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.“You were right.I thought it was a tampon, but the moment I saw the gun I thought it was the gun.” He ran his hand over her shoulders.“And I never meant to insult your writing.You’re a great writer.”She raised her face.“You’re just saying that because you want me to sleep with you.”“No, I’m saying it because it’s true.”Her blue eyes bright with unshed tears met his.“Too bad.It was almost working.”“Really?” He lowered his face to kiss her, but the doorbell interrupted.He growled, “I’m going to kill whoever it is at the door.”“Here, use this.” She dropped the tampon in his hand and stepped forward.He caught her.“I answer the door, remember?” He tossed her the tampon and felt for his gun in his holster before looking out the side window.“It’s FedEx,” he said.“Are you expecting something?”“If he’s a good-looking blond guy, looks like a weightlifter, then it’s the real thing.It’s Hunky.”Jason glared at her.“You got a thing for your FedEx man?”“No, but he’s fun to look at.” Sue walked over and peered out the window.“It’s him.” She slipped the tampon in Jason’s shirt pocket and opened the door.Jason stood back and listened.“Hi there, Beautiful,” the FedEx man said.“How are you, Hunky?”“Still heartbroken, since you refuse to go out with me,” the FedEx man said.“I could really help you on those…those sex scenes.”Jason stepped beside Sue in the doorway.Mr.FedEx’s smile shrank a notch.Yanking away his clipboard, Jason handed it to Sue.“Sign it so this guy can go try to pick up his next customer.” He reached in his shirt pocket and pulled out a pen, forgetting the gizmo was an electronic board.Sue stared at his hand and grinned.“I…think that one’s out of ink.”Jason looked down at the tampon.The FedEx guy laughed.Jason tossed the tampon over his shoulder.Sue signed the clipboard and handed it off.The FedEx guy gave a two-finger salute and left.As Sue shut the door, Jason glared at her.“Does that asshole always hit on you?”“I’ll bet he’s wondering if you always carry unwrapped tampons in your shirt pocket.”“Funny,” Jason said.“Yeah, it is kind of funny.” Sue focused on the envelope.“It’s from Melissa.It’s probably a copy of my book’s new cover.They misspelled my name and had to completely redo it.Melissa posted it on my website.” She ripped open the envelope and gave it a quick glance.“Do you want to read the real thing instead of the manuscript?”“Sure.” Jason shot the door one more glare before taking the novel.He studied the cover, a dead rat in the forefront, but in the background there was a small blonde half hidden behind a door and staring out.“I like it.” He stared at the book, then raised his gaze, realizing why he liked it.“It’s you.”“What’s me?” she asked.“The girl on the cover.It’s you.Well, it looks like you.”“No, it…” Sue pulled the book from him.“It’s not.” She frowned.“Crappers.It does look like me, doesn’t it?”“Is that bad?” he asked.“Yes.I don’t want people to think I’m so conceited that I want my own picture on the cover.And besides, my heroine in that story didn’t look anything like me.” Sue tapped her finger against the book.“I knew I didn’t like that cover artist.I’ll bet you fifty bucks he did this because I didn’t want to bang him.I’m calling Melissa, and if she’s behind this, I’m firing her.”Right then Jason decided that Sue’s editor—who still hadn’t returned his calls with contact information on the cover artist—would be hearing from him again.Several hours later, Jason looked down the hall to where Sue was holed up again.He left his third phone message for Sue’s editor, hung up, then redialed her agent.Both he and Sue had talked to the woman briefly.The agent/publicist vowed she hadn’t known about the cover and said she’d check into it, and she’d promised to get back to Jason as soon as she knew more.Of course, her “soon” didn’t match Jason’s.The phone rang for the sixth time and Jason disconnected.Hitchcock dashed from the sofa and did figure eights around Jason’s legs.Jason closed his phone and leaned over to stroke him.The cat, knowing there were other felines in Sue’s study, seemed pretty put out.Jason sympathized.He was feeling pretty put out himself.Sighing, he picked up his case folder and stared at the names of suspects.His phone rang.“Jason Dodd,” he answered.“Yes.My name’s Carl Jetton.I’m Sue Finley’s editor.”At first the guy sounded annoyed, but when Jason explained there had been threats made, Carl changed his tune.“Look, you can speak to my assistant editor,” he said.“But I can tell you he didn’t do any of this stuff.He could use a dose of tact with my authors, and I know he’s gotten rude with Sue.However, when I called him on it, he did apologize.He’s just young and arrogant.”“Has he been off from work any time this last week?” Jason asked.“No.He’s here from eight till almost six every day.”Jason reached for Sue’s book and stared at the cover.“Were you aware that the cover artist—I believe Ms.Finley’s agent said his name was Michael Braxton—put Miss Finley on the cover?”“Look, I’ve already heard an earful about that from Sue’s agent, and yes, it does sort of resemble her, but frankly I think it’s just a coincidence.”Jason didn’t believe in coincidences.“And what’s Mr.Braxton saying?”“I had my assistant try to reach him but couldn’t.Honestly, I don’t know him that well.He’s contract and works out of his home.This is the first job he’s done for us.But…the guy was recommended by someone we use.He wouldn’t be stalking an author.”Jason frowned.“I heard he hit on Ms.Finley when she was up several weeks ago, and he seemed upset that she wasn’t interested.”“Hey, have you met the author? She’s gorgeous.The guy’s single.Hitting on her isn’t a crime.”It was to Jason.“I’d still like to talk to him.”“Fine.As soon as I get him, I’ll have him call you.”Jason set Sue’s book down.“How about giving me his number?”“I don’t have that on me, but I’ll have someone get it for you.”“Great.”“It’ll be tomorrow.”Jason frowned.Hitchcock jumped up, landing with a thud on the family jewels.Jason grimaced, resettled the cat in his lap, and started rubbing him behind his ear.“Just get it to me as soon as possible.”As Jason hung up, he looked down at his list of suspects.His gaze returned once again to the name Benny Fritz.“What do you say?” he asked the cat.“Is Mr.Leather Loafers our guy?”“I don’t know about you, but I’m starving.” Sue wiggled her toes.It was almost eight on Wednesday night.Jason had picked the restaurant last time, so to night it was her choice.She’d chosen one of her old stomping grounds.Though why she’d chosen it still gave her pause.“Yup, I’m starving, too.” He stopped the car at a red light and looked at her.She knew what he wanted wasn’t just food.How long am I going to have to wait? he’d asked.If this afternoon was any indication, not long.She’d already given in to his kisses, his touches…and was considering giving in to much, much more.“There it is.” Sue pointed to the flashing neon sign.She noticed Jason’s gaze on the rearview mirror.“Are we being followed?”“No, I’m just checking.” He pulled into the parking lot and looked up at the sign.“We’re eating at a dance hall called the Fuzzy Duck?”“Don’t judge a book by a title.I…I used to come here a lot.”A smile brightened his eyes.“You going to dance with me?”She thought about being in his arms, moving against him as some slow song played in the background…and shook her head.“No, we’re here for the food.”They walked in.The atmosphere was dark and honky-tonkish, but Sue remembered it fondly [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]