Blood Diamond by R. J. Blain Read Free Book Online Page B

the United States and safe from those who might recognize either one of us, I’d make a point of taking her to the best restaurant I could find and letting her eat her fill. Traveling with a hungry Fenerec wasn’t something I looked forward to. The ride to Miami proved quiet, and twenty hours after blowing up my brother’s truck, I pulled into a luxury hotel near the beach, which I had made the reservations for the night before while Evelyn slept.
    The Fenerec got off the bike, pulling off her helmet to stare at me with wide eyes. “We’re staying here?”
    Removing my helmet, I ran my hands through my hair to smooth it. The ruffled look worked for many women, Evelyn included, but I ended up looking like a rat had chewed on my head. “We’re staying here. I made the reservation yesterday.”
    Unlike Evelyn, who had insisted on wearing her biker’s leathers, I had stuck with the business attire I knew, although I had a leather jacket on over my new suit. I’d miss the old one, which I had taken scissors to and flushed, so it—and my blood stains—wouldn’t come back to haunt me. It’d been miracle enough I had found a store with suits close to my size. Brocaded oxfords didn’t make great shoes for riding motorcycles, but I had avoided scuffing them too badly.
    I should have purchased sneakers or motorcycle boots. One day I’d get it through my thick skull to wear something other than business attire.
    Our room overlooked the ocean, and as soon as we were inside, Evelyn hurried to the wall-to-wall window, staring out over the water. Setting the bag down, I made certain the door was bolted before kicking off my shoes. The run through the forest hadn’t done my feet any favors, nor had the long ride from Georgia to Miami.
    I stared at the jacuzzi in the bathroom longingly, sighed, and sat down on the bed to rub at my aching ankles. While I wanted to soak, I had left instructions with the hotel to leave champagne, cheese, and strawberries next to the jacuzzi. If her behavior in all three of the restaurants we had stopped at was any indication, she didn’t go out often, let alone indulge in any real luxuries.
    It wasn’t much, but maybe the gesture would help her forget what had happened to her pack for a little while.
    “There’s a jacuzzi if you want to soak.”
    Evelyn spun from the window. “There’s a jacuzzi?”
    Her breathless voice sent shivers racing through me. I nodded to the bathroom, which wasn’t much smaller than the cheap motel room we had shared the night before. She crossed to it in a hurry, shucking off her jacket as she went. I caught it before it hit the ground. Her shirt followed, and I was so busy trying not to look at her I didn’t notice her throwing it at me. It landed on my head. Grabbing her shirt, I took it and her jacket to the closet in the suite’s small foyer.
    To my relief, she closed the bathroom door behind her.
    “There’s champagne and strawberries in here, Jackson!”
    “My, my,” I replied, unable to smother my chuckle.
    “Jackson, there’s a whole bottle and two glasses. Join me!”
    Laughing in earnest, I shook my head despite knowing she couldn’t see me. “That’s like a cat asking a mouse to dinner, Miss Evelyn. Enjoy your bath.”
    “Spoilsport.”
    After I heard the water start running, I sat on the edge of the bed, pulling my cell out of my pocket.
    Evelyn opened the door to pout at me, thrusting a filled champagne flute in my direction. “At least have a glass if you won’t join me.”
    I accepted the flute and raised it to her. “That I can do, ma’am. Take your time. I’ll have my turn after you.”
    “You could join me, you know. There’s plenty of room for two.”
    I wanted to, but satisfying my lusty desires wouldn’t do either one of us any good. “Alas, I must decline, Miss Evelyn, but thank you. I have a cruise to book for us while you enjoy your soak.” I smiled at her, making a shooing gesture with my phone.
    “You won’t get