The Getaway, Part 1

Recently, I wrote a flash fiction romance piece, hoping to be included in a magazine that specializes in flash fiction. Due to e-mail malfunctions, my submission did not make it to the editor on time. One of the other editors had already read my story and asked if she could publish it on their Lightning Blog. I agreed, and it posted a couple of weeks ago.

Since I doubt many of you are familiar with Splickety, I thought for this month’s post I’d include the story here. And just for IR readers, I plan to continue it next month, and maybe the month after that, we’ll just have to see where it goes. Enjoy.

The Getaway

Peter broke into the thief’s safe and grabbed his mother’s stolen jewelry, tucking it in his bag. A humming sound came from behind him. He glanced over his shoulder. A cute, twenty-something maid entered.

He pushed the painting over the open safe and ducked behind the desk. The humming turned into a soft song.

She rounded the desk, and he couldn’t hide any longer. With a quick movement borne of desperation, he stood, pulled her close with one arm, and covered her mouth with his hand, snagging her earbud cord with one finger. “Shh.”

Her eyes widened revealing the clearest, most vibrant green he’d ever seen.

Shadows appeared just outside the door. His mind scrambled for a way of escape. He looked up. A gaudy chandelier illuminated the room. “I’m going to kiss you. Your life depends on your positive response.”

Her eyes widened even farther.

He removed his hand and pressed his lips to hers. Peppermint—his favorite. She stiffened beneath his hold, but then she relaxed and returned his kiss. With his now free hand, he retrieved his gun from its holster.

The embrace had to last long enough for the guards to wonder at their intimacy. Distracted as he was, his body still responded as hers melted into him.

Just a few more seconds. Now. He shot toward the chandelier’s base. It fell, darkening the room. Grabbing her hand, he sprinted out the open French doors and dashed toward the tree cover. “Keep up. They think you’re with me now.”

The truth of his words must have hit her because she picked up speed. “Where are we going?” She panted between words.

No sense responding. Around the corner at his car, he shoved her in the passenger seat. Shots rang out behind them. Revving the engine, he slammed the car into drive and rocks spewed as his tires fought for traction. More shots. “Get down.”

She crouched in her seat, half on the floor. “What did you get me into?” Tears filled her voice.

~~~~~

Jada pressed her face to the car’s cushioned seat. Shots continued to ping off the car. When the back window shattered, it took all she had not to scream.

“Why did you involve me in this?”

His eyes went to the rearview mirror and then back to the road. “Once you walked into the room, you were involved. If I had left you, they would have accused you of breaking into the safe.”

“You broke into the safe?” She swallowed the bile rising in her throat. Her employer was a powerful, heartless woman. Everything Jada had worked for shattered like the window.

“I only took what belonged to me,” he said.

“But you just ruined my life.” She screamed. “What am I going to do now? I’ve lived and worked there since I was thirteen. I don’t have anywhere else to go.”

“I guess I just saved you then. I’m Peter. What’s your name?”

She sighed. “Jada. What now?”

“First, I have to lose the tail.” His knuckles whitened on the steering wheel. “Hold on.”

Several heart-stopping minutes later, he slammed on the brakes. “Let’s go.”

Once out of the car, he pulled her toward a small, but fast-looking boat. “Get in.”

She did. Something about him drew her, made her want to trust him. Maybe the kiss. Her first. But not his. Not the way he’d moved his lips over hers.

He pulled away from the dock without turning on the boat’s lights. Hugging herself to fend off the chill, she remained quiet as he drove silently into the open water. Once they were a safe distance from the shoreline, he flipped on the lights and picked up speed.

“There’s a blanket under the bench seat. Get it and come up here. It’s not quite as cold.” He spoke without looking at her.

When she’d grabbed the blanket, she joined him. He wrapped it around her shoulders then pulled her close to his chest. His warmth penetrated her front, while the blanket warmed her back. She looked up at him. His eyes widened before dropping closed as he lowered his lips to hers.

At least this time, she knew he wanted to kiss her.

---

I hope you enjoyed this taste of my writing. For more of this story, keep reading InspyRomance. :) For more of my writing, check out my books page on my website.

My recent release, Broken Valentine, is only $0.99 at Amazon.

Blessings,