Micah’s satisfaction.
“Let’s go outside,” King suggested. “You can fill us in on all the details. Something is on your mind, and I seriously doubt it bothers you to shoot four mannequins through the heart. Wouldn’t surprise me a bit to find out you’re preoccupied by a pretty young lady who has hired you and you couldn’t care less about old cases being rehashed.” Definitely too perceptive.
“What she looks like has nothing to do with whether she’s innocent or guilty,” Micah stated, getting his brain on topic. He stepped outside to the screened-in back porch with the ocean as a backdrop.
“It’s not healthy to dehumanize your clients. She professed her innocence,” Haley prompted, walking around her husband and taking one of the high-back wicker chairs, then leaning forward and lighting a candle that was in the middle of the table. She smiled easily. “And she is very pretty.”
“Yes,” Micah agreed, watching the flame dance to life.
King sat next to his wife. There were two other chairs but Micah was content to stand, facing both of them.
“She seemed pretty desperate for help,” Haley said.
“I agreed to help her.”
“Don’t make my wife prompt what happened out of you. Sit down and give us the full story,” King barked, his tone stern.
Micah complied, not intimidated but deciding it might be a good idea to go over his meeting with Maggie. He took the chair opposite the two of them as Haley smiled and King’s expression remained gruff. Talking about Maggie helped clear his head of the ghosts from his past. It only took a couple of minutes to relay everything to both of them, especially when he left out the part about almost seducing Maggie when he detected the raw, untrained lust emanating from her.
“Are you going to charge her?” Haley asked when he was done.
It had never crossed his mind to do the job pro bono. “I’ve never broken down the price of my services before,” he admitted, which was the truth. His father, or uncle, had always handled that side of their business. All Micah ever did was focus on the target.
“Before?” King asked.
Micah needed to get his head out of his past. His heart skipped a beat, but he raised his guard instantly, not even blinking. “It isn’t any of my business what you bring in on each case. I wouldn’t know what to charge her until I see what is involved.”
“Miss O’Malley made a smart move in hiring you,” King said, relaxing in his high-back wicker chair and resting his elbows on the armrests. “I can honestly say I’ve never seen a better shot.”
Micah wasn’t going to comment one way or another. He wouldn’t bask in the praise nor would he dispute King’s claim. “Sounds like your daughter-in-law is a hell of a shot, too,” he said. Trying to change the subject might raise suspicion.
“She was fighting for her life. That night she saved all of our lives.” Haley tilted her head and studied Micah. “Sounds like you are an amazing shot.”
He needed to get the hell out of there. “Thank you.”
“All four moving mannequins shot through the heart in the dark. Amazing, Jones. Absolutely amazing.” King was relaxed in his chair.
The vast shades of blue, the ocean fading into the sky, added to the tranquil setting around them. Even the breeze, fragranced by the salt water lapping at the beach behind them, was calm. It was truly a serene afternoon.
Micah wasn’t relaxed. He wasn’t a paranoid man, but the shrewd look in King’s eyes had him on his guard.
“I’m a good shot.” Micah smiled, and didn’t dare look away from King. “I doubt I’m as good a shot as you are, though. We all have our lucky days.”
“That we do,” King said, and grinned as well.
Micah managed to leave shortly thereafter. Something told him that he might have sparked too much curiosity about his past. It wasn’t a problem. The best bounty hunter in the country wouldn’t find a thing if he tried learning more about
“Let’s go outside,” King suggested. “You can fill us in on all the details. Something is on your mind, and I seriously doubt it bothers you to shoot four mannequins through the heart. Wouldn’t surprise me a bit to find out you’re preoccupied by a pretty young lady who has hired you and you couldn’t care less about old cases being rehashed.” Definitely too perceptive.
“What she looks like has nothing to do with whether she’s innocent or guilty,” Micah stated, getting his brain on topic. He stepped outside to the screened-in back porch with the ocean as a backdrop.
“It’s not healthy to dehumanize your clients. She professed her innocence,” Haley prompted, walking around her husband and taking one of the high-back wicker chairs, then leaning forward and lighting a candle that was in the middle of the table. She smiled easily. “And she is very pretty.”
“Yes,” Micah agreed, watching the flame dance to life.
King sat next to his wife. There were two other chairs but Micah was content to stand, facing both of them.
“She seemed pretty desperate for help,” Haley said.
“I agreed to help her.”
“Don’t make my wife prompt what happened out of you. Sit down and give us the full story,” King barked, his tone stern.
Micah complied, not intimidated but deciding it might be a good idea to go over his meeting with Maggie. He took the chair opposite the two of them as Haley smiled and King’s expression remained gruff. Talking about Maggie helped clear his head of the ghosts from his past. It only took a couple of minutes to relay everything to both of them, especially when he left out the part about almost seducing Maggie when he detected the raw, untrained lust emanating from her.
“Are you going to charge her?” Haley asked when he was done.
It had never crossed his mind to do the job pro bono. “I’ve never broken down the price of my services before,” he admitted, which was the truth. His father, or uncle, had always handled that side of their business. All Micah ever did was focus on the target.
“Before?” King asked.
Micah needed to get his head out of his past. His heart skipped a beat, but he raised his guard instantly, not even blinking. “It isn’t any of my business what you bring in on each case. I wouldn’t know what to charge her until I see what is involved.”
“Miss O’Malley made a smart move in hiring you,” King said, relaxing in his high-back wicker chair and resting his elbows on the armrests. “I can honestly say I’ve never seen a better shot.”
Micah wasn’t going to comment one way or another. He wouldn’t bask in the praise nor would he dispute King’s claim. “Sounds like your daughter-in-law is a hell of a shot, too,” he said. Trying to change the subject might raise suspicion.
“She was fighting for her life. That night she saved all of our lives.” Haley tilted her head and studied Micah. “Sounds like you are an amazing shot.”
He needed to get the hell out of there. “Thank you.”
“All four moving mannequins shot through the heart in the dark. Amazing, Jones. Absolutely amazing.” King was relaxed in his chair.
The vast shades of blue, the ocean fading into the sky, added to the tranquil setting around them. Even the breeze, fragranced by the salt water lapping at the beach behind them, was calm. It was truly a serene afternoon.
Micah wasn’t relaxed. He wasn’t a paranoid man, but the shrewd look in King’s eyes had him on his guard.
“I’m a good shot.” Micah smiled, and didn’t dare look away from King. “I doubt I’m as good a shot as you are, though. We all have our lucky days.”
“That we do,” King said, and grinned as well.
Micah managed to leave shortly thereafter. Something told him that he might have sparked too much curiosity about his past. It wasn’t a problem. The best bounty hunter in the country wouldn’t find a thing if he tried learning more about