Living in Freefall (Living on the Run Book 1) by Ben Patterson Page B

playing with a crippled bird, toying with his
affections. He deserved better from her. He deserved her respect.
    “Umm, thank you, sir,” she added, drawing back from her
desire to manipulate just another man. Jordon Kori wasn’t just another
man though. From day one he had made every effort to be her friend. And how did
she respond? She rolled her eyes whenever he approached. She took shots at him
openly and behind his back. And the more she did so, the more awkward around
her he’d become. Damned vicious cycle she herself had started way back when.
Why? What was it about Jordon that drove her to distraction? She didn’t like
momma’s boys— never did —but was that it? Mara could be overbearing at
times, but she had no other place to go. Giving her a job on his ship was
simply a decent man looking after his mother. That was noble. Wasn’t it? At
least Jordon had a parent. Ericca felt a twinge of jealousy. What the hell?
Where were all these unbidden emotions coming from. Reining in these rogue
feelings, Ericca dropped her eyes to the bar. It was cool and smooth, and— she
tested its weight —heavy.
    He shrugged. “Just let us know in advance when you need a
vacation so we can plan around it.”
    “I, umm . . .” Sure. I can do that.”
    “Ericca, I’ve tried to keep you safe,” he said, “I mean us .
I was only trying to keep us safe.” Unfolding his arms, he drove his
hands deep into his pockets, and rocked on his heels. “You understand?”
    She smiled. “Yes. I think I do.”
    “Sorry. An unintended consequence of my doing so was,
well . . .” he scuffed the floor with a foot. “I certainly don’t
want to make life dull for you.”
    She tried without success to stifle her smile. “Actually, my
life is just starting to get interesting.”
    The look in his eyes said he didn’t know how to take that.
“You are free to go. Find adventure if that’s what you need. And you’re
always free to come back to me— us!” The more he tried to control his
tongue, the more nervous he became, and the more readily the truth popped out
into the open. He laughed nervously, then added, “Which, by the way, would be–umm– our preference. Of course. Whose preference would it be but ours ; I mean the
crew’s. We all want you to stay— come back! ”
    “Okaaay?” Now Ericca didn’t know what to say. Their
conversation was starting to get weird.
    “And from here on out I’ll seek your advice whenever I plan
a heist, caper , I mean operation!” Jordon said.
    Ericca felt her smile take control of her entire face. There
seemed no stopping it. She tested the gold bar’s weight once more, then returned
it to the box and closed the lid. Seeing a need, feeling the need, she came
around the desk to hug her captain. Awkwardly accepted, Jordon’s stiff embrace
was nothing like she’d expected. In fact it surprised her. It wasn’t smooth or
graceful or gallant, but it was warm and genuine; so much more than she could
have guessed. Her face flushed warm. Catching her breath, she released him, and
turned as if to leave, but really, she wanted to hide her sure-to-be red face from
him. She took a step toward the door.
    “Hey!” he said softly.
    She stopped but didn’t look back.
    “Don’t forget this.”
    She heard him scoop up the chest. She turned to him and held
it out to her.
    “Huh? Oh, uhh,” she stammered, fighting to focus her thoughts.
She grabbed the surprisingly heavy oak box and brought it to her hip to carry. Smiling
sheepishly, she considered his lost boy expression for a moment longer. How
could she have missed how handsome the man truly was? His auburn hair was a
tussled mop on his head. And the smattering of freckles on his nose and cheeks
made him look younger than Ericca. Yet something in the man’s deep-set hazel
eyes drew her in like . . .
    . . . she thought for a
moment . . .
    The draw was like a gambler on the scent of a long shot. Jordon
Kori was indeed a longshot. Too