Free Prey (BookStrand Publishing Romance) by Mary Lou George

rubbed his left leg.
    Are they reduced to talking about the weather? All New Englanders talked about the weather she reminded herself. “It’s been so long since I’ve been home I’m not sure I’d recognize the smell of snow.”
    “It’ll come back to you.” He rubbed his leg again.
    “Does it bother you much?” Jade asked.
    Not long ago, Sam had broken his leg, a victim of Reggie and Chase’s adventure. He still went to physiotherapy. Typical, he was determined to get full motion back.
    “I’m like one of the old mariners. My bones tell me when the weather is going to shift.”
    Jade shook her head in mock sympathy. “Poor old man. You should eat your bowl of gruel and go straight to bed.”
    “Are you hungry?” Sam asked.
    “Not for gruel.” She giggled.
    He smiled crookedly. “No, I was thinking we could stop at the diner for dinner. I’ve kept you out late, and as your employer, I should provide you with dinner.”
    Jade shook her head. “Thanks but my roommates have been alone all day. I’d like to get back to them.”
    “Now that excuse I’ll accept. I could take you home then go get take out.” He suggested hopefully.
    Jade looked sideways at him. “You’re on.”
    “What do you feel like?”
    She smiled. “Surprise me, but remember I’m a vegetarian.”
    He laughed. “Of course you are.”
     
    * * * *
     
    Jade had just started a fire and was warming her hands in front of it when Sam walked in with bags from the diner.
    “I wasn’t sure what you wanted, so I ordered pretty much everything on the menu that wasn’t made with meat.” He grinned proudly as he held the huge bags up for her to see.
    They smelled divine. Jade was starving and happy to learn that some things never changed, the diner served wonderfully unhealthy food. The very best kind.
    “I took the chance that while you’re a vegetarian, you’re still a junk food junkie.”
    She nodded enthusiastically as she stuffed three French fries in her mouth and closed her eyes with pleasure. “Mmm. I’m with Reggie. Everything tastes better deep fried.”
    “When it comes to food, our Reggie is usually right on the money.” He started to unload the food on her dining room table. “The fire is just the right touch.”
    Jade nodded and took a deep breath. The air was filled with the scent of burning wood. “I love this time of year, especially in New Crescent.”
    Sam agreed. “The Sinclair’s Christmas party is on the twenty second this year. They’ll be expecting you.” He waited for her response.
    She didn’t disappoint him. She flushed hotly, and her eyes widened with horror. “I’m not going to sing. Sweet Mother of God, I’m not singing.”
    Sam shook his head sadly. “Jinx, I don’t think you’ll have a choice. It’s a tradition, and we’ve done without you for too many years. It just hasn’t been the same.”
    Jade rolled her eyes, and her flush deepened as she remembered. One Christmas time, when she’d been about nine years old, Travis had walked in on Jade singing along with Elvis’s Christmas album. He’d slipped back out before she could see him, a dastardly plan forming in his twisted brain. At his parents’ annual Christmas party, two days later, he’d announced that Jade would be singing “Blue Christmas” a la Elvis Presley. Painfully shy, Jade froze. When she’d regained motion, she walked over to Travis and punched him in the arm. She’d been begged and cajoled by everyone there until finally, the song erupted from her throat without any encouragement from her brain. When she’d finished, she looked just as surprised as anyone. She was a hit! Her audience had loved it so much they’d made it a yearly tradition. And every year she’d dreaded it and cursed Travis for starting the whole thing.
    “There is no punishment too severe for Travis for what he did to me that day.” Jade shook her head.
    “I seem to recall you tried a number of times to get him back.”
    “Nothing could