Shoot Out (The Baltimore Banners Book 7) by Lisa B. Kamps Read Free Book Online

traffic either stop or go around him. More horns blared, the sound harsh even through the closed windows. Mat could see the silhouette of the driver leaning across the seat, knew without really hearing that he was shouting something to the group of people walking along the sidewalk. The car pulled ahead another few feet, almost getting hit by a truck that was trying to pass.
    Why didn't the idiot just keep going instead of blocking traffic? Or move up ahead where there were no cars parked along the curb?
    A horn blared behind him and Mat looked up, saw that the light was now green. He absently waved and pulled out, trying to make the right turn. But the other car was still sitting there, still blocking traffic. Mat inched a little closer, his gaze darting to the side mirror to look for a break in traffic so he could go around. He started to move then hit the brakes as another car zoomed around him.
    "Damn. Really dude?" He blew out a deep breath and clenched his jaw. Yeah, this was no more than what he deserved. If he had gone out with Kenny and Derek, he wouldn't be stuck in this mess.
    If he had just stayed home, he wouldn't be stuck in this mess.
    But no, he had to go acting like some crazed lovesick fool and try tracking down a woman he didn't even know. Idiot. Nicole obviously didn't want to stay in contact—she would have left a phone number or a note or something. It had been a month already since that night in New Orleans. Kenny was right, he just needed to let it go.
    And yeah, he really did need to let it go because he could swear that woman standing near the curb looked exactly like Nicole. Mat squeezed his eyes shut then opened them, glancing at the traffic to his left then back at the woman by the curb. It wasn't her, he knew that. But he wanted to look again, just in case.
    Just as he thought, it wasn't Nicole.
    Except it was.
    He slammed on the brakes and leaned forward, squinting to make sure he wasn't seeing things.
    No, it was definitely Nicole. She looked different, dressed in skin-hugging ripped denim capris and some kind of flowing shirt. Her hair was pulled back in a loose ponytail and a frayed backpack was slung over her left shoulder. He couldn't see her eyes because they were hidden behind large sunglasses. But he could see her frown. Not just a frown—she looked angry. And maybe even a little frightened as she shook her head and stepped away from the curb.
    Mat still had his windows up and couldn't hear, but he was pretty sure the idiot in the car in front of him—the one that was blocking traffic—was shouting something to her. She shook her head and moved away, walking up the sidewalk. The car followed her, moving slow enough to keep up, slow enough to still make a mess of the traffic.
    Mat clenched his jaw and moved forward, no longer caring about the other cars. His focus was completely on Nicole and the car following her. Was somebody giving her a hard time? Yeah, from the look on her face—a frown changing to worry—somebody was. Who the hell was it?
    Did it matter?
    No, it didn't.
    Mat glanced to his left then gunned the engine, pulling out into traffic. Horns blared and tires squealed as cars hit their brakes but he didn't care. He pulled forward, darting in front of the car that was following Nicole, and hit the brakes one more time. He opened the door and put one foot on the ground, partially stepping out of the car.
    "Nicole!"
    She paused, confusion marring what he could see of her face as she looked toward him. She shook her head then kept walking, her steps faster now. The car behind him, the one following her, moved forward again. Mat scowled, wondering if the idiot was going to keep going or if he was going to stop before hitting Mat's car.
    The car lurched and the driver leaned on the horn. Mat couldn't really see who was driving, not with the late sun reflecting off the dirty windshield. But he didn't care. He turned back to Nicole and pulled off his sunglasses, hoping she might