Free Please Remember Me by Wendi Zwaduk Page B

stands. Everyone seemed to have a favourite. She leant over the baby seat and nudged Cass. “Are you going to expose him to all the noise? Seems really loud for an infant.”
    Cass held up a thick set of earphones. “He wears these and tends to sleep through the races. I think the earphones diffuse the sounds into a low buzz and it lulls him to dreamland. Plus, I cover the carrier with a blanket to keep the dirt off him. He’ll be fine. Speaking of a buzz, have you seen Logan?” She checked her watch. “I thought he’d be here by now.”
    Jaden shrugged. “Where did he go?” Since Logan had dropped off the national radar to be with Cass, his life was of his choosing. She coveted his decision to be his own man without the cloak of celebrity. Someday she’d make the dream a reality in her life as well.
    “The local news wanted him and Corbin for an interview.” Cass stretched and crossed her ankles. “You know how he loves the cameras. He says it doesn’t faze him, but the man primped for an hour to make sure he looked good at every angle. He’s a dork, but I love him.”
    Logan, a dork? Not hardly. He made women swoon when he smiled. But, yeah, he probably posed in front of the mirror to make sure he made the right visual impression. Above the superficial act, he loved Cass and Julian and no others.
    “He’ll be here.”
    “I know.” Cass placed the earphones on Julian and re-crossed her legs. “So, how was the first week with Judi? I don’t know her personally, but she seemed like a really nice lady. She called to ask me about you. I gave you my thumbs up.”
    Waving her hand, Jaden bobbed her head. “Well, she takes a little getting used to, but it’s a good adjustment. By the way, thanks for the reference. And before I forget, she’s got a stack of your books she’d like autographed, if you don’t mind.”
    “Not a problem at all. I love meeting my fans.” She grinned and tucked her dark hair behind her ears. “Did you know you made the tabloid shows?”
    “How? I haven’t done anything.”
    “That’s it. You haven’t done anything. Your father got on Movie Time Tonight a couple of nights ago, I think, and pleaded for you to come home. He thinks you ran off to Tibet and shaved your head. The scandal media ran with it and sent crews to at least three retreats trying to find you. This morning he pleaded for you to refrain from tattooing your body just for the sake of rebellion. You do understand that once he realises where you are, you won’t be able to hide here.”
    Jaden snorted. He knew full well where she was, but trust him to make a couple of anthill stories into mountains. “You know he only wanted me around to boost sales for the magazine. When I behave, then he has to look for stories and pay his reporters to do their jobs. God forbid he spend money to make money.” Or love his child just because she was his child. “Hey, does your mail carrier drive a green sedan?”
    “Nope, she’s in one of those funny little mail trucks. Why?”
    “It’s nothing.” Jaden pieced together the sightings in her mind. Once at Cass’, twice at Judi’s, and once on the main drag. Could be a coincidence. Could be something more.
    “Are you happy in Ohio?” Cass asked.
    Before Jaden could answer, Marlon, decked in his putty-coloured sheriff’s department finest—complete with tall black hat—strolled along the fence in her prime line of vision. Her heart fluttered and her mouth ran dry. Some men simply wore their clothes. Marlon made the uniform work. With the gun and radio decorating his belt, he oozed strength. Even the badge gleamed in the setting sun. Marlon made her more than happy—he made her feel safe. She tried to bite back the grin curling her lips, even as her stomach flip-flopped. What would it feel like to strip him out of his uniform after a long day protecting the public?
    A hand waved across her field of vision. “Earth to Jaden.”
    She whipped around to see Logan