Read Online A Vow to Love by Sherryl Woods - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Sherryl Woods
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Forget Tank. Sam was the man who was downright dangerous.
Chapter 5
"A re you aware that there's a man following you?" Didi Rogers asked Penny a week later as they walked from the lab to a nearby restaurant for lunch.
Penny whirled around, half expecting to see Tank Landry trailing along behind them. It wouldn't have been the first time. She had spotted him on two different occasions after Sam had warned her to be on the lookout. Both times Randy had been with him, watching worriedly, looking as if he were ready to intercede if Tank made a move on her. So far, though, he had never actually approached her. Just his presence, which confirmed Sam's warning, had unnerved her badly enough. She'd been determined, however, not to let him disrupt her life.
Now, however, the man she spotted about half a block back was Sam himself. He wasn't doing much to hide his presence, unless he considered those mirrored aviator sunglasses a sufficient disguise. Penny wondered how Didi had happened to notice him. Foolish question. Didi noticed any man over the age of consent. Her radar would detect a male as gorgeous as Sam if he was within a radius of miles. That didn't explain why she had assumed he was following Penny.
"What makes you think anyone is following me?" she asked the pathologist who'd provided her with invaluable assistance in the lab, as well as a lot of lighthearted moments over the past couple of weeks. Other than her work, there was very little else that Didi took seriously. She had an optimistic, slightly skewed view of life that echoed the outlook Penny had once had in what seemed another lifetime.
"Because I've seen the man every single day for a solid week now," she informed Penny.
"So what?" Penny countered. "This area is crawling with people who take the same route every day."
"But this person waits outside the lab at noon. He turns up just outside wherever we happen to go for lunch. And he's back at the lab when we get off. Since I don't know him, I figure you must. I'm trained to look for patterns and draw conclusions, remember?"
Penny grinned ruefully. "I could have sworn your specialty was DNA, though."
Didi shrugged dramatically. "What can I tell you? Sometimes the habit carries over into other parts of my life. When an experiment goes really badly, I consider changing professions and becoming a P.I. Today's one of those days." She studied Penny closely. "You don't seem to be particularly shocked, or terrified, or indignant. What's the story? Are you on friendly terms with this hunk?"
"Actually, he's distantly related by marriage."
Didi looked skeptical. "So distantly related that he's not allowed to actually speak to you?"
Penny sighed, glad to be at the restaurant where the noise level was so high that any real conversation was virtually impossible. "It's a long story," was all she said, hoping that would end it. Naturally it didn't. Didi had the tenacity of a pit bull once something fascinated her. Obviously a man like Sam would.
"That's the best kind," she said, forcing Penny into the most private booth available in the crowded restaurant. "Tell me everything," she shouted over the noise.
When Penny remained stubbornly silent, burying herself behind the menu she already knew by heart, Didi started to slide out of the booth.
"Where are you going?" Penny asked with a sinking sensation in the pit of her stomach.
"If you won't talk, maybe he will. I'm going to ask him to join us."
"Don't you dare." It came out as more plea than order.
Didi's eyes widened with evident fascination. "It gets more interesting by the minute. I'm waiting. And you might as well put down that menu. You always order the same thing, soup and half a tuna salad sandwich on white toast. You're incredibly boring, Hayden. Or at least you have been up until now. That man outside indicates you might have promise."
"I was not put on this earth to fill your insatiable appetite for amusement," Penny reminded her.
"Perhaps not, but
Chapter 5
"A re you aware that there's a man following you?" Didi Rogers asked Penny a week later as they walked from the lab to a nearby restaurant for lunch.
Penny whirled around, half expecting to see Tank Landry trailing along behind them. It wouldn't have been the first time. She had spotted him on two different occasions after Sam had warned her to be on the lookout. Both times Randy had been with him, watching worriedly, looking as if he were ready to intercede if Tank made a move on her. So far, though, he had never actually approached her. Just his presence, which confirmed Sam's warning, had unnerved her badly enough. She'd been determined, however, not to let him disrupt her life.
Now, however, the man she spotted about half a block back was Sam himself. He wasn't doing much to hide his presence, unless he considered those mirrored aviator sunglasses a sufficient disguise. Penny wondered how Didi had happened to notice him. Foolish question. Didi noticed any man over the age of consent. Her radar would detect a male as gorgeous as Sam if he was within a radius of miles. That didn't explain why she had assumed he was following Penny.
"What makes you think anyone is following me?" she asked the pathologist who'd provided her with invaluable assistance in the lab, as well as a lot of lighthearted moments over the past couple of weeks. Other than her work, there was very little else that Didi took seriously. She had an optimistic, slightly skewed view of life that echoed the outlook Penny had once had in what seemed another lifetime.
"Because I've seen the man every single day for a solid week now," she informed Penny.
"So what?" Penny countered. "This area is crawling with people who take the same route every day."
"But this person waits outside the lab at noon. He turns up just outside wherever we happen to go for lunch. And he's back at the lab when we get off. Since I don't know him, I figure you must. I'm trained to look for patterns and draw conclusions, remember?"
Penny grinned ruefully. "I could have sworn your specialty was DNA, though."
Didi shrugged dramatically. "What can I tell you? Sometimes the habit carries over into other parts of my life. When an experiment goes really badly, I consider changing professions and becoming a P.I. Today's one of those days." She studied Penny closely. "You don't seem to be particularly shocked, or terrified, or indignant. What's the story? Are you on friendly terms with this hunk?"
"Actually, he's distantly related by marriage."
Didi looked skeptical. "So distantly related that he's not allowed to actually speak to you?"
Penny sighed, glad to be at the restaurant where the noise level was so high that any real conversation was virtually impossible. "It's a long story," was all she said, hoping that would end it. Naturally it didn't. Didi had the tenacity of a pit bull once something fascinated her. Obviously a man like Sam would.
"That's the best kind," she said, forcing Penny into the most private booth available in the crowded restaurant. "Tell me everything," she shouted over the noise.
When Penny remained stubbornly silent, burying herself behind the menu she already knew by heart, Didi started to slide out of the booth.
"Where are you going?" Penny asked with a sinking sensation in the pit of her stomach.
"If you won't talk, maybe he will. I'm going to ask him to join us."
"Don't you dare." It came out as more plea than order.
Didi's eyes widened with evident fascination. "It gets more interesting by the minute. I'm waiting. And you might as well put down that menu. You always order the same thing, soup and half a tuna salad sandwich on white toast. You're incredibly boring, Hayden. Or at least you have been up until now. That man outside indicates you might have promise."
"I was not put on this earth to fill your insatiable appetite for amusement," Penny reminded her.
"Perhaps not, but
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