by Wendi Zwaduk
Without looking at Cass, Jaden confirmed, “I saw Marlon last night.” Saw him, kissed him, touched him…found my heart.
“Should you just meet up with him instead? He sounded tired and a little worried.”
Wrapping her arms around her body, Jaden walked towards the car. “No. He’s just keeping an eye on me. It’s nothing.” Nothing that she needed to deal with. Marlon wasn’t her problem—just a sexy roadblock who could probably love her. Not that she’d give him the chance. Right now, she needed to figure out what she wanted to do with her life.
Behind her, Cass sighed. “It didn’t sound like nothing. I got the impression he was pretty shaken up—like a man who’s found a reason to smile and can’t because she’s being obstinate. You haven’t done anything you’ll regret, have you?”
“He thinks I ran away and he probably doesn’t want to get into trouble because he didn’t bother to tell the sheriff I was in town. According to my father and the authorities back home, I’m a fugitive. It’s all over the national news.” Jaden sat on the bumper and stared at Cass. Maybe she’d understand.
“What brought you here to Ohio?”
“A month ago, I decided I wanted to do something with my life. Every other time I got the idea to be a better person, Daddy shipped me off to some third-world country to promote peace or some other worthy cause. And I always managed to screw it up. I ran away from rehab and went on a bender in Beverly Hills. The final straw was when I lied my way out of a movie role because it was nothing more than a porn flick.” She waved her hand. “When I was in rehab, I saw these women who had lives and kids and things to look forward to. When the day’s done, I have nothing to show for my time on Earth. So I kicked my bad habits.”
“You wanted a clean legacy?”
“Sort of. I’m scared my life will have been worthless. I’ll never be a great political mind, or cure hunger, but if I can make something of myself, then that’s enough. I want to be remembered for the good things I did.”
“It’s a noble thought.” Cass sat down on the black truck’s bumper. “I’m sure you could help someone and I have a couple ideas as to who, but what did you have in mind? Since you seem to want to avoid Marlon like the plague.”
The plague, the flu, and any other thing that could potentially break her heart and soul. Time to reveal the grand, if rather loose, scheme. “Remember when we went to the bead store in town? They had a little message board with all the want ads. Well, while you and Les looked at beads, I read the board. I saw some ads offering jobs I can do. I’m not perfect with kids, but I can babysit. Do you want a babysitter? I’m sure you and Logan need a night out or at least another pair of hands to help out.” She clasped her hands together. She’d plead if she needed to plead. “I’m not totally disgusted by hard work. And if nothing else, I could walk dogs—anyone’s dogs.”
Raising her brows, Cass pointed to the carpet of drab, olive grass on the other side of the driveway. “You do remember we have snow in Ohio, right?”
“Yeah, a couple inches here and there.”
“Sometimes. Other times we get walloped and Logan has to use the tractor to plough us out. Are you sure you want to put up with that? A lot of people choose Florida because they hate our snow.”
Snow? She could deal. Lots of snow? Well, she’d learn to cope. Show weakness? Never. “I’m positive I can hack it. I played the part of Claudine in Time Trek. Anything is easier than being a one armed robot—even learning to drive in snow.”
“Well good for you.” Standing, Cass applauded. “Why don’t we go back to the bead store and also try the board at the diner? I know both are full and maybe you can find something by the end of the week.”
The heaviness in her heart lightened. Jaden grinned. “Then let’s go find the next chapter in my new life.”
* * * *
Marlon snapped his phone shut. No answer from Cass except to wait and see.
Dammit.
Okay, so Jaden didn’t want to meet. Go figure. Why did she want to avoid him? Wasn’t he man enough for her? Was her big change a joke? No, that explanation didn’t sit well. She may have lied, but Jade had changed. Jaden Marie had taken her place.
He groaned and stared at the ceiling a moment before he placed both hands on the bench press and resumed his workout. His muscles ached and his mind wandered from the rep numbers. He dropped the heavy weight back into the cradle and sat up. “I’ll tear something if I don’t get my head back in the game.”
