you notice that I didn’t say I wanted to go to a store? I said I needed to go.”
Ah. One of those days. The image of the demure little maiden was fading fast. “Did you notice that I said no?”
“I need to see people, Munroe.”
“You already played the ‘I never ask for anything’ card, Carly. No.”
She leaned over the counter, her voice pleading. “Look. It’s almost sunny outside. Human beings require an occasional dose of the shiny stuff for their health, y’know.”
“Yes. I know. No.”
“Oh, c’mon. Women need certain necessities that men don’t. Like a flaming red bottle of nail polish with built-in microhardening shimmer.”
“Your fingernails are hard enough. Unless you’re planning to take up eye gouging. No.”
“I haven’t tasted chocolate in nearly two weeks!”
“No.”
“Please?”
“No.” He hated feeling like the evil caretaker, and it was hard as hell to deny her anything. But, technically, he was in charge here. His word was law. End of story.
“Munroe—”
“Get over it, Carly. You’re not leaving the premises.”
She drifted casually into the common room to join him, eyes bright and challenging. “Okay, then. You can go buy tampons for me.”
Parker gagged on his coffee and lurched to his feet as if called to attention. “Get dressed. I’ll have the car out front.”
Carly practically bounced for joy in the Jeep, silently swearing to make it up to Parker. She’d become an expert at this witness protection routine. Head in the clouds or not, there was no way she’d allow herself to run low on tampons. But she knew the big guy would rather face all the minions of hell than walk up to a cashier toting that little pink box.
It was a tiny lie. She simply had to get out. Between the demanding calls to dream and Parker keeping her cooped up, she was going stark raving mad.
And it would do him good to move outside four walls too. Stretch those hard-muscled limbs, maybe even crack a smile or two. At least it was the reason she used to justify her lie. And she really would make it up to him. Sometime.
The sunshine was haphazard at best, a milky sky with an accidental patch of blue peeking through here and there, but it didn’t matter. She was enveloped in her thick parka, heavy sweater and winter cap, yet she sat expectantly on the edge of the seat, as if her cruise ship had just set sail for the tropics. Fifteen miles to the nearest town. Fifteen miles of freedom. Even Munroe couldn’t dampen her excitement.
“You know the routine,” he droned. “Belvyn is a small town. They notice strangers. Look passive. Stop that sparkling thing you do. Don’t attract attention, don’t meet anyone’s eyes. If somebody seems suspicious, you let me know. We get what we need and get out. I’ve got the charge.”
Yes. The government-issued charge card with the fifty-thousand-dollar cash limit, that automatically stayed at fifty-thousand dollars, no matter what they bought. The one she could shop with forever and a day. Their people were right to give it to him, not her. “And can I get cookies, Daddy? And a dollhouse? And a pony? Huh, can I, can I?”
He pressed his lips into a firm line, despite the gleam in his eye. “You’d probably enjoy a spanking, wouldn’t you?”
Carly laughed, loosened her seat belt and slipped into her favorite pseudo-movie-star sunglasses. And, for the remaining five miles, she cranked the radio up loud, provocatively bumping and grinding in the seat until he too had to laugh.
She could see the hunger in those flinty eyes. Good. He enjoyed watching her move. Let him imagine what it’d be like to have his hands on her ass. Let him dream for a change.
Belvyn, Ohio, was a tiny Norman Rockwell painting come to life.
Parker had been to the town only once before. It was as simple and pretty as he remembered. Tiny shops in immaculate rows still bore the vivid sparkle of Christmas ornaments alongside the pastel fluff of Easter.
Ah. One of those days. The image of the demure little maiden was fading fast. “Did you notice that I said no?”
“I need to see people, Munroe.”
“You already played the ‘I never ask for anything’ card, Carly. No.”
She leaned over the counter, her voice pleading. “Look. It’s almost sunny outside. Human beings require an occasional dose of the shiny stuff for their health, y’know.”
“Yes. I know. No.”
“Oh, c’mon. Women need certain necessities that men don’t. Like a flaming red bottle of nail polish with built-in microhardening shimmer.”
“Your fingernails are hard enough. Unless you’re planning to take up eye gouging. No.”
“I haven’t tasted chocolate in nearly two weeks!”
“No.”
“Please?”
“No.” He hated feeling like the evil caretaker, and it was hard as hell to deny her anything. But, technically, he was in charge here. His word was law. End of story.
“Munroe—”
“Get over it, Carly. You’re not leaving the premises.”
She drifted casually into the common room to join him, eyes bright and challenging. “Okay, then. You can go buy tampons for me.”
Parker gagged on his coffee and lurched to his feet as if called to attention. “Get dressed. I’ll have the car out front.”
Carly practically bounced for joy in the Jeep, silently swearing to make it up to Parker. She’d become an expert at this witness protection routine. Head in the clouds or not, there was no way she’d allow herself to run low on tampons. But she knew the big guy would rather face all the minions of hell than walk up to a cashier toting that little pink box.
It was a tiny lie. She simply had to get out. Between the demanding calls to dream and Parker keeping her cooped up, she was going stark raving mad.
And it would do him good to move outside four walls too. Stretch those hard-muscled limbs, maybe even crack a smile or two. At least it was the reason she used to justify her lie. And she really would make it up to him. Sometime.
The sunshine was haphazard at best, a milky sky with an accidental patch of blue peeking through here and there, but it didn’t matter. She was enveloped in her thick parka, heavy sweater and winter cap, yet she sat expectantly on the edge of the seat, as if her cruise ship had just set sail for the tropics. Fifteen miles to the nearest town. Fifteen miles of freedom. Even Munroe couldn’t dampen her excitement.
“You know the routine,” he droned. “Belvyn is a small town. They notice strangers. Look passive. Stop that sparkling thing you do. Don’t attract attention, don’t meet anyone’s eyes. If somebody seems suspicious, you let me know. We get what we need and get out. I’ve got the charge.”
Yes. The government-issued charge card with the fifty-thousand-dollar cash limit, that automatically stayed at fifty-thousand dollars, no matter what they bought. The one she could shop with forever and a day. Their people were right to give it to him, not her. “And can I get cookies, Daddy? And a dollhouse? And a pony? Huh, can I, can I?”
He pressed his lips into a firm line, despite the gleam in his eye. “You’d probably enjoy a spanking, wouldn’t you?”
Carly laughed, loosened her seat belt and slipped into her favorite pseudo-movie-star sunglasses. And, for the remaining five miles, she cranked the radio up loud, provocatively bumping and grinding in the seat until he too had to laugh.
She could see the hunger in those flinty eyes. Good. He enjoyed watching her move. Let him imagine what it’d be like to have his hands on her ass. Let him dream for a change.
Belvyn, Ohio, was a tiny Norman Rockwell painting come to life.
Parker had been to the town only once before. It was as simple and pretty as he remembered. Tiny shops in immaculate rows still bore the vivid sparkle of Christmas ornaments alongside the pastel fluff of Easter.
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