before she thought to cry out , he was tossing her in his car and then they were driving down the pavement . but she 'd be gone before i got out of there . go eat now and leave me be . '' protecting her from the falling branch , his heart beating wildly against her back , even harder than hers because he 'd been so afraid of something happening to her . heavens , was that really all it had been since he 'd met her for the first time ? 