Nick couldn't even articulate a word, and he was really grateful that Jack liked his coffee cold because Valeria had left him soaking wet.

“You're not going to say anything?” she asked him.

“Yes, I'm following you,” he muttered, looking straight ahead and tightening his grip on the steering wheel.

Valeria got angry. “And you say it like that? So coolly? Why are you following me like a ghost?”

Nick opened the door and got out of the car. He looked around and then cornered her against the car.

“Would you prefer that I talked to you?”

Valeria pressed her lips together in a thin line.

“I'd rather you didn't touch me, please,” she hissed, and Nick realized he had briefly held her by the hips.

He broke away as he heard her breathing heavily and looking down at the floor.

“I don't know why I'm following you, OK? I don't want to let you out of my sight, I don't want—” he swallowed dryly and covered his face with a hand. “I don't want things to happen that I know I won't be able to sto