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

is kinda romantic. He just starts talking about you and keeps going. More’n once I told him he should bring you by.”

Gillian frowned, fear prickling at the revelation. Was he ashamed…

“Course then he just looks at me, gets this goofy little grin on his face, and says he will. Yous is taking it slow, which the guys tease him about, but they all think it’s great. Finally, Jack Payle has found the One.” Sally chuckled. “Kinda stuck with him with all his ranting. So do you think you could answer a few questions for me?”

“Certainly, I’d be glad to help you. I know Canadian history, not a lot of the American…”

“Perfect. I’d love to hear about Alberta. I’m a transplant you see. I grew up on the other side of the Rockies. Think more salt water, less snow.”

“Ah.” Gillian shuffled forward, leaning in toward Sally, her earlier doubts vanishing. “Well I can certainly help you with that. Alberta history is one of my areas of study. I spent a lot of time researching it. I was born and raised here. Well, not here, but in Alberta.”

* * * *

Barbara sat on the hard plastic chair in the meeting room. Guards lined the walls. Prisoners in bright orange jumpers shuffled from the closed door to the tables. She straightened at the familiar figure moving through the crowd. She could feel the lust burning through her and crossed her legs to hide the proof of her desire.

“How are you today?” Mike sat down in his chair, his hands laced together as the guard stepped back.

“Good. How are you?”

“Getting better every minute.” Mike dropped his voice, glancing over his shoulder. “Did you figure things out?”

“Indeed. I’m waiting for you to get me my contact.”

“I know someone, but it’s gonna cost you.” Mike leaned forward, his hands tucked between his legs. “He wants fifty Gs for the job. Problem is, he’s kinda particular—wants to have cash up front. And he said he wants to meet. Hash out the details, so you’re gonna have to go with him. I just told him it was a simple job. Problem is, it’s a premium target, which means the fifty may only be the starting price.”

“I’ll have the money for him by Monday. When does he want to meet?”

“Good. Give me your cell number, he’ll set things up, and when he calls with details just be sure to have the cash. Boy’s good. One of the best I’ve ever seen. He’ll get it done clean, neat, quick. But he is a face-to-face kinda guy.”

“Why don’t you have my number? I gave it to you.”

“You gave me Gillian’s. Only number I got for you is your house number … but if you’d…”

“No, no, here’s the number. You can call anytime.” Barbara slid a scrap of paper into his palm and smiled. “Excellent. It’s hard to find good help. So long as he can do the job and do it properly there won’t be any problems. Make it clear, however, I’m not willing to pay for shabby craftsmanship, nor am I about to pay a penny over the fifty. Any more than that is highway robbery.”

“If’n you want it done you will.” Mike shuffled his feet beneath the table. “You find out any more on her new boyfriend?”

“He’s a volunteer firefighter with my husband. Rather, he’s one of the only paid employees in the system. She’s delusional. No man who looks like him is going to want her. Man’s hot enough to make a nun give up her vows. The only reason I can see he’d be with her is he suspects she has money or is in line to get my fortune.”

Mike leaned back. “Maybe we can get him to work in our favor. After all, if he’s a man after my heart, why wouldn’t he be interested in a little more than that useless tit.”

Barbara laughed. “Just behave yourself. I have to run, Lenny’s going to be home in an hour and I have a stop to make before I get there. I’ll see you next week, okay?”

“Sure, babe, sure.”

Barbara felt his hard stare all the way out of the room and shivered. Whether from fear or lust she didn’t know, nor care—as long as he did what he was told she’d tolerate him. Perhaps, just maybe his associate wouldn’t mind getting rid of both loose ends. But, unlike any of her other lovers, Mike had a way of getting her off … it really was a quandary.

Chapter 16

Jack rolled his shoulders to alleviate some of the stiffness as he walked into his office. Gold and pink light spilled across his desk as he adjusted the blinds to better appreciate the sunset. His leather chair groaned in protest when he dropped into it. He reached up and raked a hand through his wet hair, the smell of smoke still hanging off him like yesterday’s shirt.

“Don’t you just love a four alarm fire?”

“Hey, Sally, what’s up?”

“Some woman stopped by earlier. Wanted to see you. I told her you were out.” A secretive little grin crossed her face as she lounged against his door.

“Who was it? I’m not interested in dealing with the drama queens.” Jack groaned, his mind racing to the idea of any of his exes coming by. He shuffled the papers on his desk, digging for a pen. “Did you take a message?”

“Yes, I did.” Sally waved a message slip at him with a grin. She tossed it on his desk and turned to shuffle to the door. “Brad deserves a swift kick in the ass, by the way. Poor girl comes to see you and he’s makin’ fun of her.”

The color bleached from his face, Jack stared at Sally’s retreating form. With his heart in his throat, he snatched up the message and gaped. “Sally, I’ll be on the phone.”

“Sure, I’ll keep all hands away from your office.” Sally hollered back as his office door slammed shut.

Jack punched in the numbers on his desktop phone