Past Sins by Debra Webb Page A

please.”
    He pecked a few keys on the computer keyboard. “Nothing like a lady who knows what she wants.” His smile widened to a grin. “That’s why I like my job. It’s always interesting.”
    He had no idea. “And a wake-up call,” she added as she placed her credit card on the counter.
    “Gotcha.” He swiped her card. Handed it back to her along with a key card for the room. “What time you wanna get up, ma’am?”
    “Ten.”
    His eyebrows shot up. “A.m.?”
    “Yes, please.”
    “Lady, it’s six-thirty now. You wanna get up in three and a half hours?”
    The young man had his mathematics down pat—too bad he couldn’t keep a handle on his professionalism. “Yes, that’s correct.”
    His shoulders rose and fell. “Whatever floats your boat.” A few more key clicks. “You’re set.”
    “Thank you.”
    She could feel the man watching her as she exited the lobby, but she didn’t worry about that. Working a hotel on the interstate ensured that he saw more than his fair share of weary travelers. Long-distance travelers were usually in a hurry to get to their destinations: he wouldn’t be that surprised at her request. His reaction had more to do with flirting than anything else.
    Olivia shook off the psychologist persona and zeroed in on her hostage, of sorts. He glared at her. It was plenty light enough for her to see that from quite a distance.
    “Sorry about this, Jeffrey,” she offered as she released him.
    He jerked his hand away once it was free of its metal bracelet. “I cannot believe you just did that.” His profile was set in stone, so unlike the man she knew so well. “I’ve been very forgiving so far, but I’m not so sure I’ll be able to forgive this brutal act.”
    He so did not know the meaning of the word brutal.
    “I understand.”
    Why argue? It wouldn’t accomplish anything and she was too damn tired to really care what he thought at the moment. Unfortunately for him it was only going to get worse from here.
    She drove around to the rear of the hotel, spotting their unit number near the middle of the building. She backed into the parking spot directly in front of the door, grabbed her handbag and got out.
    Her passenger climbed out on the opposite side and, to his credit, he didn’t make a run for it. Rather, he took their two overnight bags from the cargo area and transported them into the room. She appreciated his gentlemanly act, which left her the Neiman Marcus bag to grab.
    “Two beds?” He stared at her, confusion joining the mixture of other emotions currently cluttering his face when they’d entered the room.
    “I wasn’t sure you’d feel comfortable sleeping with me under the circumstances.”
    He dropped the bags near the chair and table on the east side of the room. “You have a point.” He kicked off his shoes and sat down on the end of the bed closest to the door. He studied her with mounting concern. “Make me understand what’s going on, Olivia. I’m worried about you.”
    Olivia placed the shopping bag, as well as her purse, on the floor next to her bed, then sat down. She untied her hiking boots and toed them off.
    For several minutes they both sat there, physically depleted and mentally distressed. There were so many aspects of this situation that she didn’t understand. None of it really made sense. She could imagine that it was even more confusing and shocking to Jeffrey. How did she make him understand what was happening when she wasn’t even sure?
    “Olivia, please tell me what’s happened. You must know that I’ll try my best to understand and that I’ll help any way possible.” A small humorless laugh choked out of him. “Despite the fact that you pointed a gun at me. Handcuffed me, for Christ’s sake. But I care about you. Otherwise I’d be out of here instead of hanging around asking for more. Let me help you,” he urged.
    Every word he said was true. No matter how shocking her actions, he wouldn’t dare leave her alone.