signed the receipt, grabbed her key and left the office, never so happy to walk out of a place in her life.
Dirty old men . At her car, she opened the trunk and grabbed her bag. She’d make sure she locked her door securely that night, especially with the likes of those lechers lurking about.
After a lukewarm shower in water Adriana was sure swam with amoebas, she lay on the lumpy old mattress and stared at the map.
Why couldn’t she remember what Flint told her about where his uncle’s cabin was located? Was she losing it, too?
Her mind drifted back to the very beginning of their relationship. It’d been new and exciting. Every minute with Flint had been exhilarating, he’d been so giving in every way. If she hadn’t known better, she would have thought he loved her. What a crock that idea was.
Anyway, enough reminiscing. Concentrate, Adriana.
Flint told her about his parents being killed when he was very young and his Uncle Robert had taken him in and raised him. He’d obviously been an important influence in his life, and that’s when he’d told her about their annual fishing trips to his uncle’s cabin. On Evergreen Road. That’s it.
She picked up the map and found it right away. Not too far from Goose Lodge, where she was staying.
She’d get up first thing in the morning, and drive out there and surprise him.
Feeling relieved, Adriana lay back onto the pillow. As soon as she dozed off, a knock came from outside the door.
She eased herself up and nearly jumped out of her skin when a mouse ran over her foot. Her heart pounded a mile a minute against her ribcage as she opened the door. The clerk from the front desk stood outside, smiling.
“Yes,” Adriana asked. “Is there a problem?”
“No.” He shifted from one foot to the other. “I was just wondering if you needed something—anything at all?”
Adriana in no way liked the way the man looked at her. “Not that I can think of.”
“I couldn’t help but overhear what you told the boys earlier. If you’re looking for companionship, I’m not married, and… well… available.”
Her jaw dropped. Why would he think she needed company? “You know, that’s really sweet of you, but I’m not looking for just any man. It’s one in particular. Sorry.” She didn’t want to hurt his feelings, but she was tired, and this whole pickup thing embarrassed her. She could get a man. Any man she wanted.
“Goodnight.” She attempted to close the door, but his foot blocked her attempt. The man’s once smiling face turned dark and angry.
“You think you’re too good for me, don’t you?”
“Of course not. I’m dating someone, that’s all.” It was a lie, but he didn’t know that.
“Sure you are,” he said sarcastically. “But you know what? I don’t care about that. I think you should be nice to me, or I just might have to call our local constable here in Goose Lodge and tell him about the little bag of stash I found in your room.”
Adriana was aghast at his implication. “Are you trying to blackmail me?”
“Blackmail’s such a harsh word. I’m just saying you could find yourself in a bit of trouble if you’re not a little nicer.”
“You know what?” Adriana glanced at his nametag. “Rodger. I don’t have to be nice to you if I don’t want to be.”
It took nerve to pull this on a woman. How many others had he played this little game with?
“You know, Rodger. I think I’ll take my chances with the constable. You see, the thing is, you repulse me.”
This time he’d messed with the wrong woman. Adriana was going to make sure when she got through with him, he’d think twice about doing this to anyone else.
“I’m going to tell you this just once, so pay attention. You ever try to blackmail another woman, I’ll make sure you never walk again.” Adriana spun him around and wrapped her arm around his neck, flipping him to the floor. “Have you got that, Rodger? Are we straight?” Adriana placed her knee on
Dirty old men . At her car, she opened the trunk and grabbed her bag. She’d make sure she locked her door securely that night, especially with the likes of those lechers lurking about.
After a lukewarm shower in water Adriana was sure swam with amoebas, she lay on the lumpy old mattress and stared at the map.
Why couldn’t she remember what Flint told her about where his uncle’s cabin was located? Was she losing it, too?
Her mind drifted back to the very beginning of their relationship. It’d been new and exciting. Every minute with Flint had been exhilarating, he’d been so giving in every way. If she hadn’t known better, she would have thought he loved her. What a crock that idea was.
Anyway, enough reminiscing. Concentrate, Adriana.
Flint told her about his parents being killed when he was very young and his Uncle Robert had taken him in and raised him. He’d obviously been an important influence in his life, and that’s when he’d told her about their annual fishing trips to his uncle’s cabin. On Evergreen Road. That’s it.
She picked up the map and found it right away. Not too far from Goose Lodge, where she was staying.
She’d get up first thing in the morning, and drive out there and surprise him.
Feeling relieved, Adriana lay back onto the pillow. As soon as she dozed off, a knock came from outside the door.
She eased herself up and nearly jumped out of her skin when a mouse ran over her foot. Her heart pounded a mile a minute against her ribcage as she opened the door. The clerk from the front desk stood outside, smiling.
“Yes,” Adriana asked. “Is there a problem?”
“No.” He shifted from one foot to the other. “I was just wondering if you needed something—anything at all?”
Adriana in no way liked the way the man looked at her. “Not that I can think of.”
“I couldn’t help but overhear what you told the boys earlier. If you’re looking for companionship, I’m not married, and… well… available.”
Her jaw dropped. Why would he think she needed company? “You know, that’s really sweet of you, but I’m not looking for just any man. It’s one in particular. Sorry.” She didn’t want to hurt his feelings, but she was tired, and this whole pickup thing embarrassed her. She could get a man. Any man she wanted.
“Goodnight.” She attempted to close the door, but his foot blocked her attempt. The man’s once smiling face turned dark and angry.
“You think you’re too good for me, don’t you?”
“Of course not. I’m dating someone, that’s all.” It was a lie, but he didn’t know that.
“Sure you are,” he said sarcastically. “But you know what? I don’t care about that. I think you should be nice to me, or I just might have to call our local constable here in Goose Lodge and tell him about the little bag of stash I found in your room.”
Adriana was aghast at his implication. “Are you trying to blackmail me?”
“Blackmail’s such a harsh word. I’m just saying you could find yourself in a bit of trouble if you’re not a little nicer.”
“You know what?” Adriana glanced at his nametag. “Rodger. I don’t have to be nice to you if I don’t want to be.”
It took nerve to pull this on a woman. How many others had he played this little game with?
“You know, Rodger. I think I’ll take my chances with the constable. You see, the thing is, you repulse me.”
This time he’d messed with the wrong woman. Adriana was going to make sure when she got through with him, he’d think twice about doing this to anyone else.
“I’m going to tell you this just once, so pay attention. You ever try to blackmail another woman, I’ll make sure you never walk again.” Adriana spun him around and wrapped her arm around his neck, flipping him to the floor. “Have you got that, Rodger? Are we straight?” Adriana placed her knee on
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