didn’t care what it looked like. More to the point, her stomach didn’t care either. She was famished and it was absolutely delicious. She held out her bowl. “More please.”
“Attagirl,” Metal said. He ladled another bowlful. “Here you go, honey.”
At the term, Felicity turned bright
bright
red. She had very fair skin and it telegraphed every single emotion she felt.
There was a reason she avoided people.
But crazily, no one commented on her sudden and totally embarassing stoplight-red face. Jacko and Metal were discussing something that had to do with vectors and lines of sight and Lauren was handing her a chunk of a yellowish cheese and another slice of bread. “Try this, it’s a local cheese. Tillamook, delicious.”
It was. The men were drinking a local beer but Metal had made tea for her and Lauren. The combination of hot soup, bread and cheese, and tea made her feel warm and sated.
“So, Felicity.” Jacko planted his elbows on the table, shoving away the bowl and plate, and clasped his big hands, looking down at them for a moment then lifting his head to stare at her. “How did you come to show up on Lauren’s doorstep sliced and bleeding?”
Lauren gasped and Metal growled. There was no other term for it. Instinctively, Felicity laid her hand on his forearm. “That’s okay. He has a right to ask.”
Metal glanced at her without moving his head. His jaw muscles tightened so much she wondered if he’d crack a tooth.
Jacko made a fist and banged it lightly on the table. “Damn right I do. I like you, Felicity, and I know Lauren cares for you and that goes a long way with me. But there’s no denying that you brought trouble to Lauren’s door. Metal and I are on it and we can keep you safe, but we need to know what we’re up against. And I need you to know that my first priority is Lauren’s safety.”
Lauren was practically quivering with outrage, but Felicity shook her head.
“I’m really glad Lauren has you on her side,” Felicity answered and she meant every word. It was a dangerous world out there and Lauren had had some dangerous men after her. Jacko had saved her life and clearly was in that life to stay. Lucky Lauren. “And I would love to answer you, but truly, I have no idea who that man was and why he was after me. I’d feel better if I did, believe me.”
“I do believe you. And I also know that Lauren is alive thanks to you, thanks to your help.” He unclasped his hands and pointed a thick finger at her. “I know you provided her with the fake ID that helped her disappear. So could it be someone you provided a new identity for who wants to eliminate you?”
Jacko had every right to interrogate her, to dig in to why someone was after her. Felicity didn’t begrudge him in any way. He was doing it because he wanted to keep Lauren safe. But the warmth that had been created by the food and eating in company was starting to dissipate. She felt a chill run through her and jumped when Metal took her hand, holding it openly. His hand was so strong and so very warm, it chased away the sudden chill.
“We need to do this, but take your time,” Metal rumbled. “No one is rushing you.”
She shrugged. “It feels so unreal. If I didn’t have a bandage and pain I’d think I dreamed it. No one knew I was coming to Portland, not even Lauren. It was sort of a last-minute decision. I’m self-employed and can work on the road. I don’t report in to anyone. And I lead a fairly secluded life anyway.”
“Why didn’t you let me know you were arriving?” Lauren asked. “I would have come to the airport to pick you up.”
Jacko’s dark eyes widened and Felicity could see the whites of his eyes. He was imagining Lauren with her when the man attacked her.
Felicity was really grateful she hadn’t called Lauren ahead of time. Lauren could have been there at the airport. If something had happened to her she’d never have forgiven herself. “I—I wasn’t sure of my welcome.
“Attagirl,” Metal said. He ladled another bowlful. “Here you go, honey.”
At the term, Felicity turned bright
bright
red. She had very fair skin and it telegraphed every single emotion she felt.
There was a reason she avoided people.
But crazily, no one commented on her sudden and totally embarassing stoplight-red face. Jacko and Metal were discussing something that had to do with vectors and lines of sight and Lauren was handing her a chunk of a yellowish cheese and another slice of bread. “Try this, it’s a local cheese. Tillamook, delicious.”
It was. The men were drinking a local beer but Metal had made tea for her and Lauren. The combination of hot soup, bread and cheese, and tea made her feel warm and sated.
“So, Felicity.” Jacko planted his elbows on the table, shoving away the bowl and plate, and clasped his big hands, looking down at them for a moment then lifting his head to stare at her. “How did you come to show up on Lauren’s doorstep sliced and bleeding?”
Lauren gasped and Metal growled. There was no other term for it. Instinctively, Felicity laid her hand on his forearm. “That’s okay. He has a right to ask.”
Metal glanced at her without moving his head. His jaw muscles tightened so much she wondered if he’d crack a tooth.
Jacko made a fist and banged it lightly on the table. “Damn right I do. I like you, Felicity, and I know Lauren cares for you and that goes a long way with me. But there’s no denying that you brought trouble to Lauren’s door. Metal and I are on it and we can keep you safe, but we need to know what we’re up against. And I need you to know that my first priority is Lauren’s safety.”
Lauren was practically quivering with outrage, but Felicity shook her head.
“I’m really glad Lauren has you on her side,” Felicity answered and she meant every word. It was a dangerous world out there and Lauren had had some dangerous men after her. Jacko had saved her life and clearly was in that life to stay. Lucky Lauren. “And I would love to answer you, but truly, I have no idea who that man was and why he was after me. I’d feel better if I did, believe me.”
“I do believe you. And I also know that Lauren is alive thanks to you, thanks to your help.” He unclasped his hands and pointed a thick finger at her. “I know you provided her with the fake ID that helped her disappear. So could it be someone you provided a new identity for who wants to eliminate you?”
Jacko had every right to interrogate her, to dig in to why someone was after her. Felicity didn’t begrudge him in any way. He was doing it because he wanted to keep Lauren safe. But the warmth that had been created by the food and eating in company was starting to dissipate. She felt a chill run through her and jumped when Metal took her hand, holding it openly. His hand was so strong and so very warm, it chased away the sudden chill.
“We need to do this, but take your time,” Metal rumbled. “No one is rushing you.”
She shrugged. “It feels so unreal. If I didn’t have a bandage and pain I’d think I dreamed it. No one knew I was coming to Portland, not even Lauren. It was sort of a last-minute decision. I’m self-employed and can work on the road. I don’t report in to anyone. And I lead a fairly secluded life anyway.”
“Why didn’t you let me know you were arriving?” Lauren asked. “I would have come to the airport to pick you up.”
Jacko’s dark eyes widened and Felicity could see the whites of his eyes. He was imagining Lauren with her when the man attacked her.
Felicity was really grateful she hadn’t called Lauren ahead of time. Lauren could have been there at the airport. If something had happened to her she’d never have forgiven herself. “I—I wasn’t sure of my welcome.
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