Free Wild Suspicions (Romantic Suspense) by Rebecca Marey

hard to get me away from Parker?”
    His expression turned to one of slight aggravation. Liddie saw his hand form a slight fist in his lap, yet his demeanor remained calm.
    “ What happens when I’m not around, Miss Nichols?” He nodded toward Parker. “What happens when I’m not around, and the idiots in the back make a move on you again?”
    Liddie shifted uncomfortably. “I’ll tell Parker. He’ll take care of it.” She grunted with satisfaction. “They’re probably as good as fired now.”
    Garrett shook his head. “Not gonna happen.”
    A foreboding chill ran through her. What if he was right? What if Parker didn’t care? What if Garrett knew Parker better than she? Liddie looked out the window, intent on ignoring any provocation to bash Parker.
    “ Where you from?” Garrett asked suddenly, letting his boots rock back and forth on the table.
    At first, Liddie didn ’t answer. He was changing the subject, but after a second thought, she decided to welcome it.
    “ Wisconsin,” she replied politely. “Farm country, I guess. Then Jersey.”
    Garrett nodded. “Didn’t peg you for a New York girl.”
    “ What do you mean by that?”
    “ It’s not an insult,” he reassured her politely. “Just an observation. I’ve always favored country girls over city ones. More honest.”
    Liddie searched his eyes and realized he was telling the truth. She saw nothing nasty in his expression, just a lazy regard for her.
    She felt a tingle low in her body and shifted in the seat. “You’re going to be nice to me, now? Or are you just pretending?”
    “ I spent summers in Michigan,” said Garrett, ignoring the slight challenge. “With my grandparents. Until I was about eleven. They had a house on a huge lake.”
    Liddie laughed to herself. He was controlling the conversation. Considering the fact that he’d saved her from Jerry and Paco, perhaps it wouldn’t hurt to cut the man some slack. “Lake Michigan, maybe?”
    “ Hmmm. Could be,” said Garrett. “But Lake Huron sounds more familiar. They passed when I was in college and had sold that house long before. I never thought to ask, but it was a great memory. I really came to appreciate the outdoors.”
    “ You’re parents must be proud of your service.”
    Garrett nodded. “Lost my mom when I was in Iraq. Never knew my dad.” He shrugged. “I’m the product of some romance my mother never talked about.”
    Liddie ’s eyebrows popped with interest. “You ever investigate to find out who he was?”
    “ Nope. Don’t care.”
    He said it quick, and Liddie nodded, understanding that while some found it necessary to reconnect, he didn’t. If anything, she sensed, this was a man with few close connections.
    “ I lost both my parents,” offered Liddie. “Kind of sucks, doesn’t it? No matter how old you are.” She took a deep breath and looked out the window. There was nothing to see; only her face reflected in the glass.
    “ I’m sorry,” said Garrett politely. “Any siblings?”
    Liddie felt the p ain of her parents loss sting at her eyes. Why? It had been so long ago. She’d been able to speak of it countless times since. Why so emotional now? She took a moment to answer.
    “ No,” she said firmly. “No brothers or sisters. Just a few relatives and a truly wonderful aunt.”
    Did she sound lonely? For a moment, Liddie feared she had.
    “ Have you met Maxon’s family?”
    Garrett was watching her too closely now. Like he was trying to get into her head. Liddie cursed for letting her guard down.
    “No. I mean, I met his father a few times, but that’s about it.” She turned to face him. “Why?”
    Parker let out a moan and rolled over. Garrett looked at him, pulled his feet from the table and stood up.
    “ He’s not waking…” Liddie began and then stopped, suddenly realizing that it sounded as if she wanted the pilot to stay.
    Garrett paused , as if considering whether to leave. Instead, he squatted down next to her, putting one