Free Hijacked (A Retribution Novel) by Cindy Stark Page A

Christian didn’t want to admit.
    “My brother and I don’t have a lot in common. During the years, we’ve grown apart, both of us going our separate ways. I’m trying to rectify that situation now.”
    She lifted her brows, surprised at Christian’s confession. “That seems rather big of you. How’s it going?”
    “I think I’ve earned his trust.”
    “You must have if you’re doing backroom deals.” She laughed as though she’d said it in jest, but she wanted to gaze his reaction.
    He laughed with her. “If you say so.”
    “When are you going to let me drive your car?” he asked, and she recognized his intent to change the subject.
    She grinned. “I don’t know. Are you sure you can handle it?”
    His cheeks creased as he smiled, sending a hot spark into her core. “I can handle anything you’ve got. Under your hood.” His grin grew wider. “In your car, that is.”
    Or anywhere else, she was sure. Dammit. The attraction between them was strong. When he’d talked about ensuring that the women he’d made love to had received as much pleasure as he did, he hadn’t been kidding. Even now, she could still feel the burn of his touch on her skin. She swallowed, growing uncomfortable as her core heated.
    “May I have some ice water, too?” she asked the waitress when she delivered their coffee.
    Christian chuckled, but said nothing.
    “What?” she asked, wondering if he’d guessed at the intent behind her question.
    “Just thinking.” He sipped his coffee. “Mmm… Best damn coffee in Portland.”
    She added sugar and cream, stirring the concoction into a lovely shade of mocha. Then she tasted. Rich flavor crested on her tongue. “It reminds me of the coffee shop in the town where I grew up. The woman who ran it would give me coffee and a cookie every day if I stopped after school.”
    He narrowed his gaze. “How old were you?”
    She thought back. “I’d guess seven or eight when I first started going to visit her. A girl in my class brought cookies from the coffee shop for her birthday. Best damn thing I’d ever tasted. So, I decided I needed more. I stopped there and offered to clean for her if she’d give me two cookies, one for me and one for my brother. I’m sure I made more of a mess than I actually cleaned, but she was a good woman.”
    “She gave a seven year old coffee,” he pointed out.
    “It’s not like she ruined me.” She made a face at him. “You already know the circumstances of my youth. We didn’t have milk at my house. It was coffee or water, so I learned to like the stuff.”
    He shook his head and snorted. “Can you imagine what your teacher thought, you coming in all jacked up on caffeine. I’m sure you were a handful.”
    She laughed with him. “Not me. That was my brother. I think he might have been sent to the principal’s office every day.”
    Then she sobered. “In hindsight, I wonder if the community did what they could to help us, you know? Our teacher always brought too much food in her lunch. She usually had an extra sandwich that she couldn’t possibly eat. I see that now. I mean, who accidently brings an extra sandwich to work? And the principal, he never really yelled at Eric. Instead, his punishment was that he’d have to do his homework in the principal’s office. My brother absolutely hated it, but that man was more of a father to him than our own sperm donor was.”
    “Sounds like a good town. Was that here in Oregon?”
    She shook her head. “Wyoming. A small town called Cody. At least it was smaller back then. I haven’t been there in years.”
    He nodded thoughtfully. “I’ve always wanted to be that stranger who anonymously helps someone. I think it’s important to look out for each other, you know?”
    His words touched her deeply. She’d obviously underestimated the kind of man she’d thought him to be. Fit, self-centered, incredible lover, the perfect man to know for only one night. She’d been completely off the mark with