Promises

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Book: Read Promises for Free Online
Authors: Jo Barrett
Roger, a fact she would like to forget.    
    “So who’s this doctor?   Do you trust him?” he asked.
    “Ted Stamens.   I asked him to keep quiet about your visit, but he said he had to report all gunshot wounds to the sheriff.”
    “Shit.”   He twisted to get out of bed, but she quickly moved to his side and shoved him back in once again.  
    Why couldn’t he just stay put?   She didn’t need to keep touching him all the blasted time.  
    “I already told the sheriff what happened over the phone,” she said.   “I told him you’d gone hiking and mumbled something about getting shot by a hunter.   Since it isn’t hunting season, he’ll be busy trying to track them down.   But I imagine he’ll want to speak with you in person when you’re able.”
    With a heavy sigh, he rested against the headboard, and she retreated to the other side of the room.  
    “Not a bad story, Miss Profit.   But aren’t you the least bit curious about what really happened?   And what my real name is?”
    An odd twinkle in his eye warned her to beware.   He apparently didn’t remember her calling him by name the day before.   Only he did say her false name in the oddest way.    
    She cleared her throat.   “Of course, if you’re willing to tell me.”
    He studied her for a long moment.   She felt like babbling the truth then running from the room, but stood perfectly still, hoping he wouldn’t suspect anything.
    The corner of his mouth quirked up.   “I tell you what.   Why don’t we just stick with your story?   Mark Schuster is as good a name as any.”
    Confusion compounded confusion.   Why pick that name?   Why not the alias he probably already established?  
    But then if whoever shot him knew him by that name — okay, it made sense.   She guessed.   This whole cloak and dagger thing was still new to her, but she’d play along.  
    “Very well, Mr. Schuster.”   Bobbi cleared her throat to choke back the unexpected giggle threatening to bubble out.  
    Mark Schuster, the real Mark Schuster looked nothing like Travis.   He stood a lot shorter, weighed a lot less, and well, looked totally different.   Oh, he was a nice guy and all, and had a wonderful respect for art, which is what prompted her to go out with him in the first place, but he was no Adonis.  
    And neither is Travis, you twit.
    “Call me Mark, please.   After all, we used to date.”   His wicked grin melted her insides.  
    She gnashed her teeth silently.   The man already sent out enough pheromones to get half the women in the state hot.   Did he have to be charming too?  
    Think about Roger, about how much Travis is like him.   The womanizing, lying, cheating...
    “I’ll go get you some lunch,” she said with a barely concealed snarl.   
    Crossing to the doorway, she patted Rocky on the head.   “Keep Mark company, Rock, but remember he’s our guest.   You wouldn’t want to get heartburn.”  
    She headed for the kitchen without looking back.   The war had begun and she refused to lose.   She’d stop this nuclear meltdown before it had a chance to begin.   She wouldn’t disclose her real identity, and she most certainly would not fall under Travis Reid’s seductive spell.   Never again, not after Roger.   That was one hard learned lesson she didn’t intend on reliving.  
    Even if Travis proved to be one of the good guys, she’d promised Jason she would hide and keep quiet, and she was determined to do that very thing.  
    Jason always said Travis was like a pit bull.   Once he latched on to something, he never let go.   If he knew she had information that might lead to catching Phillip Steele, he would demand to know everything.
    If only she could have talked to Jason one more time before he disappeared.   Even though he suspected someone at the Bureau of working for Steele, he couldn’t have meant Travis.  
    Still, she had to do what he asked.   There were too many unknowns in this dreadful

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