Five Alarm Lust by Elise Whyles (reading cloud ebooks .TXT) 📗

might be able to use your help at the museum. It’s five dollars an hour and I’ll feed you.”

“Like what?”

Gillian sighed at the doubt and hope in his voice. “Cleaning up and stuff. Here’s my office number. I want you to call me on Monday, okay? As long as your mom and dad don’t mind.” She picked up her purse and dug through for one of her business cards. Pulling a blank one out, she made a mental note to get more. After jotting down her office number, she handed him the card with a smile.

“Oh, Mom won’t mind.” Todd shrugged. “She works lots. Thanks.”

Gillian leaned on the doorjamb and watched him dart off with a half-smile on his face. Straightening, she closed the door and appraised the apartment. She needed to get some boxes, packing tape, and start looking for a new place to live.

* * * *

The impatient buzzing of his phone drew a strangled curse from Jack as he pulled to a halt beneath a couple of trees. He glanced at the picnic basket sitting on the seat beside him and smiled. Gillian would be surprised, but he wasn’t going to give her a chance to get cold feet over their relationship.

“Hello.”

“Jack, where are you?”

“Busy, Lenny. What’s up?” Jack checked his mirrors, impatiently tapping the steering wheel. For some reason, the man had decided he needed to be a more active participant in his life. It bothered him; after all, his interest seemed to be only since his interest in Gillian had become known. In spite of their longtime friendship, Lenny was driving him crazy harping on something he had no right to.

“Barbara’s tied up with some function and I was hoping to get together for a coffee if you’re up to it.”

“I’m picking up a date to go on a picnic. Why not check with the guys at the station? They’d love to have coffee with you.”

“You’re too funny. Look, man, I need to talk to you. It’s kinda important.”

“Well I’m busy, I’m going on a date. Can’t it wait?”

“No.”

Jack groaned. “Whatever it is will just have to. I’m not going to back out of a date because you suddenly want to turn into a chatterbox.”

“Damn it, Jack, I told you before, Gillian isn’t the kind to get tangled up with. Rick told me he saw you and a girl out last night—from what he told me of her I’d have to guess it was Gillian. Rick figured you were at a work-related dinner, but your work isn’t a wine and dine type job.”

“What, now you’ve got Rick spying on me? That’s low even for you, Lenny. And just to answer your question, yes, it was Gillian.” Jack heaved a breath. Great, what’s Lenny thinking, getting a cop to watch out for my ass? “And she’s nothing like her mother says she is. Trust me on this.”

“Look, you’re setting yourself up for a fall. Barbara knows her daughter.” Lenny paused. “Be careful, Jack. Something tells me you could break this girl if you don’t handle her with kid gloves.”

“Breaking her isn’t my plan, Lenny. Keeping her is. Look, I gotta go. I’m gonna be late. Don’t worry, I’ll behave myself.”

“You better.”

Jack tossed the cell onto the dash and pulled back into traffic. He turned into Gillian’s parking lot and slammed on the brakes as a lean boy of about twelve darted out in front of him. From the looks of the kid, he’d missed more than one meal. He watched until the boy vanished out onto the sidewalk and rolled over to where Gillian’s car sat.

He left the basket in the cab, slammed the truck door, and headed up the stairs to Gillian’s door. With a knock on the door, he turned to glance behind him. Manicured lawns, wrought iron gates, the complex looked upscale. The lock clicked a second before the door swung open and Jack turned, his jaw dropping along with the blood in his body at the disheveled look of Gillian.

Chapter 10

“You’ll have to call… Oh, Jack.” Gillian gaped at him, shock in her eyes. “I didn’t expect … that is, I thought you were leaving to see your mother.”

“I am. She’s at bridge until lunch so I told her I’d pop over tonight.” Jack gestured over his shoulder. “I came to see if you wanted to go on a picnic with me?”

“Um, well I was cleaning the house. I have to work tomorrow so I try to get all caught—”

“It’ll keep.” Jack grabbed her coat and keys from the stand before hustling her out the door. “Come on, all work and no play will turn you gray.”

“But my purse, my cell?”

“You won’t need them,” Jack promised, his hand on her back. He opened the truck door and helped her inside, pausing to admire the wool socks on her feet. “Shoes might have … naw, they’re optional.” The truck rocked when he slammed the door.

Gillian gaped at him as he cranked the engine and pulled out of the parking lot. “What on earth? Jack, I’m not sure this is such a great idea. I mean, I have a ton of work to do before tomorrow.”

Hearing the faint note of panic in her voice, he glanced at her. He reached over and took her hand, lacing their fingers together. “It’s a picnic, Gilli, and there’s no need to worry. You’ll be home in plenty of time to finish up whatever you need to do for tomorrow.”

The drive out to the picnic area was quiet, Gillian plucking at her socks, her T-shirt, a pensive, thoughtful look on her face. As they pulled in she gave a weak smile. “I know this place. I used to come here ages ago when I was in high school. We would come out here and park…” Her voice petered off, a flash of something akin to sadness in her eyes.

“You mean you and your dad?”

“No.” Gillian tensed, a haggard, drawn look on her face. “Me and Mike. What