Free Please Remember Me by Wendi Zwaduk Page A

like—”
    Before she could finish her answer, Marlon sealed her lips with his. Although she fought him for a moment, once his tongue danced against her lips, she opened and softened. Dear God, her taste reminded him of the best wine and sunshine. Was it possible to taste sunshine? Hell, he wasn’t sure and didn’t care. The whimper bubbling in her throat spurred him on, drawing her closer. He groaned. Who cared that they stood on the sidewalk with a howling dog tangling around their legs?
    When the kiss ended, Jaden gazed at him with glazed eyes. “You didn’t have to do that—but I liked it.”
    He smoothed his thumb over her cheek, savouring her silky skin. “Does that mean I can kiss you again?”
    She nodded, sending a flood of warmth through his body. “I don’t hate you.”
    “Good, because I’m rather fond of you, Jaden Marie.”
    “What about that other chick?” Her voice wavered. “Sabrina. Isn’t she your woman?”
    Sabrina? She hadn’t been faithful when they had been together. Why the hell would Jaden think…? The incident in the apartment parking lot came back in a rush. “She’s nothing more than a friend with the wrong ideas.”
    “You don’t have to be my personal bulldog. Although no one believes it, I can handle myself.”
    Marlon brushed a rogue hank of hair from her eyes and cupped her skull. She felt so small in his hands, but so strong. She could handle whatever life dished out and yet he wanted to be there. “You’re tougher than nails.” He glanced at Sparky who thumped his tail against the ground with a steady beat. “I don’t want to start any rumours, but I’m pretty sure Sparks would like to go home, so why don’t we drop him off? I want to make things up to you.”
    As they began to walk towards the house, Jaden stopped and gasped. “Man.”
    He froze and scanned the area for anything or anyone out of place. “What? Who do you see?”
    “There he is again.”
    “Who?”
    She nodded down the street. “That green car. It’s been everywhere I am.”
    “The one on the corner?”
    “Ford…Mercury, maybe. I couldn’t tell the make, but it has a dented rear fender and a bent rear bumper—like a frown.”
    Noting the car she pointed to, Marlon committed the make and model to memory. “He’s leaving, but I’ll look into it.”
    She slapped her thigh. “Dammit. I was supposed to call Cass. She wanted to know if I wanted to go to the races. Why don’t we take a rain check?”
    Not wanting the good feeling to end, Marlon scooped her into another embrace. “My detail tonight is the races, so why don’t you call her and I’ll meet you there? I owe you a good time after my behaviour last weekend.”
    A smile crept across her lips. “I’d like that.”
    Strolling with their fingers entwined, they stopped in front of Judi’s house. Marlon released her hand and cupped the back of her head. “I’ll see you later? No running away from me, even if you don’t like me much?”
    “You do realise there is a real chance we won’t work out? My track record sucks.” Jaden punctuated her words by poking her index finger into his stomach. “I’m rather shitty with commitment.”
    “Are you throwing down a challenge?”
    “Just don’t expect to win.”
    “Why?”
    “Because you won’t.”
     

Chapter Eight
     
     
     
    Cass smoothed the blanket on the hill and placed the baby seat in the middle. Clumps of grass popped up around the edges of the crocheted cotton like little tufts of hair. Jaden crossed her legs and sighed. Mason, one of the engine builders for Cass’s dirt racing team, sat next to her and talked non-stop about gear ratios. Her head span. Maths had never been her favourite subject with her tutors. Then again, the only science she understood was biology, and that came from putting the knowledge into practice. So much for practicing.
    Propping her head in her hands, she scanned the crowd again. People dressed in various team colours littered the