The saliva in her mouth dried up as she faced him, her stomach cramping. The area around her solar plexus ached, making breathing difficult, which she tried to hide. Anticipation ripped through her, tossing her into a fight-or-flight mode. She really wanted to flee.

He reminded her of a cougar that had gotten its leg stuck in a trap near the river one time, snarling and furious before the vet arrived to free him.

She cleared her throat. Once and again, searching for anger, but all she could find was bewildered concern. “I want to help,” she said.

“You will. For now, put on your damn seat belt.” He didn’t move.

She remained still. He’d just sworn, so she was getting some kind of reaction out of him. “How am I going to help?”

“We’ll discuss it on the way.”

Okay, so much for concern. Finally, her temper was shoving through the fear, and she let it have free rein. “Not a chance, buddy. You tell me right now what’s going on, or I’m getting out of this truck.” She didn’t have to stick around for this.

“You won’t make it.”

She wasn’t a violent person, but smacking him in the nose was starting to have appeal. “Since you’re trying to pretty much hide me, I’m guessing that Rock has a way to trace me? Or that he wants to?”

“I don’t want to put my hands on you, Dana, but I will. Secure your seat belt.”

“You already put your hands on me last night,” she retorted. “You want to go? Oh, we’ll go. Bring it on.”

He blinked. Finally. “What?”

Now he was paying attention and actually seeing her instead of going through the motions. She put both her hands up, fists ready. “You want to use hands and be all threatening, then you can bring it on. I may not draw first blood, but you’re gonna hurt.”

He shook his head like a dog splashed with water. “Have you lost your mind?”

Yes. One hundred percent she had freaking lost her mind. But at least he was talking to her now, and if she had to act like a lunatic to get through to him, then she would. “You obviously are spoiling for a fight, so let’s go, big man. Show me how tough you are.”

“You are about to get spanked.”

Okay. She had not expected that one. She drew back slightly. Well, all in or all out. “Maybe you’ll get spanked.” She launched herself at him, swinging one leg over him and landing to straddle him, her hands clamping on his face. The steering wheel dug into her back, so she shimmied even closer. Then she kissed him, full on the mouth, pressing as hard as she could.

He pulled her away by her ponytail. “What. Are. You. Doing?”