Page 69 of Hooking the Captain

“Should I get naked?”

“How about you just keep talking to me, okay?” I hailed a cab.

“What do you want to talk about?”

“Anything.” I swung open the door and blurted Ford’s address to the driver.

“I had a date tonight.”

I drew my head back slightly, not expecting him to tell me that. Not because I was surprised he was dating, but shocked he felt comfortable telling me. “Oh, yeah?”

“But there won’t be a second date. I ran away after the run-in with Tim.”

My anxiety escalated as I impatiently tapped my foot while the taxi sped through the streets.

“But did you have fun before that?” It felt odd to ask him about his date, but I wanted to keep him talking.

“It was all right. I couldn’t keep my eyes off of you, though.”

I sucked in a breath. “Yeah? I wish I could have played better for you.”

“Next time,” he whispered.

“Ford. Stay with me.”

There was no response, and I feared he’d fallen asleep.

“Ford?”

The cab screeched to a halt in front of Ford’s building, and I practically threw money at the driver before rushing out the door.

“Ford?” I said again into the phone.

Nothing.

Taking the stairs two at a time, I raced to the apartment number he’d given me and beat on the door, my heart pounding in my chest.

There was still no response, so I tried the doorknob and it opened.

“Ford!” I called out.

My gaze landed on the couch, where Ford was sprawled out. The room seemed to close in around me as I rushed to his side. “Ford! Wake up!” I shook him gently, but he didn’t move.

Frantically, I pulled out my phone and dialed 911.

The end for now …