Maybe she had plans this morning and his spur-of-the-moment suggestion hadn’t fitted in with them. According to Cass, she and Jaden were heading into town. Would he look like a stalker if he bumped into her at the diner? His stomach growled. Getting food held promise—after a shower.
Forty-five minutes after his workout, Marlon headed out to his Jeep. When he opened the door, a familiar voice came from behind him. “Are you headed out this morning? I see your little friend from last night didn’t hang around.”
Clenching his fist behind the doorframe to hide his frustration, he glared at Sabrina. “You told me to choke on my male anatomy when we split.”
Flipping a lock of hair over her shoulder, she shrugged. “You’re a sweet guy that I thought I hated, but I made a mistake.”
He stared at her for a long moment. Something looked odd about her. Her thin face remained strained, like she had a secret to tell. What was it? His eyes widened. Her hair. “I see you tried a new hair colour.” It looked like the exact shade of Jaden’s. What the fuck?
Sabrina cocked her head and twisted a honey curl around her finger. “You like it? I thought of you when I bought the box this morning. ‘Unleash the real you’.”
“Uh-huh.” Thinking of me, or trying to be someone you aren’t… He’d bet the latter. “If you like it, then good for you.” He checked his watch. “I have to go.”
A slow smile blossomed on Sabrina’s coral lips. “Why don’t you drop by around lunch? We can share a glass of wine and catch up.” Waving, she strolled back up the sidewalk. “I’ll leave the door unlocked.”
Marlon settled in the bucket seat and yanked his keys from his pocket. Whatever had got into Sabrina’s head to make her think he wanted something from her was beyond him. So they’d dated for a year? Lots of people dated with no expectation of a deep relationship. So they’d had sex. It hadn’t been earth-shattering. Thinking about her didn’t keep him up at night. Sex with her certainly hadn’t rocked his world. He watched her saunter to her front door and shivered in disgust. There was no rush, no bone-deep desire to know every inch of her body.
So why obsess about Jaden? There were more than a hundred text messages back and forth between them and only two—no, three real kisses, but the memory of those kisses seared him. His heart had begun to beat again. His blood boiled when he held her in his arms. Did she feel the same? He snorted. Jaden had probably seen him with Sabrina, come to the wrong conclusion, and gone on her merry way. Not that he blamed her… Sabrina didn’t walk away quietly from anyone for very long.
What was it about Jaden? Before her transformation, she could stop traffic with her looks. The rail-thin body, the blonde hair shimmering around her face, the wild behaviour… But he wasn’t drawn to the glossy image. Yes, he’d liked her—what man wouldn’t? But the desire to have sex with the celebrity hottie hadn’t surged through his veins.
What had changed?
The Jade Weir persona was gorgeous…but unreachable. Two years ago at the station, when she’d let her guard down and become Jaden Marie, her inner beauty had outshone her physical appearance. When she’d showed up at his door with her curvier body and the natural look, he couldn’t help but stare. He longed to run his fingers through the honey-coloured tresses as he kissed her. And those kisses! She had tasted like cola and sin. Intoxicating. What would it feel like to have her astride him, screaming his name as he pumped into her?
Shifting in his seat, he rubbed his groin. The memory of the previous night sucked. Every time
he closed his eyes, she smiled at him in a dozen different fantasy scenes. Until he told her how he felt, he’d never sleep. What if the rumours were true? That she’d come to Ohio to escape something other than her lifestyle—like a bad drug buy, or an angry dealer? Shit. Drugs made everything more complicated.
Engaging the engine, he drove into town. Cass had said something about antiquing. Would they be at the thrift store or maybe at the flea market barn by the highway? He’d bet the thrift store, but why would she need to thrift shop if she had money? Unless Jaden really had planned on making it on her own. His admiration for her grew.
The phone call from Mac came to mind. What if she was on the run? From a dealer? She wouldn’t have much ready cash. But what if she had taken money from her father? Nah, she made enough on the bad movies and that ridiculous website to fund three middle class households. Plus she admitted to a small supply of funds.
Would it be unrealistic to run her name for a record? She admitted she’d been in trouble a few times as a teen for curfew with related drug charges, as well as a drunk driving charge three years previously. It never hurt to be safe rather than sorry, even if people did change.
