buddies planted a GPS device in the hem of his shirt. That way we could track him. When the GPS signal is flashing on a computer monitor, it means he’s on the go. Eddie, my friend back in Boston, he was keeping an eye on him, saw Rowter was moving quickly and alerted me.”
“Oh.” My father would do the same thing. Hastily, before she killed the momentary joy she’d found in his virile company, she shoved the thought aside. Today, they’d celebrate and quite probably end up in bed again. His lips were so soft and tasted of golden sunshine and mint. When he groaned from deep within his throat, her thighs strained against his, pressuring, urging, wanting more of him.
His cell phone began to ring softly, a harsh sound interrupting the kiss, pushing them apart as he said, “Sorry. I’d better get this.” His expression held a world of regret, but within seconds he was all business, listening intently to the caller.
Roxie’s arms fell to her sides and she moved away to give him some privacy. The kiss they had shared had been exhilarating and left her body on fire for more of his touch. It was a promise of things to come…so why did she feel uneasiness weave through her?
Waiting for Charlie, she strolled to a wooden slat bench outside the bakery, surprised that he trailed behind her. His eyes darted every which way and the nonchalance with which he’d kissed her was gone. Even before he terminated the call she sensed that something was very wrong. Her breath hitched in her throat. She clenched her fists into tight balls, ready for anything.
Charlie’s lips set in a grimace. He glanced away before his gaze returned to her face. “I don’t know how he did it,” he said slowly, each word spoken with precision. “Rowter escaped.”
“No!” was all Roxie managed. The big man had escaped even though he’d been screaming in pain when Charlie and she had left the diner?
“That means that you have no choice but to come with me. Eddie knows of several safe houses where he believes Rowter won’t find you.”
That meant being on the run again. Roxie pulled herself together. “I refuse to hide. I’m going back to work until this blows over.” What other option did she have? She rose and turned in the direction of the diner. That is if Gerry wants me back. I’m clearly a danger to his employees.
Charlie raked a hand through his hair. “You can’t do that, Roxie. That’s the first place he’ll look.” He moistened his lower lip. “I’m not giving you any choice.”
“You sound just like my father. He gives orders and I march,” she blurted out wildly. No way she would let Charlie or her father determine how she lived her life. She could handle herself. Hadn’t she done a good job so far?
Charlie’s shoulders straightened into rigid lines. “This isn’t open for discussion, Roxie. I promise your father won’t find out where you are.” He stepped forward, all strength and virility. “One thing I don’t want is to send you back to him in a body bag because you were too stubborn to accept help.”
“I’m not afraid of anything,” Roxie protested. Except losing the freedom to choose.
A nondescript sedan slid to a smooth stop at the curb. “Do yourself a favor, Roxie.” Charlie’s smooth tone brooked no dissent, and he reached out and lightly grasped her forearm. “Stay alive. If you’re dead, you’re not free.”
Before she could resist, he had opened the car’s back door and pushed her inside. He did have a point. Death would rob her of freedom. Reluctantly, she slid across the seat to make room for Charlie. His door had barely closed with a sharp snap before the driver stepped on the gas and raced away from the diner.
Charlie noted that Roxie hadn’t fully slid across the seat. Their thighs were in hot contact with each other through his jeans and her dress, which left his body raging for more of her. However, he had to handle her carefully, since he didn’t know her full
“Oh.” My father would do the same thing. Hastily, before she killed the momentary joy she’d found in his virile company, she shoved the thought aside. Today, they’d celebrate and quite probably end up in bed again. His lips were so soft and tasted of golden sunshine and mint. When he groaned from deep within his throat, her thighs strained against his, pressuring, urging, wanting more of him.
His cell phone began to ring softly, a harsh sound interrupting the kiss, pushing them apart as he said, “Sorry. I’d better get this.” His expression held a world of regret, but within seconds he was all business, listening intently to the caller.
Roxie’s arms fell to her sides and she moved away to give him some privacy. The kiss they had shared had been exhilarating and left her body on fire for more of his touch. It was a promise of things to come…so why did she feel uneasiness weave through her?
Waiting for Charlie, she strolled to a wooden slat bench outside the bakery, surprised that he trailed behind her. His eyes darted every which way and the nonchalance with which he’d kissed her was gone. Even before he terminated the call she sensed that something was very wrong. Her breath hitched in her throat. She clenched her fists into tight balls, ready for anything.
Charlie’s lips set in a grimace. He glanced away before his gaze returned to her face. “I don’t know how he did it,” he said slowly, each word spoken with precision. “Rowter escaped.”
“No!” was all Roxie managed. The big man had escaped even though he’d been screaming in pain when Charlie and she had left the diner?
“That means that you have no choice but to come with me. Eddie knows of several safe houses where he believes Rowter won’t find you.”
That meant being on the run again. Roxie pulled herself together. “I refuse to hide. I’m going back to work until this blows over.” What other option did she have? She rose and turned in the direction of the diner. That is if Gerry wants me back. I’m clearly a danger to his employees.
Charlie raked a hand through his hair. “You can’t do that, Roxie. That’s the first place he’ll look.” He moistened his lower lip. “I’m not giving you any choice.”
“You sound just like my father. He gives orders and I march,” she blurted out wildly. No way she would let Charlie or her father determine how she lived her life. She could handle herself. Hadn’t she done a good job so far?
Charlie’s shoulders straightened into rigid lines. “This isn’t open for discussion, Roxie. I promise your father won’t find out where you are.” He stepped forward, all strength and virility. “One thing I don’t want is to send you back to him in a body bag because you were too stubborn to accept help.”
“I’m not afraid of anything,” Roxie protested. Except losing the freedom to choose.
A nondescript sedan slid to a smooth stop at the curb. “Do yourself a favor, Roxie.” Charlie’s smooth tone brooked no dissent, and he reached out and lightly grasped her forearm. “Stay alive. If you’re dead, you’re not free.”
Before she could resist, he had opened the car’s back door and pushed her inside. He did have a point. Death would rob her of freedom. Reluctantly, she slid across the seat to make room for Charlie. His door had barely closed with a sharp snap before the driver stepped on the gas and raced away from the diner.
Charlie noted that Roxie hadn’t fully slid across the seat. Their thighs were in hot contact with each other through his jeans and her dress, which left his body raging for more of her. However, he had to handle her carefully, since he didn’t know her full
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