Free Secret Passions by Jill Sanders Page B

watching him, waiting. “Sandi,” he looked back up at her. “You deserve someone...better.”
     
    “Mitchell, I think I know what I deserve. Especially coming from what and where I have. Going through everything I have. I knew what you were five years ago. I did stay here for a few nights, remember?” He shook his head, no. “Well, I was there to pick you up off the floor the second night I was here. I helped you back into bed. I knew you were in a bad spot. But underneath it all, I could see what kind of man you were, what kind you would become. Walking in here the other night only confirmed it. You took me in again, no questions. No demands. No thoughts to your own safety.”
     
    He looked at her for a while. She could tell he was trying to figure her out. Then he shook his head and smiled. “Eat your food. If you want more, I’ll make something bigger. I have a few errands to run today, but I’ll be back later.” He stood and she could tell the conversation was over.
     
    “Would you bring me the new sketch pad and the box of chalk and pens? I’m stuck on the couch for the day, but it doesn’t mean I can’t do something I enjoy.”
     
    “Sure, is there anything else?”
     
    She held up her cup. “More coffee?”
     

    An hour later he walked into Carter’s office, interrupting a heated conversation between his partner and Eve, who was their top employee and had been a close friend for longer than he knew. The two of them never seemed to be getting along. Once, Mitchell had asked his friend if they should fire her, to which his reply was, “Why on god’s earth would I want to get rid of our best asset?” He’d followed it up with, “Don’t you ever tell her I said that.” Knowing it was just a little game the two played, he shut the door loudly and smiled as the pair jumped and glared at him.
     
    “Hello, why don’t you two just get a room and get it over with.” He chuckled at the similar looks of horror the pair made at his suggestion.
     
    “What do you want? I thought you were off for the next few weeks.” Carter sat down behind his desk and waved him in, then he looked at Eve. “You can handle that client on your own.”
     
    Eve put her hands on her hips and stood there, glaring down at him. Finally Carter sighed and said, “Fine, I’ll make the call later.”
     
    She smiled and started to walk out of the room. “Mitchell, I hope you’re enjoying your vacation.”
     
    He knew she didn’t like him laughing at how well she could handle his friend, so he just nodded his head as she walked past him.
     
    When the door was shut, he burst out laughing. “Man, the least you can be doing is sleeping with her to end up that whipped.”
     
    Carter glared at him. “That woman knows more tricks to get what she wants than you and I put together.”
     
    They both chuckled at that. “Of course it doesn’t help that she looks like a Greek goddess.”
     
    “Yeah, there is that.” Carter smiled and looked at a stack of papers on his desk. “What are you doing here?”
     
    “Well, I need your help.”
     
    “Shoot.”
     
    “I need to take Sandi somewhere safe for a while, after she heals from the whole ordeal yesterday. Someplace not traceable to any of us.”
     
    Carter thought about it. “You still haven’t heard from Ethan?”
     
    He shook his head, no. He hadn’t kept any details from his friend and knew Carter would guard it with his life. After all, they’d been best friends growing up.
     
    Carter was the complete opposite of Mitch in every way. His dark hair, eyes, and skin weren’t the only things he was talking about, either. Carter was a businessman, always looking at the angles of every deal. Mitch tended to go with his gut and heart. It was hard to explain, but Mitch could just tell how a person was, if they were going to be a good investment or be a flake and not worth the time.
     
    The agency worked well with the pair of them. Mitchell’s heart and