gotten the hint until he took a right at the exit instead of a left. Her heart started to beat a little faster. “Where are you going?”
“I want to show you something.” He flashed glistening, even white teeth at her. “Can’t I show you a good time before you turn in?”
Her reflection in the side mirror had tight, pursed lips, and a worry line between her eyebrows. A black truck followed close behind them, casting a reflected glow on the lower half of her face. What could Oscar possibly have in mind next? A tour of his financial advisor’s office to discuss how well his stocks were doing? A visit to the company jet?
She sat quietly as Oscar took her on a meandering route through the city toward the wealthy neighborhood in the hills. The car, to its credit, purred under her and made the journey smooth, despite her boss’s reckless habit of taking fast turns without his blinkers and distaste for going the speed limit.
Ahh, yes. The “impress my date with mortal peril” tactic. Brilliant.
“I do really need to get home,” she said.
“What, do you have a curfew?” Oscar turned into a gated community, pausing only to key a code into the security panel.
“I have to be at work early to get a head start on that project you assigned me.”
“I’m the director. An ‘okay’ from me is better than a note from your doctor.” Oscar winked. “You don’t have to show up at all tomorrow.”
Jenn frowned at the buildings they passed.
“Where are we going?”
“My house.”
She made herself speak in a measured tone. “Oscar. Take me home.”
“Soon.” He pulled up in front of a house with a small, well-tended yard and a circular driveway.
“No. You need to take me home now , or I’m going to get out and call a cab.”
“Don’t be so boring,” he said, stopping the car. His hand slipped up her thigh.
White noise rushed through Jenn’s ears. The dashboard leapt into sharp focus as he shoved her back against the door, pressing his bodyweight against hers. The kiss was fast and sloppy and made her stomach churn.
“Stop it!”
But he didn’t listen, and Jenn was suddenly very sick of it.
She was sick of going through the motions at a meaningless job. She was sick of putting up with sexual harassment. She was sick of pining for Ryan Stone. She was sick of waiting for life to happen to her, instead of going out and finding it herself.
Jenn MacLennan was a superhero, and she wasn’t going to put up with this shit anymore.
She grabbed his hand. Twisted. Something cracked.
Oscar made a sound of shock and tried to get away from her, but she buried her nails in his skin and caught his eye. “Nobody touches me without my consent.”
“What the fuck ?”
“Don’t touch me,” she repeated, releasing his wrist.
“I can have your job!” he growled, his fingertips digging into her arm. “I can put you on the fucking streets , you little—”
“I don’t give a shit,” Jenn spat, twisting in his grip to free herself. “Consider this my letter of resignation!”
Her knuckles connected with his nose, which gave a satisfying crack. Oscar howled. “My nose!” The words bubbled through the blood dribbling down his upper lip and chin.
His blood-slicked hands groped blindly for Jenn, but before she could hit him again, the driver’s side door opened. Oscar’s legs jerked out behind him. He disappeared into the night.
“What the…?”
Jenn’s door opened as well. She had been leaning against it to get as far from him as possible, and she nearly fell out.
She shrieked as strong hands clamped down on her arm and dragged her from the car. Jenn kicked and struggled, and felt her elbow satisfyingly sink into her captor’s midsection. Hauling back to deliver a strong right hook, her fist was caught and held tight.
“Let me go!” she ordered.
Jenn recognized the voice that responded.
“If you want.”
She froze, and her eyes traveled up from the hand on hers to the face of the owner.