Free Seize (St. Martin Family Saga: Emergency Responders) Book 2: Erotic Romance by Gina Watson Page B

“Is that all you’re going to eat?”
    “That’s a lot for me.”
    “You didn’t eat any fries.”
    “I got full.”
    “But we’ll be walking for a while.”
    “I’ll be fine.”
    He exhaled through clenched teeth and waved the plates away. Corrine complied as she grinned at Mia. In return, Mia rolled her eyes.
    She pulled out her wallet and gathered some bills together and placed them on the table. Augie stuffed them back in her hand.
    “I don’t think so.”
    “You’ve been paying for everything. I’ve got this.”
    “No, you don’t.” He threw money down and pushed her out of the booth. “I’ve got to use a pay phone or a landline.”
    “I’m sure Corrine wouldn’t mind you using the diner phone.”
    “Hey, that’s actually not a bad idea.”
    “You might have to sweet-talk her.”
    “I got it covered.” He pulled her behind him to the counter.
    Corrine immediately sidled up to him. To be fair, he looked every inch the rough and tumble cowboy as he rested his elbows on the countertop, his long legs culminating in dusty boots. That ass in those faded and tight jeans made Mia’s upper lip sweat.
    “Howdy. I was hopin’ you could give me a hand.”
    “Be happy to.”
    His cheeky grin could make panties combust, and Mia wished he would stop using it.
    “Well, all right.”
    Her mouth fell open when Augie spoke in a silvery slow tongue that dripped with sex and a deep Southern lilt. He chuckled deep in his throat and said, “I need to use a land-line phone.”
    Corrine bit her lip and crinkled her brow, looking worried. “Well, my boss will be here in fifteen. Can you make it snappy?”
    “Don’t you worry, sugar, I’ll take only two minutes.”
    “Come on back.”
    They followed her around a few dark corners, and then through an open door that revealed an office. On the desk sat an ugly black phone. Augie lifted the receiver and held up two fingers.
    “Two minutes.”
    Corrine nodded and left.
    He dialed a long series of numbers, and Mia wondered how he kept them all straight.
    “Gloria, change of plans. I’ll be at Silverlake Estates in East Bay… . Yes… . No, we’re on foot… . Eight miles out. I won’t know until we get there… . I’ll leave some sort of sign.”
    He placed the receiver back in the cradle. That was it?
    “We’re all set.”
    As they began their walk, he pointed toward a store. “Hey, you need a jacket.”
    “No, I don’t.”
    “Don’t argue with me.”
    His eyes narrowed. This was a demanding Augie. He wasn’t as easygoing as he had been before, minus the times they’d argued.
    He held the door open for her, and she stepped inside. It was a boutique, where the cheapest jacket she could find cost two hundred and fifty-nine dollars.
    “Augie, I really don’t need it. I’m fine.”
    He grabbed sunglasses too. Altogether the items totaled over three hundred dollars. He pulled his wallet out and laid the money down. She wasn’t used to going through so much money, and his doing it for her made her uncomfortable.
    “Ready?” His eyebrows rose as he awaited her answer. She nodded, and he frowned. “I prefer an audible answer, Mia.”
    “I’m ready.”
    Outside he pulled the jacket from the fancy gift bag and took it out of the tissue. He used his teeth to remove the tags and then he held it open for her. She slid into it, the silky sleeves luxurious against her skin. It was a cream color, and she hoped she could keep it from getting dirty. Augie placed the glasses over her eyes and said, “Now you’re all set.” He kissed her forehead.
    *
    They’d been walking for what seemed like an eternity on government-granted parkland. The paths had started out clear, but now were thick with underbrush. The leg that bothered Mia at the diner was starting to throb, but she didn’t want to slow them and so pressed on. To get her mind off of the ache, she started singing the song her mother had sung when they were kids. The one Augie had memorized. She