not quite, buddy. “He’s stuck for the moment. Now would be a good time.”

“ETA, two minutes.”

I floored it and finally took a moment to look over at Vanessa. She was panting, my arm still firm against her chest, her eyes wide. “You OK?” I asked.

“That was awesome!” A smile spread across her face.

“You like that?” I didn’t remove my arm, although I knew I should, and neither did she. “I bet your tree hugging car can’t do that.”

“I wouldn’t call an Audi A8 a tree hugger, but it was a present. And I do love it.” A twinge of guilt entered her normally musical tone.

“I’m sure Mother Nature will forgive you. Just drink less bottled water. Problem solved.”

“You drink bottled water?” she gasped.

“Noooo.” Smooth.

Vanessa pried my arm off her chest. “I believe the coast is clear now.” She shot me a wicked glance.

“Well, Cruz? Is she right?” I asked the phone, which I believe we both forgot was still live.

“Working on that,” he replied.

“We’re gonna make our way to the safe house. Let me know when it’s secure on your end.”

“Copy.”

Vanessa’s smile faded. “A safe house? Is that a real thing?”

“It’s safe; don’t worry. Hence the name.”

Twenty minutes later, we arrived at the predetermined location, and I secured the perimeter before allowing Vanessa to enter. I rested my hand in the small of her back to assist her up the stairs. This was how I discovered the tank top she wore had no back. Our skin touched, and electricity shot through my entire body. Tiny goose bumps rippled across her back, signaling that our skin-to-skin contact had the same effect on her. I snatched my hand away and slammed the door. “Sorry, Ms. Genovese. I wasn’t aware,” I stammered.

“Quite alright.” As she brushed past me, she left no room between us. If I inhaled, our bodies would be completely pressed together. “Where’s my room?”

“Uh, that way.” I pointed down the hallway. “I’m right across the hall should you need anything.”

“Good to know.” Her voice was low, husky. This woman was not the little princess Mr. Genovese had led me to believe she was.

A booming knock on the door broke our lingering eye contact. “Martin, it’s me,” Cruz’s voice permeated the heavy wooden door.

I turned the latch and pulled the door open. “How did you get here so fast?”

“Some of us don’t drive like Grandpas.”

“Grandpa? You should’ve seen the sweet ass turn I did. Got him off our tails, didn’t I?”

“If you say so, old—” he stopped. His eyes had found Vanessa, standing tall and sleek in the middle of the room. I watched his chest inflate and jut out like a puffer fish. The reptilian part of my brain wanted to slug him.

“Vanessa, this is Cruz. My helper.” Stupid pride.

“Pleasure to meet you, ma’am.” He extended a hand. One corner of her lip rose, like the Joker’s grin. She knew the power she wielded.

I was so focused on Vanessa that I didn’t see the hitch in Cruz’s step until he was across the room. “What happened there?” I asked.

“Had to ram him a little to get my point across. Think I tweaked my back or something. It’s nothing.”

“And I’m the Grandpa?” I teased the youngster. More for Vanessa’s benefit than his.

In my head, I ran every terrible scenario where Cruz, my former student and trusted family friend, died horribly at the tender age of thirty-two. I was to blame in every one of them, naturally. Fear took hold, and I wondered if bringing him on for such a dangerous job was the right thing.

That night, after sending Cruz off with his marching orders for the night and making sure Vanessa was secure in her quarters, I attempted to drift off. The events of the day swirled in my head, and I ran every action through my mental analysis, like a starting quarterback reviewing tapes. Did I put the target in undue danger, showing off with my maneuvers? Was it a bad idea to bring Cruz on? Am I now responsible for two lives? And the way he looked at her! They are closer in age, his thirty-two to her…what? Twenty-three or four? Did I really walk right into the water with my shoes on? What the hell was that?

The next thing I knew, Vanessa and I were back in that stream. She was upset, confused, and near tears. We were both soaking wet. I took her in my arms, enfolding her in my embrace, and lifted her head to kiss her. With a strength that caught me off guard, she kissed me back. We tumbled into the water. As it lapped over us, the coolness evaporated into smoke against our burning flesh. She tore at my zipper; her clothes were torn away by crashing waves.

I bolted upright just in time to feel the spasms rip through me. My throat hurt. Was I moaning? I rolled out of bed and attempted to clean up the first dream I’d had like that in ten years.