Nick stirred up from her sudden outburst. The sun was already peeking through the slits between the curtains. His head snapped up, eyes closed and he remained motionless for a few moments before his head rolled back. “This guy could totally sleep,’ she thought.

CJ frowned when she realized Nick had managed to divert her attention again. ‘Yea, like I need to worry whether she farts in his sleep when I’ve got to handle Jeremy’s mood swing,’ she retorted to herself. Jeremy had totally lost it. “Dear God, why did I do to deserve this? I went to church last Sunday and planning to go again this week….” she announced to nobody in particular, not realizing the pout that was forming on her mouth.

“Well, for starters, you did kidnap a certain good-looking singer and held him up hostage,” Nick put his input in. “I seriously think you should consider getting yourself a puppy. Talking to yourself is not healthy, you know.”

CJ groaned. She knew there was a statement in some freaking book stating how she should ignore that thick voice first thing in the morning. “Go back to sleep, dimwit. I’m trying to sort my thoughts here.”

Nick instantly cracked up. CJ was all but amused. He noticed the colour that was creeping up her cheeks. “For a professional kidnapper, you sure sound a hell lot like my kindergarten teacher. Trying to sort my thoughts. Girl, you’re a legend.”

‘I am not amused. I am not amused. Dammit.’ CJ felt better because the only one seeing her twitch of a smile was only her cell screen. “I don’t know which facts scared me more. The fact that you managed to get an education at all or that you sound a hell lot like a kindergartener now yourself, despite of the age factor and all.”

“Haha,” Nick replied dryly before yawning out loud. “You underestimate me sometimes. No, make it all the time.”

CJ turned around to face her anarchy. “Well, if you didn’t make it so easy I would at least treat you like a middle-scholar.”

Nick grinned a pearly-white grin. “Can I have you as my teacher then?” At that point, CJ really wished she had gotten the right Backstreet. It was just her luck to obtain the loud-mouth and irritating one. To sigh was an understatement.

“Here’s today’s lesson. We’re driving out to town to deposit some money to my boyfriend. In the mean time, you’re going to deposit yours into my account,” she said. “Let’s see if you can ace this one.”

Nick raised an eyebrow. He knew that was coming, but he didn’t know it was coming that soon. He half-expected CJ to hold him hostage for a couple more days so that he could cook up a plan of escape. There was no way in the world he was going to pay the ransom money. “Wow, that’s fast. I thought I could probably enjoy another glorious day of being kidnapped.”

CJ stifled a groan and was tempted to pull the trigger. Nick gave a whole new meaning to the word ‘retard’. “Nick, let me rephrase,” she said, her voice wavering. “People do not like being kidnapped.” What? Did he miss watching ‘Ransom’ three years ago?

Nick shrugged. It was evident that CJ was getting aggravated. He was enjoying the agony on her face. “Well, Nick Carter is not like most people. Nick Carter likes being kidnapped,” he elaborated cheerfully with a silly grin plastered on his face.

“Yea, well, I supposed that Nick Carter is also retarded, huh?” CJ added sarcastically, failing to even attempt to hide her annoyance.

Nick pouted. It amused him that a breathing young woman would not take his crap for the first time. “Hey, that’s not very nice.”

“Yea and deal with it,” CJ answered briskly. She shrugged on her jacket before pulling Nick off the chair. “Come on, Blondie. It’s time to hit the road.”

“Friendship. Population 7,589. What kind of a town is friendship?” Nick asked, incredulous.

CJ tipped off her sunglasses and peered through the window. “It is corny,” she agreed. “But who cares? As long as the town has a bank and a diner, I don’t give a damn if the name of the town is Love, for the love of God.”

Nick’s eyes lit up. As if on cue, his stomach started growling, and CJ snickered. “I guess my tummy is a little bit demanding today,” he said sheepishly. He looked out the window and found a street lined up with stores. CJ cornered into a parking space and killed the engine.

“Look,” she started, drawing out the keys. “I’m going to tell you only once. I’m going to loose your handcuff so that you will appear normal. We will go together into the bank and God please, do not try to run away. I’m a pretty sharp shooter so figure out your fate before you try to make any stupid attempt. Is that clear?” CJ inquired, looking directly into Nick’s eyes. She wasn’t sure of what lies behind them, but she knew she could not afford failing this one mission.

Nick gulped. For the first time since the last 46 hours, the fact that he was kidnapped and at the gun’s point grinded itself into his head. He knew CJ was damn serious and sadly, he did not what to do. “I guess,” he whispered.

CJ dropped her gaze and stared at the carpeted floor of the CRV. It was clear that Nick had annoyed the hell out of her since the moment the crossed each other’s path, but the look he was giving her at the very moment was slowly reminding her of the time when her favorite retriever passed away when she was still a child. ‘Oh well. I’m getting a bit too soft-hearted these days.’

“To whom shall I write this to?”

CJ looked up, as Jeremy went poof into thin air. She bit her lip. Nick did not even squirm. “Uh, Chantal Julianne Parker. Double zero-sixteen-triple five-oh-six.”

“Oh-six…” Nick pronounced softly as the pen glided smoothly on the cheque. She stared at the six-digit number written boldly across the sheet. Jeremy would be ecstatic.

“There.” He dropped the pen and smiled. “That amount stinks, CJ. You know I worth more than that,” he said, tilting his head to the side. A lock of brown hair covered his eyes.

CJ shrugged. Jeremy demanded the exact value and she didn’t intend to add another zero to it. “You got a seventy-percent discount.” She raised an eyebrow toward the counter. “Don’t we have some unfinished business to attend to?”

They left the bank with an outrageous amount of US Dollar in her account. It could supply her with a lifetime stock of Kenny Roger’s but she was not even half-thrilled. Stealing was just not her style. ‘Better stick to killing and it will make you feel better,” she decided. ‘Yea, right.’ “Want to grab breakfast?”

Nick’s head snapped back from watching the shops that were lining down the street. “Are you kidding? Do you even have to ask?” He shot her a mock shocked expression seconds before bursting into laughter. “Feed me bacon fast, woman!”

CJ raised an eyebrow despite her grin. His antics were rubbing off on her. “Aren’t we a little hyper today,” she commented. After a few minutes of scouting around potential diners, she pulled by Secret Recipe and changed the gear to park. “I’m letting you pig out because you have been a good boy throughout the weekend. You’re cashing up your bonus points, Carter.”

Nick raised a hand to his mouth in a thoughtful look. “Do I really have to cash up my points now?” He shot her a beguiling doe-like expression. CJ was going to kick his ass.

CJ shrugged. “Depends. What? Do you need a catalog to pick up your prizes?” She smiled to the waiter who seated them. After laying down the menu, he disappeared to the back.

“I don’t need a catalog. I know exactly what I want for my hard-earned points,” Nick said, grinning idiotically her way. She could sense he was about to say something smart-assy. “I think those points entitled me as an eligible candidate for a kiss.”

She looked at Nick, feigning surprise. “I didn’t know you feel that way about the waiter, Carter.”

“Not the waiter, you moron! You!”