He shook his head as he pulled into a parking spot at the thrift store. Jaden wasn’t a suspect and she wasn’t guilty. Yet. Maybe he’d have Carol Ann run Jaden’s name anyway.
He tugged the sunglasses from his eyes and nibbled on the earpiece. If he wanted a chance with her, he needed to think like a man interested in a date, not a cop trying to catch a suspect.
Then what the hell was he doing outside the blasted thrift store? He didn’t need furniture and wasn’t in the market for gently-used clothes. Sliding down in his seat, he scanned the lot. A jet black Mercedes Benz sat six spots from the door. Hers? He wasn’t sure.
Part of him wanted to barge into the store and hunt her down. The greater part of him wasn’t so sure. What if she was staying away from him on purpose? She could be up to something she didn’t want him to know about. Marlon rolled his window down to let in fresh air. Maybe the stiff breeze would clear his head.
He doubted it.
“I can’t help you if you won’t tell me what’s going on,” he murmured.
Chapter Four
Ten minutes of watching the ebb and flow in front of the thrift store bored Marlon to the point of tears. Nothing thrilling happened aside from a green car parking next to the Mercedes. No one exited the vehicle, and since it was a public lot, he had no grounds to question anyone. He gave up his post and headed to the sheriff’s department. He strolled inside and made his way to the reception desk. He nodded to Carol Ann Leidecker, the receptionist. “Hi, darlin’. Is Mac in?”
The raven-haired woman grinned. A fresh piercing decorated her right nostril. Thick black kohl rimmed her eyes. “He’s in his office and fired up about the rash of auto break-ins. He’s got Ronan out checking one of the complaints. How are you?”
“I’m alive and breathing.” Marlon grabbed the schedule clipboard off her desk and riffled through the pages. “Good enough for me.”
“Right.” Carol Ann snorted. “Why are you here, then? You don’t usually come in on your days off, especially if Sabrina’s off, too. Looking to pick up extra hours?”
“We broke up more than six months ago. What Sabrina does is her business.” He reorganised the sheaf of papers and placed them back under the clip. “Last I heard, she moved on to some guy named Tim.”
“I heard the same thing and good, too, except his name was Terry. Doesn’t matter. I didn’t want to have to get rid of her again.” Clicking the keys on the keyboard, Carol Ann resumed her typing. “I’m glad you two split. I don’t care if she was an actress, she wasn’t quite on the level.”
“You and me both.” He shrugged and headed to his desk. “I’ve got a name I want you to run down for me. By the way, what’s that thing in your nose? It looks goofy.”
With a black-tipped nail, she toyed with the crimson jewellery. “Yeah, Daddy didn’t like it either, but Craig said it looked hot. I like it.” She drummed her fingers on the metal desktop. “I’ll bet you want to know about that celebrity suspected to be in town. Possibly a record and her recent activities?”
Stopped in his tracks, Marlon cracked his knuckles. “Who is the celebrity you’re referring to?” Like he didn’t have a clue.
“Jade Weir.”
So everyone knew? Wonderful. “What’s she got to do with Crawford? It’s not like the rich and famous run off to Ohio when they get bored.” He rummaged through some paperwork, not really looking at the words on the pages. The image of Jaden, sitting on his couch grinning and natural, ran rampant through his mind. His sixth sense screamed that she belonged in his life. “Besides, I’m pretty sure she’s not here.”
Footsteps pattered behind him. “So then who is the blonde strolling into the diner with Cass Malone?”
Whipping around, Marlon knocked into Carol Ann. With an, “Oof!” he headed to the window. A blonde? His heart thundered in his chest. Sure enough, Cass stood on the sidewalk next to Logan. The blonde in question cuddled Julian Malone in her arms. As she turned, Marlon knew. Jaden. He’d know her body whether swathed in curve-hugging denim or in sackcloth.
“She’s cute.”
To hide his shaky hands, he folded his arms. “She’s original.”
“Do you know her? Taft and I have a bet going that she’s Jade and she’s slumming.” Leaning on Marlon, Carol Ann sighed. “Why she’d slum here is beyond me. There’s a whole lot of cow poop, soybeans, and flat land here in Ohio. Think she’s making another play for Logan?”
