sadness and resentment.
She wouldn’t go through that again.
Couldn’t go through it again.
“I don’t plan to leave the airport, so I’m sure I’ll be fine,” she said, a moment too late, and he grinned as if he knew just how uncomfortable he made her.
“You may be right, but I’m not going to take any chances.”
“Look, Jackson—”
“We can argue from now until the plane lands, but it won’t change anything. I’m here. Why not just relax and let me help you?”
“Because I don’t need help.” But the words didn’t sound nearly as convincing as she meant them to, and she turned to look out the window.
“Everyone needs help sometimes,” he said quietly.
He was right, of course, and maybe he was right to think that Morgan was in over her head, that she needed whatever protection he could offer, but accepting that would mean accepting him, and Morgan couldn’t allow herself to do it. “True, but right now, I really am fine. During my layover in Chicago, I’llsit in the terminal and wait. What could possibly happen in an airport filled with people?”
“My first case as a homicide detective, I investigated a murder that took place on the New York subway in broad daylight. Not one witness to be found.”
“I’d forgotten you were a homicide detective.”
“I didn’t know you ever knew it,” he said, settling more deeply into his seat, his legs stretched out beside Morgan’s. He looked relaxed and comfortable.
Morgan felt crowded and ill at ease.
Being around Jackson reminded her of all the reasons she’d enjoyed being part of a couple. Companionship. Conversation. The feeling of belonging. Those were things she’d been almost desperate for when she’d met Cody. Now she was older, hopefully wiser, and having those things didn’t seem nearly as important.
“Sheriff Reed mentioned it last night, and Lacey told me that you and Jude worked homicide together a few years back.”
“I’m flattered that you remember.” Jackson grinned, and Morgan’s heart skipped a beat.
“Don’t be. I’ve always had a good memory,” she responded, refusing to look away. Her heart might respond to Jackson’s charming smile, but she would not.
“A good memory should help.”
“With?”
“Our investigation. I’m sure you realize that you won’t be safe until we find the disk and figure out what’s on it.”
“ We don’t have to figure out anything. The Lakeview Sheriff’s Department is investigating. I’m sure the New York police are, too.” And she’d join them in the hunt for the disk. After she got rid of Jackson.
And she would get rid of him. She had enough trouble to deal with without worrying about Jackson and her reaction to him.
Reaction to Jackson?
She wasn’t reacting to anything but fatigue, pain and fear.
At least that’s what she was going to tell herself. It was that or acknowledge the unthinkable—attraction to a man who was just as handsome, just as charming, and just as likely to break her heart as Cody had been.
“I’ve got no doubt they’re working hard to find answers, Morgan, but they don’t have the inside scoop.”
“Inside scoop?”
“You and your memory.”
“I’ve already told the police everything I know.”
“You’d be surprised how much can lurk just beneath conscious thought. If we dig hard enough, we’re bound to find something interesting.”
Everything he said was completely reasonable. Except the we part of it.
Morgan pulled a travel pack of pain reliever from her purse and ripped it open, too tired to argue. There’d be time enough to tell Jackson she didn’t want him digging into her life after the plane landed.
“You okay?” Jackson laid a hand on her wrist, the contact shooting warmth up her arm.
“The problem with bruises is they always hurt worse the next day,” she said, easing her arm away.
“I’ll get the flight attendant to bring you some water.” His hand dropped away, but the heat of it seemed to
She wouldn’t go through that again.
Couldn’t go through it again.
“I don’t plan to leave the airport, so I’m sure I’ll be fine,” she said, a moment too late, and he grinned as if he knew just how uncomfortable he made her.
“You may be right, but I’m not going to take any chances.”
“Look, Jackson—”
“We can argue from now until the plane lands, but it won’t change anything. I’m here. Why not just relax and let me help you?”
“Because I don’t need help.” But the words didn’t sound nearly as convincing as she meant them to, and she turned to look out the window.
“Everyone needs help sometimes,” he said quietly.
He was right, of course, and maybe he was right to think that Morgan was in over her head, that she needed whatever protection he could offer, but accepting that would mean accepting him, and Morgan couldn’t allow herself to do it. “True, but right now, I really am fine. During my layover in Chicago, I’llsit in the terminal and wait. What could possibly happen in an airport filled with people?”
“My first case as a homicide detective, I investigated a murder that took place on the New York subway in broad daylight. Not one witness to be found.”
“I’d forgotten you were a homicide detective.”
“I didn’t know you ever knew it,” he said, settling more deeply into his seat, his legs stretched out beside Morgan’s. He looked relaxed and comfortable.
Morgan felt crowded and ill at ease.
Being around Jackson reminded her of all the reasons she’d enjoyed being part of a couple. Companionship. Conversation. The feeling of belonging. Those were things she’d been almost desperate for when she’d met Cody. Now she was older, hopefully wiser, and having those things didn’t seem nearly as important.
“Sheriff Reed mentioned it last night, and Lacey told me that you and Jude worked homicide together a few years back.”
“I’m flattered that you remember.” Jackson grinned, and Morgan’s heart skipped a beat.
“Don’t be. I’ve always had a good memory,” she responded, refusing to look away. Her heart might respond to Jackson’s charming smile, but she would not.
“A good memory should help.”
“With?”
“Our investigation. I’m sure you realize that you won’t be safe until we find the disk and figure out what’s on it.”
“ We don’t have to figure out anything. The Lakeview Sheriff’s Department is investigating. I’m sure the New York police are, too.” And she’d join them in the hunt for the disk. After she got rid of Jackson.
And she would get rid of him. She had enough trouble to deal with without worrying about Jackson and her reaction to him.
Reaction to Jackson?
She wasn’t reacting to anything but fatigue, pain and fear.
At least that’s what she was going to tell herself. It was that or acknowledge the unthinkable—attraction to a man who was just as handsome, just as charming, and just as likely to break her heart as Cody had been.
“I’ve got no doubt they’re working hard to find answers, Morgan, but they don’t have the inside scoop.”
“Inside scoop?”
“You and your memory.”
“I’ve already told the police everything I know.”
“You’d be surprised how much can lurk just beneath conscious thought. If we dig hard enough, we’re bound to find something interesting.”
Everything he said was completely reasonable. Except the we part of it.
Morgan pulled a travel pack of pain reliever from her purse and ripped it open, too tired to argue. There’d be time enough to tell Jackson she didn’t want him digging into her life after the plane landed.
“You okay?” Jackson laid a hand on her wrist, the contact shooting warmth up her arm.
“The problem with bruises is they always hurt worse the next day,” she said, easing her arm away.
“I’ll get the flight attendant to bring you some water.” His hand dropped away, but the heat of it seemed to
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