Read Online Running for Cover by Shirlee McCoy - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Shirlee McCoy
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if this place has a back entrance?”
“Can’t say I do, but seems like it would be fire code.”
“I’ll give you a hundred bucks to drive a couple blocks away, then circle back here. Pull around to the back and wait for us there.”
“A hundred bucks plus my regular fare?” the driver asked, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.
“Sure.”
“It’s your nickel, then. Pay me for this trip up front, though. I don’t want to be stiffed.”
Jackson handed him a few crumbled bills and then got out and grabbed Morgan’s carry-on from the trunk.
She was out of the taxi and beside him before he got the trunk closed.
“You think they followed us, don’t you?” she asked, and he nodded.
“There’s a taxi a block up, idling near the curb. Don’t bother looking for it. We don’t want them to realize they’ve been spotted.”
“We’d better call the police.”
“We will, but I want to see if I can get a look at our guys first.”
“Just in case the police don’t get here before they leave?”
“Exactly.”
“Good plan. So let’s get it done,” she responded, marching toward the diner like a prisoner going to the gallows.
She wasn’t the delicate flower he’d teased her about earlier, but not quite the hardened cynic she’d probably like people to believe she was, either.
So who was she?
Jackson wasn’t sure, but he planned to find out. There was something about Morgan that appealed to him. Maybe it was her fierce independence, which was so different from the neediness of most of the women he’d dated. Or maybe it was the vulnerability he sensed beneath the surface. Maybe it was simply that he’d helped save her life and wanted to make sure she continued to survive.
Whatever the case, he planned to find out more about Morgan Alexandria.
But first, he needed to find out more about the men who had almost killed her.
SEVEN
M organ was sure she felt the weight of a hundred eyes following as she made her way to the entrance of the diner and pushed open the door. She wanted to turn around, study her surroundings and try to find the source of the uncomfortable feeling, but Jackson was right. If she looked, she’d be tempted to search for the taxi he’d spotted. The last thing she wanted was to give up the advantage she and Jackson had.
She stepped inside the dimly lit diner, Jackson just a few feet behind. She didn’t need to look to know he was there. Didn’t need to have him close to feel his presence. His scent had enveloped her on the flight to the Chicago airport, his spicy, masculine cologne filling her senses until she’d been tempted to get up and walk the length of the cabin just to get away from him.
Men.
Who needed them?
She didn’t. That’s for sure.
She’d sworn off them the night she’d unpacked Cody’s suitcase and found another woman’s lingerie. He’d had an excuse, of course. He always did. A mix-up with the hotel laundry, he’d said, and had even called to complain. The problem was, for the first time in their marriage Morgan hadn’t been able to believe the lie.
“Table for two?” a cheerful waitress asked, interrupting Morgan’s unhappy thoughts.
“Can we get one near a front window?” Jackson responded with a smile that would have made Morgan’s heart melt if it hadn’t been icy cold and carved from the reality of Cody’s infidelity.
“Whatever you want.” The waitress offered a smile of her own and a quick wink aimed at Jackson before she led them to a booth with a view of the front parking lot and handed them each a menu.
As soon as she left, Morgan leaned close to the window, trying to see up the street. “Do you think they’re out there?”
“I think we’re going to find out soon, so how about we decide what we want to eat before they show up.”
“Eat? How can you possibly be thinking of food at a time like this?”
“Easily. I haven’t eaten since breakfast, and I’m hungry. I’m going to have a turkey club. I’ll order
“Can’t say I do, but seems like it would be fire code.”
“I’ll give you a hundred bucks to drive a couple blocks away, then circle back here. Pull around to the back and wait for us there.”
“A hundred bucks plus my regular fare?” the driver asked, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.
“Sure.”
“It’s your nickel, then. Pay me for this trip up front, though. I don’t want to be stiffed.”
Jackson handed him a few crumbled bills and then got out and grabbed Morgan’s carry-on from the trunk.
She was out of the taxi and beside him before he got the trunk closed.
“You think they followed us, don’t you?” she asked, and he nodded.
“There’s a taxi a block up, idling near the curb. Don’t bother looking for it. We don’t want them to realize they’ve been spotted.”
“We’d better call the police.”
“We will, but I want to see if I can get a look at our guys first.”
“Just in case the police don’t get here before they leave?”
“Exactly.”
“Good plan. So let’s get it done,” she responded, marching toward the diner like a prisoner going to the gallows.
She wasn’t the delicate flower he’d teased her about earlier, but not quite the hardened cynic she’d probably like people to believe she was, either.
So who was she?
Jackson wasn’t sure, but he planned to find out. There was something about Morgan that appealed to him. Maybe it was her fierce independence, which was so different from the neediness of most of the women he’d dated. Or maybe it was the vulnerability he sensed beneath the surface. Maybe it was simply that he’d helped save her life and wanted to make sure she continued to survive.
Whatever the case, he planned to find out more about Morgan Alexandria.
But first, he needed to find out more about the men who had almost killed her.
SEVEN
M organ was sure she felt the weight of a hundred eyes following as she made her way to the entrance of the diner and pushed open the door. She wanted to turn around, study her surroundings and try to find the source of the uncomfortable feeling, but Jackson was right. If she looked, she’d be tempted to search for the taxi he’d spotted. The last thing she wanted was to give up the advantage she and Jackson had.
She stepped inside the dimly lit diner, Jackson just a few feet behind. She didn’t need to look to know he was there. Didn’t need to have him close to feel his presence. His scent had enveloped her on the flight to the Chicago airport, his spicy, masculine cologne filling her senses until she’d been tempted to get up and walk the length of the cabin just to get away from him.
Men.
Who needed them?
She didn’t. That’s for sure.
She’d sworn off them the night she’d unpacked Cody’s suitcase and found another woman’s lingerie. He’d had an excuse, of course. He always did. A mix-up with the hotel laundry, he’d said, and had even called to complain. The problem was, for the first time in their marriage Morgan hadn’t been able to believe the lie.
“Table for two?” a cheerful waitress asked, interrupting Morgan’s unhappy thoughts.
“Can we get one near a front window?” Jackson responded with a smile that would have made Morgan’s heart melt if it hadn’t been icy cold and carved from the reality of Cody’s infidelity.
“Whatever you want.” The waitress offered a smile of her own and a quick wink aimed at Jackson before she led them to a booth with a view of the front parking lot and handed them each a menu.
As soon as she left, Morgan leaned close to the window, trying to see up the street. “Do you think they’re out there?”
“I think we’re going to find out soon, so how about we decide what we want to eat before they show up.”
“Eat? How can you possibly be thinking of food at a time like this?”
“Easily. I haven’t eaten since breakfast, and I’m hungry. I’m going to have a turkey club. I’ll order
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