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planned to do it right, you know, with a husband and all. But I was getting older and the dates were getting fewer, so it was time for drastic measures. Making myself more attractive seemed like a necessity.”
    Eric leaned across the table, took her chin in his hand, and kissed her full on the mouth. Jenna’s heart stopped. She closed her eyes and everything disappeared but the feel of Eric’s lips on hers. He was so tender, yet so gloriously male. Where had he come from? When Jenna opened her eyes, Eric was looking at her with an expression bordering on reverence.
    “You’re the most attractive woman I’ve ever met.”
    The man was either a first-class bullshitter or certifiably nuts. Either way, she had to be careful, or she’d fall in love with him the next time he kissed her.
    “I have to go now.” Jenna grabbed her purse, ready to bolt. She had to get out of here. Eric was too intense, too good to be true. He had to be hiding a really major flaw, and she didn’t want to discover it after it was too late.
    “Why so soon?”
    “I run every Wednesday with a friend of mine. We’re training for the River Run.”
    “Oh, no.” Eric rolled his eyes in mock horror. “You’re one of those running fanatics this town breeds like rabbits. More than a hundred people showed up for the event last year!”
    “What’s wrong with that?”
    “You make the rest of us look bad.” Eric shook his head, laughing. “What is it with you people? I know exercise is supposed to be good for you, but thirteen miles? Why?”
    “It’s fun.”
    “Fun is winning seventy-five bucks in a poker game.”
    Jenna shrugged. “I like being in good shape, knowing I could hike thirty miles out of the woods or run fifteen miles if my life depended on it.”
    “Hey, don’t be offended. I’m jealous. I’ve always wanted to be athletic, but I don’t seem to have the motivation. I admire you more all the time.”
    She blushed and got to her feet. “Like I said, I have to go.”
    “When can I see you again?”
    “Good question. I work most weekend nights. Call me.”
    Jenna almost ran from the restaurant. She felt bad about leaving Eric hanging like that, but she wasn’t prepared for the way she felt. Or the way he felt, or claimed to feel. It was too much, happening too soon. She didn’t trust herself right now. The robbery had upset her more than she realized and she wasn’t herself yet. This was not a good week to start a serious relationship.
    Jenna unlocked her bike and peddled furiously toward home. The wind stung her face, making her eyes water. She missed him already.

Chapter 6
     
    Saturday, Oct. 28, 7:10 a.m.
    Jenna woke with a sense of dread. She’d been having bad dreams all week, but this one was the worst. A man with a gun had chased her into a dark tunnel, pushing her deeper and deeper into a maze until she was lost, trapped by sheer rock walls. Jenna forced herself to block out the lingering images and concentrate on the day ahead—the River Run, an event she’d been excited about for weeks. The thought failed to brighten her mood. She rolled over and looked out the window. Early dawn, dishwater gray sky. Depressed, she lay in bed until 8:30, getting up at the last minute to dress for the event.
    Jenna’s anxiety escalated as she made coffee. It would probably rain the whole thirteen miles. Or worse yet, one of her knees would go out and she’d be crippled, unable to run for weeks. She could picture hundreds of people hanging around the park: runners, spectators, street people, and who else? Jenna tried to shake it off. There wouldn’t be any armed men in the park, she told herself. Who would want to rob a bunch of skinny fanatics in neon spandex?
    Jenna stepped outside and retrieved the newspaper. Since the robbery, she’d had a tough time leaving the apartment. Martin Stoltz, Geronimo’s owner, had told her to take a few days off, but almost a week had passed and she still hadn’t been back to the restaurant.