Read Online High-Caliber Holiday by Susan Sleeman - Free Book Online Page B

wasn’t afraid to let him see her distress. He hoped that was true. It would make him feel better about the way she’d managed to get past the defenses he’d put up. To make him interested in her when she was the last woman on Earth that he should be having such thoughts about.
    Rossi snapped his notebook closed. “I’ve lifted a few prints from the car and should have time to run them later today. Where can I reach you if I need you?”
    She dug a business card from her bulging leather briefcase and wrote a phone number on the back. “My cell.” She slid it across the table then passed another card to Brady. “You’ll need this for my work address.” She stood. “Thank you for your help, Detective. Now I really need to get to work.”
    Brady got up, too. “I’ll walk you out.”
    Rossi nodded at the barista. “I might as well grab a cup of coffee while I’m here. With the snow, it’ll be a crazy day at the precinct.”
    Morgan picked up her gym bag and briefcase. Brady reached out to carry them for her, but she held fast and headed for the door. As fragile as she seemed at times, she was tough to the core. He appreciated her strength, but honestly, it was starting to irritate him, too. She needed help right now, his help, and he wished she’d just accept it without questioning his motives.
    He stopped in front of her. “Let me make a quick sweep before you go outside.” He expected an argument but got a clipped nod instead.
Good.
At least she wasn’t too stubborn to listen to common sense.
    On the street, he ran his gaze up and down, checking trees, shrubbery and between cars. Rossi had pulled his car out of traffic, but other than that, nothing had changed. He gestured for Morgan to join him. They started down the sidewalk, and he rested his hand on his sidearm just in case he’d missed something in his search. At his truck, he unlocked the door and stepped back.
    Morgan set her bags on the cracked vinyl seat, then gracefully settled behind the wheel, looking as uncomfortable as a regal princess at a thrift shop. He was suddenly very aware of how completely run-down his truck was. He kept it clean. No trash or fast food wrappers like a lot of guys, but it had seen better days. Honestly, it was about ready for the scrap metal yard. He risked a glance at her face, expecting disgust. Instead, he found that iron mask she was able to call up at a moment’s notice.
    He gave her the keys and rested an arm on the door. “She likes to stall sometimes, but she always starts back up.”
    Morgan raised an eyebrow. “She?”
    â€œAw, come on, don’t tell me people in your life never gave their vehicles a name.”
    â€œNever. At least, not that I know of.”
    â€œSounds like you’ve been hanging around the wrong kind of people,” he said, though actually he was kind of embarrassed.
    A tight smile broke the tense lines on her face. “Thank you again for the loan of your truck. My presentation should be finished by noon. We can meet then.”
    She put the key in the ignition before looking back at him. “Her name. You didn’t say.”
    â€œBessie.”
    â€œBessie?”
    He should never have brought it up. Now he’d have to explain. “When I was in middle school I hung out at a friend’s farm. Travis and I raised a calf for exhibit at the state fair. We named her Bessie after a cow we saw in TV commercials for a local milk company.”
    Memories of one of the best times of his life came rushing back and he allowed his thoughts to remain on caring for the animal. Bessie listened to all of his struggles and never judged. Plus, caring for her gave him hours and hours out in the fresh air. An escape from the tin can of a trailer they lived in. And then there was the unending food supplied by Travis’s family. Until... The memories evaporated like a popped balloon.