Unexpected Encounter (Singleton) Read Free Page B

seeing you soon.
     
    It was followed by an address and the code for his gate.
    “The man must be crazy to give me this information when he doesn’t even know me.” Lila stuffed the note in her jacket pocket.
    She wasn’t going to use it. Lila had no plans to see Driscoll beyond any times they met through people they knew. With that in mind, she left the hospital. As she exited, she briefly thought of Spencer wanting to speak with her. She decided she’d catch up with him on another day. Lila called for a cab and while she waited, she tried to push away thoughts of Driscoll.
     
    * * * *
     
    Lila stopped in front of the gate and sighed. “Why the hell am I even here?”
    She reached out of her window to enter the security code, but the gate swung open before she could.
    “Aggravating man.” Lila drove up the lane to the sprawling, two-story ranch style house that was very similar to the exterior of Regina and Spencer’s home.
    She glanced at the grounds, taken in by the beauty of the flowers, paths and surrounding area. She parked near the house then exited her vehicle and went up the steps. Lila crossed the porch, glancing left then right, where each side had what looked to be comfortable seating. The porch seemed to go all the way around the side of house. Focusing on the door, she scowled when she saw it was partially open.
    “Yep, he is really aggravating.” Lila pushed open the door and went in. “Driscoll, where are you?”
    “Ahh…is that the familiar bellowing I hear from Lila?” Driscoll came into view from the left. “It’s wonderful to see you.”
    “You really shouldn’t let just anyone inside your house. For all you know, I could be a stalker or something.” Lila slid her hands into her pockets of her slacks. She hadn’t planned to come here, yet here she was. For the last two days, all she’d been thinking about was him and the cat, wondering if they were okay.
    “So were you stalking me? Is that why you were on that road to save me?” Driscoll’s amusement was plain.
    “Of course I wasn’t stalking you. Hell, I knew you lived in town but not exactly where you live. From what I hear, you have a few houses around town as decoys for people who try to find where you live.” Lila scowled. “But that is beside the point, you don’t know me. I could be someone who wants to tie you up and kidnap you to keep you as mine. Have you never seen Misery ?”
    “The movie? I’ve seen it.” Driscoll shrugged. “From how Spencer spoke about you, I knew you would be trustworthy. Also, if you really wanted to tie me up and kidnap me to keep me, you could have done that when you helped me. No one would have known since the accident wasn’t witnessed by anyone.” Driscoll lifted an eyebrow. “Do you usually have fantasies of kidnapping and tying people up? If you do, please share and be very graphic.”
    Lila resisted the urge to laugh. Instead, she sighed. “Speaking to you is like trying to get through a maze.”
    “So I’ve been told. I have a T-shirt about what I think of mazes. I’ll show it to you sometime.”
    “Unless it is another time we meet on a social occasion with others, I won’t be back to see it. I’m here to see if you and the kitten are okay.”
    “Another beautiful hair comb.”
    Lila touched the comb. “I like hair combs. Have a lot of them I’ve collected over the years. I wear them almost daily, since I have them to suit all occasions. You seem to have a thing about my combs.”
    “Not really a thing about your hair combs, just an observation. Like how you are very blunt and honest.” Driscoll leaned against the side of the doorway where he stood. “I love that. Close the door before Vere escapes.”
    She glanced down and quickly bent to catch the kitten. She rose and closed the door before facing him again, petting the cat. “Vere. What kind of name it that?”
    “Short for Guinevere.” Driscoll smiled. “Figured since we found her together and you have a