A twinge of jealousy raced through his system. “I hope not. He’s not looking. He’s happy with Cass.” Although Logan was a stand-up guy, he didn’t want to think of Jaden and Logan together. The idea of her making love to another man churned his stomach.
“So you do like her!” Carol Ann shrieked and clapped. “Taft said you had a thing for her when you did the questioning. Mac will have your head, you know. He hates when we fraternise with the suspects.”
“Taft McGregor wouldn’t know his ass from his elbows.” Groaning, he widened his stance.” As for Mac, he won’t care if I don’t tell him.” Because I won’t be with her anyway. She’s trouble. “But last time I checked, she wasn’t a suspect in anything. Care to enlighten me?” And give him a reason to stay away from her.
“She seems clean. No drugs, no booze. Nothing. I wanted to give you fits, that’s all.” Carol Ann giggled. “I might need you to do something for me while I’m here. I’m bogged down and could use a favour.”
He turned. So she wanted to play dirty, eh? Bring it on. “Oh really? I’d love to make Craig jealous. Meet me at five?”
Crimson infused her cheeks. Her words came out in a rush. “Craig and I…well… I didn’t mean you and me… Why don’t you go get Mac’s lunch at the diner? You can go see her and maybe you can have that tryst you’ve deserved since Addison passed.”
Swallowing a snappy comeback, Marlon held out his hand. No one mentioned his first wife without causing him grief, but since he liked Carol Ann, he’d let it slide this time. Plus, he did want to see Jaden. “Give it here. I won’t talk to her in case she’s truly in trouble, but I’m sure she’s not doing anything illegal.” I hope she’s not. He took the slip of paper and headed out of the door.
Carol Ann cackled. “Go get ‘em, tiger. Tag that chick.”
Checking the traffic, Marlon crossed the street with long strides. Tag that chick. Shit. Blatant words might have fitted Jade, but not Jaden Marie. An afternoon tryst. Hell, getting laid for the sake of getting off wasn’t worth it. He wanted a woman to love.
As he entered the glass foyer, he noticed the honey blonde by the community board. He cleared his throat in case it wasn’t Jaden.
Startled, Jaden clutched her chest and turned. “I’m sorry. I’ll get out of your w—Marlon?”
Despite his common sense screaming not to touch her, he tucked some loose strands of hair beh
ind her ear. Sizzles went straight to his groin. Dear God, what if they really did become lovers? He’d never survive—and yet he liked the odds. Dying in her arms sounded rather pleasant. Satisfying.
When she licked her bottom lip, he came close to coming unglued. Her eyes widened. “What are you doing here?”
“Getting my boss’s order. I should be angry since you avoided me, but I’ll deal.” When her gaze raked over his body, he fisted his hand to keep from wrapping her in an embrace. “I see you’re checking out the want-ads. Which flyer caught your attention?”
She held her palm open. Three slips of paper lay crumpled in her hand. “One’s for a babysitter, one’s for a dog walker and the third is for a companion.”
Companion? His throat constricted. “Which one?”
“Which one what?”
“Who wants a companion?”
She pointed to a pink flyer. Elder in the community seeks companion. Must be able to lift a hundred pounds and willing to work nights and weekends. 555-0089 Ask for Dan. Dan Denoon, local businessman and suspected pimp. Hell, no. She didn’t know his story, but he wasn’t going to let her fall into his trap. Having a former celebrity would boost his popularity and get Jaden into a world she could probably handle…but didn’t deserve.
“You don’t want to be his companion. He’s not looking for someone to care for his Gramma.” Despite his trust in her decisions, he sighed. “He wants an escort-slash-plaything. It’s bad news.”
Shrinking away from him, she handed him the paper. “Oh. Sorry.”
Her sweet nature would be the death of his sanity, but shit if she wasn’t cute when she was out of her element. Wriggling in his polo shirt, he shifted. When had the air got so damned hot in the little foyer? It was late October for crying out loud. “You didn’t know. Which one is for the dog walker?”
