“You have the most beautiful eyes.” He whispered.

Sarah felt an icy shiver up her spine. He was just consoling her, she told herself. But his kisses continued down her face and his strong body leaned a little heavier against her. He pulled her against him by the waist and his lips caressed hers.

She put her hand on his chest. “Coach?” But he didn’t even budge.

“Call me Rudy,” he said and kissed her on the side of the mouth.

“What are you doing?” She pushed him harder but was no match for him.

“It’s okay, Sarah. Don’t fight it. I felt the attraction all along.”

The heated craze in his eyes alarmed her. It was almost as if she were looking at a different person. The reality finally sunk in. “What are you talking about? You’re scaring me!”

His grip on her loosened for just a moment “C’mon, Sarah. We’re both adults. This has been building between us long enough.”

The panic she’d began to feel spiked and she used her foot to push him away. He stumbled back awkwardly but caught his balance and reached for her again. Sarah moved away. The sorrow she’d felt earlier was now replaced with anger and fear. She’d trusted him “How dare you?”

“You can drop the act now, Sarah,” he said coldly. “We both want this.”

“What? You’re crazy! I can’t believe you would even think that,” Sarah moved away from him cautiously but he never backed down.

“Crazy?” He grabbed her hand and thrust her to him. In an instant she was locked in his arms and she squirmed with all her strength to get away. “Don’t act stupid. Why else would you be up here with me?”

Sarah kneed him missing his groin by just an inch but it was enough to stun him, causing him to let her go. The second she was loose she bolted back toward the parking lot.

“Sarah, wait!”

Without looking back or the slightest hesitation, Sarah was in the run of her life. She did what she did best and turned on the wheels. Her mind raced and the tears streamed down her face. How could she have been so stupid? Even with all the warnings she had put herself in this horrific situation. She thought of the few cars in the parking lot and prayed someone would be around when she got there. She still hadn’t seen a soul.

Halfway to the parking lot she realized the coach was still running after her. He was yelling something but her ear hummed with the wind, or maybe it was dread. Rain drops began to bounce off her face. The adrenaline thrashed through her body and she picked up the speed.

When she finally turned the corner and saw the parking lot her heart sank. Of the few cars that had been there when they arrived, only two were left. Her heart pounded as her eyes searched around for anyone. She heard a car’s engine and tried to make out what direction it was coming from.

The car sped around the corner up toward the direction she’d just come from.

“Hey!” She yelled waving her arms in the air. But the car was going too fast. It was out of sight and she dare not run back in that direction. She could barely catch her breath and didn’t think she could run anymore anyway. Her stomach bottomed out when she saw the coach turn the corner.

“Sarah, wait. I wanna apologize.”

He ran slowly and Sarah could see he was just as exhausted as she was. She looked around for anything she could use as a weapon. There was nothing and still no one in sight.

“Don’t come near me,” Sarah could barely get the words out she was breathing so hard.

But her words did nothing to deter him. He charged at her with that crazed heat still in his eyes.

CHAPTER 29

Angel skidded to a stop when he realized it was the coach he’d just seen running up the trail. But he was alone. Where was Sarah? He looked down the trail. Maybe she’d fallen behind. Would the idiot really leave her alone?

Eric and Romero had eagerly volunteered to help him find Sarah and where driving around the park as well. He texted Eric to let them know he’d found them and where.

Angel peered through his rearview mirror and saw the coach turn into the parking lot he’d just passed up. The rain was beginning to come down harder now. He put the car in reverse and backed up fast.

The tires screeched as he turned into the parking lot and saw Sarah talking to the perv next to his car. He was too close to her and her stance seemed defensive. Angel pulled up next to them, turned off the car and jumped out.

Sarah’s expression crumbled when she saw him and she hurried to him. His fist tightened and he was immediately between Sarah and the coach.

“What happened? What’s wrong?” He asked her.

Her frightened eyes enraged him. The coach answered for her. “It was just a misunderstanding.”

Angel turned away from Sarah’s tearful eyes very slowly. His pulse throbbed in his ear. He spoke as calmly as he could manage. “What was a misunderstanding?”

The coach seemed to take it in stride. “We were talking. You know, about you and the break up. She got a little emotional. I was just trying to comfort her.”

Angel’s jaw tightened. The word comfort had never sounded so obscene. He could hardly contain himself anymore. He looked at Sarah’s frightened eyes. “Is that what happened? Tell me the truth.”

Something in her eyes flickered when he said the word truth. Her trembling lips tore him apart.

She put her hands over her mouth then said it, “He attacked me.”

No sooner had she said the words than Angel was lunging at the coach. “You Son of a bitch!” He growled, landing a nose crushing punch to the face.