Free Hunger's Mate by A. C. Arthur Page A

office and booted up the extra computer. Tapping her fingers on the desk as she waited. All she needed was one buyer, one good amount of cash, and she wouldn’t have to look over her shoulder anymore. If her father hadn’t been so sick when she’d walked away from Larry, she would have done this much sooner. But there was no way he could have traveled then, no way he would have survived both the cancer and the diabetes. So she’d set them up here, in this quiet and picturesque place and after a while, she’d thought they would be safe, thought they could stay here, undetected.
    She’d thought wrong.
    Jewel was tired of being afraid, tired of thinking that if not today, then the next day, or the next one Larry would show up and she’d once again be his slave, his property. Slamming her palms onto the empty desk she cursed herself for being stupid enough to fall into his trap, to believe the lies he told her. But she’d needed him. She’d needed his money. Her father had needed his money to pay the mounting health care bills. She’d had no other choice, at least that’s what she’d been telling herself since the first day she’d lain in bed next to Larry, next to that sadistic pervert.
    Now she spent an extra twenty minutes every day donning the costume that made her Jewel Jenner, the fa ç ade she’d created for her father’s safety, and for her safety. Today, Jewel Jenner would repeat the process she’d completed three years ago. She would begin to disappear. Again.
    â€œEach time I see you I’m amazed that such a beautiful female could look so sad, so contemplative, every day of her life. I could ask you why that is, but I doubt you’d readily confide in me. And that, Jewel Jenner, is a shame.”
    Her head had jerked up the moment he spoke the first word. She’d watched his mouth moving until it stopped, her heart beating a little faster, her body heating instantly. He, Ezra Preston, was not a part of her plan. Not the one she’d made three years ago and certainly not the one she was devising now. And yet, here he was, again.
    â€œThere’s nothing to confide, Mr. Preston. You mistakenly believe we’re friends. We’re not.”
    He’d walked inside the office and sat on the edge of the desk, one leg up, the other down, leaning over to stare at her. Or was he looking right through her? Could he see her past? Was that why he kept asking for her to trust him, to confide in him? Maybe he was the one who had been sent to find her.
    Her hands shook as she sat straight up in the chair.
    â€œIf that’s all I can get,” he said while shrugging, “then I’ll be your friend.”
    â€œI wasn’t offering friendship. And you shouldn’t be in here. The offices are not open right now.”
    â€œYou’re here,” he said simply, as if that were all he needed to say.
    He was dressed in dark blue slacks, a light blue dress shirt, and tie. He always looked perfectly put together, not a wrinkle, not a close-cropped hair out of place. He’d probably had a perfect life too. The best schools, the best jobs, the best parents. Jewel didn’t realize she’d frowned, or that she’d backed up in the chair with wheels until she’d hit the wall.
    â€œI work here. You don’t. Why are you still at Perryville? Why did you come here in the first place? I know that you know Mr. Germain and Mr. Perry, but why haven’t you returned to wherever it is you are from?”
    She didn’t care. The answers to none of those questions mattered. The fact was she didn’t want him here. She didn’t like how she felt when she was in his presence, how her body felt. It was disturbing, not frightening, but still, she didn’t like it.
    When he stood from the desk, coming around to where she was, Jewel hopped up out of the chair, ready to fight back if need be. She’d quickly,