Read Online Throwaway by Heather Huffman - Free Book Online

him.
    “They went in the back. You’re okay.”
    “Associates of yours?” Carter’s interest was
piqued.
    “They aren’t Spence’s girls. Probably RCG
girls, but I see them around every so often,” Jessie explained.
River City Gazette girls were the ones who didn’t have pimps—they
advertised their services on the back of a local paper.
    “We’re prepared to offer you protection from
Spence in return for any information you can get us on his new
business activities,” Carter dove right into the purpose of their
meeting.
    “You really think you can guarantee that?”
Jessie asked pointedly.
    “Do you have any real guarantee of that now?”
his gaze fell to the bruises on her face.
    “I see being irritating is a prerequisite for
employment with St. Louis’ Finest,” Jessie muttered, glad for the
interruption when the waitress brought their beer.
    “Spence is in a vise right now; he’s getting
pressure from both sides. He’s only going to get more volatile as
the vise tightens,” Gabe reasoned with her.
    “What do you want from me?”
    “Just tell us what you see. Any conversations
you overhear. If you hear something, pass it along to Gabe. He’ll
be your handler.”
    “My handler, huh?” Jessie bit the inside of
her lip to keep from laughing at that one. “I suppose if I don’t do
this, you’re going to make my life miserable.”
    “Something like that,” Carter agreed.
    “I’ll think about it.”
    “You’ll think about it?”
    “Isn’t that what I just said?”
    “You have twenty-four hours to ‘think’ about
it,” he relented. “Look, I promised my wife I’d be home at a decent
hour… can you get her home, Gabe?”
    “Sure thing, Captain.”
    “Listen, Jessie…you haven’t heard anything
about my wife, have you?” Carter turned back to ask after taking
two steps away.
    “Not a peep,” Jessie promised, quite proud of
her ability to keep a straight face. As soon as they were alone,
she smacked Gabe soundly on the arm.
    “What was that for?”
    “You jerk. You used me.”
    “Honey, if my intent was to use you, I’d have
gotten what I needed a lot sooner than this. I’ve been remarkably
patient with you so far.”
    “Is that so?”
    “Absolutely.”
    The pair seemed to be moving ever-closer to
each other, as if being pulled by an invisible force. Jessie’s eyes
greedily devoured his face. She wondered what his scruff would feel
like against her skin.
    “If you’re my ‘handler’ that’s one very big
reason for us to stay clear of each other.”
    “Of course.”
    “I mean, really, what would be the point of
us hooking up? It’s not like it could go anywhere.”
    “To be perfectly honest, I can’t think much
beyond wondering if you taste as good as you look,” he admitted.
“Why couldn’t we go anywhere?”
    “Really? You have to ask that?” She sat back
in her chair just in time for the waitress to place a heaping plate
of nachos in front of them. Jessie knew Harmony would work her
nearly to death the next morning if she heard about this
indulgence, so she resolved not to mention it and helped herself to
some food.
    “Should I have ordered two plates?”
    “You weren’t seriously going to eat all of
them, were you?” she didn’t wait for an answer. “Wow, do these
people know it’s summer? It’s freezing in here.”
    “Jessie my girl, whatchya’ doing here?”
    Jessie’s heart nearly stopped when she
recognized Dan standing in front of her, a big grin on his friendly
face. “Danny, wow, you play here, too?”
    “And here I was telling myself you came to
see me.”
    “I didn’t know this was your other gig… but
I’m looking forward to hearing you.”
    “Join us, Dan? Jessie didn’t leave many
nachos, though. We’ll have to order more,” Gabe motioned for him to
sit.
    “Don’t you give my girl trouble, Gabe.”
    “Yeah, don’t give his girl trouble,” Jessie
made a face at him. Even though she worried Dan would accidentally
get her