Please Remember Me by Wendi Zwaduk Read Free Book Online

driving the wrong way down a one-way street in Pasadena two years ago.”
    He brushed his knuckles over her cheek. “But you can read the traffic signs?”
    Slapping his hand away, she chuckled. “Yes, I can. Last time I checked, s-t-o-p spelled accelerate.”
      “Then we’re set. If you get into too much trouble, just listen to me and I’ll get you straightened out.” Marlon grabbed the door handle. “And g-o means you’d better hit the brake, smart aleck.”
    A shiver ran up her spine. Electricity crackled in her veins. Maybe he could straighten her out in other delicious, sweaty ways… Fisting her hands, she forced her thoughts towards something more mundane, like kittens, or pancakes…or the sizzle of his lips against hers. Oh, hell.
    “You know you sound all official. Do you do it out of routine or to impress women?”
    “I’m a cop all the way down to my DNA. Sue me.”
    “No, I don’t want to sue you. I know what cops make.” And how they put their lives on the line. Forcing her mind back to driving, Jaden slid into the seat and gripped the steering wheel with numb fingers. Did he know the effect he had on her? Did he care? Did he want to toy with her and break her will to show he could? Enough! No more thinking about what couldn’t be.
    “Where are we going, again? I forgot.”
    Marlon handed her his cell phone. “Call Mrs Pennywood and see if she’s home. Then we can decide where to go. Deal?”
    With trembling hands, she took the phone. Her heart lodged in her throat. She could do this. She could talk to the woman and sound coherent. Landing a job was no harder than taking her clothes off for a modelling shoot, and one heck of a lot warmer.
    After three rings, someone answered. “This is the Pennywood residence. May I help you?”
    She gasped. The words she’d practiced each mile of her journey to Ohio suddenly vanished. Marlon must have sensed her fear, and squeezed her hand in one of his larger hands. “You can do this,” he mouthed.
    “Hello?”
    Not about to lose the job before she’d earned it, she forced her mouth to work. “M—my name is Jaden Haydenweir and I’m calling about the dog walker position.” Man, she didn’t sound anything like the poised woman who endorsed luxury cars on television.
    The elderly voice on the other end laughed. “Do you have any pets?”
    Pets? Um, did the paparazzi count? They followed her like dogs and chased her like wolves. “No, but I did as a child.”
    “Good. Do you live here in town?”
    She mouthed the question to Marlon and put her hand over the speaker. “What do I say? I live in a motel room!”
    He waved away her concern with his right hand. “Give her my address. I doubt she’ll check it on such short notice. Sixteen twenty-seven Harvard Street.”
    With a nod, Jaden relayed the information. Another rush of warmth surged through her. Why did the idea of staying with him seem so nice? Comfortable? Because it was easy and wrong. If they had a relationship, she wanted to have it the old-fashioned way. She wanted to earn it, not be a mercy roommate or a notch on the bedpost.
    “Just a moment.” The female voice giggled again. “Well, I talked to Sparky and he’d like to meet a Miss Haydenweir. Can you come by around three?”
    Jaden glanced at the dashboard clock. Twelve forty-six. She could make three, but what if she found an apartment before the appointment? She’d make time. “We’ll see you then.”
    Her heart thundered in her chest. Three. Until then, she had Marlon to herself and housing to look for. She glanced in the side mirror. The green car sat parked three spaces away but facing in the other direction. Her lunch reversed its course. Someone wanted her whereabouts known.
    Marlon rubbed the top of her hand with his callused thumb. “Hey. You okay?”
    Okay? No, she wasn’t okay, fine or swell. Maybe running away with little more than her sense of pride hadn’t been such a great idea. When her father had run her