Read Online Shadows of the Past (Logan Point Book #1): A Novel by Patricia Bradley - Free Book Online Page A

Taylor and his brother was the bracelet charged to Scott’s credit card, and even that could be questioned. No one could identify Scott as the buyer since it was a phone order. Besides, if he was stalking her, he wouldn’t be stupid enough to put the gift on his credit card. More and more, Nick was certain someone had stolen Scott’s credit card or even bought the card in his name and was using it to frame his brother.
    Except . . . there was the Memphis zip code on the envelope . . .and the poem. He should have told Thornton it came from one of his short stories. No. If Nick told anyone, it’d be Taylor. Right after he found Scott and got some answers from his brother.
    “Pardon me, but is this 3-B, young man?”
    Nick turned toward the aisle. The soft voice matched its owner. Azure eyes peered from a face etched with years of living and were just a shade darker than her blue-rinsed hair. A faint memory of his grandmother stirred. He glanced at the boarding pass in her hand.
    “Yes, ma’am, that’s your seat,” he said.
    “Wonderful.” She plopped in the seat beside him. “I’ve been worried silly about who I’d be seated next to, but I can tell by looking at you, I can quit worrying.”
    Nick saw his nap disappearing. Still, he smiled at her.
    “Do you fly often?” he asked as she settled in.
    “First time ever. Going to see my miracle grandson in Memphis. Laurie was thirty-nine when she learned she was expecting.”
    “Congratulations.” Nick wasn’t sure if the pride in her voice reflected the new grandson or courage in flying. Probably a little of both.
    “I wasn’t sure I’d make the gate on time.” She clapped her hands together. “Just wait until I tell my daughter TSA wanded and patted me down because of my new hip. There I was, honey, passing through that metal detector gate and it starts beeping like crazy. Laurie will roll on the floor laughing.”
    He chuckled at the image of this petite granny being searched. He bet it was one time TSA wished they’d accepted the hip explanation. “I’m glad you passed.”
    A commotion at the boarding door turned both their heads. Nick gaped as Taylor wrestled her luggage through the opening.
    “Thank goodness, I made it,” Taylor said to the flight attendant.
    He tried to catch her eye as she came toward him, but she had her gaze glued to the row of seats on the right aisle.
    He couldn’t believe it. She hadn’t mentioned flying to Memphis yesterday. Had she really hopped a plane just to track down his brother?
    He had to talk to her, convince her to work with him insteadof against him. In your dreams, buddy, not after yesterday. Nick winced at the voice of his conscience. He shouldn’t have lost his temper. But Taylor Martin was so . . . inflexible. Maybe if he took a different approach—charming instead of rude. A wild idea sprouted and took root.
    As soon as the “fasten seat belt” sign flashed off, Nick unbuckled and grabbed his computer. He walked toward the middle of the plane where Taylor sat in a window seat, rubbing her left shoulder. In the aisle seat, a twentyish mother nestled a baby against her chest, her eyes glued to a paperback. Desire in the Wind.
    “Excuse me,” he said.
    The mother looked up from the book, and Nick’s mind went blank. He scrambled for the right words. “Um, would you consider changing places with me for the flight? I’m in first class . . .” He ignored the astonished expression on Taylor’s face. “But I’d like to sit with my friend.”
    “First class? Are you kidding?” Surprise crossed the young mother’s face and quickly morphed into a yes.
    Taylor gaped at him. She started to shake her head. The girl looked from Nick to Taylor and back to Nick. Her mouth dropped open. “Oh, I know what happened. I bet you two had an argument.” She beamed at Nick. “And you want to apologize and make up.”
    Taylor’s eyes widened. “No, I promise—”
    “It’s not like that at all,”