Saving Charlie (Stories of Serendipity Book 9) by Anne Conley Read Free Book Online

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    “I’m not sure, Justin. You will just have to be patient. By the way, I wanted to clarify something with you.”
    “Okay, go. I’m ready.”
    “Are you listening carefully?” She glanced over at Les to see if he was listening, which he was. Raptly.
    He nodded at the same time Justin said, “Yes.”
    “We. Are. Not. A. Couple. Anymore.”
    “Aw…baby. Don’t be like that. I love you.”
    “Don’t say that. You don’t know me.” Now she was getting pissed, and Les’s body tightened in anticipation of what was coming next. He could see this woman turning fiery in a heartbeat, and as long as it wasn’t directed at him, he was anxious to see it. It was hot.
    “I know which places to kiss to make you come undone.” His voice lowered to a husky murmur and Les felt his insides coil into a knot of pure jealousy, at the same time resisting the urge to plead with the man to tell him the secrets of Charlie’s body. He coughed instead.
    “Who was that?” Uh oh. Busted. Charlie shot him a look and he shrugged nonchalantly.
    She sighed in annoyance, and this time, she was annoyed with him.
    “You remember my customer, Les Paul?”
    “I hate that guy.” Les bristled, even though the feeling was mutual.
    “Well, he had some car trouble, and he’s going to the same place, so I’m giving him a ride.”
    “You’re riding to California with him? For a week?”
    “Yes. I am.”
    “Oh my god. I’m losing you.” Les rolled his eyes dramatically for Charlie’s benefit, although he was glad Justin was losing her. That, coupled with a week minimum in her truck alone with her, gave him a fighting chance.
    “I was never yours to begin with, Justin.” Her voice was rising in frustration. Les could see a vein pop out on her forehead. As bothered as he was by the fact she was so angry at this asshole, he thought it was a little cute.
    “Oh please, don’t fuck him.” Lurid images filled his mind at the man’s words, and Les’s body reacted. He managed to put an affronted look on his face. Why had she stayed with him as long as she had? He seemed like the type to be dumped after the first time he opened his whiny mouth.
    “Justin, I’ve got to go. Goodbye.” She reached over and pushed a button on her phone. “See what I mean? Every conversation we’ve had for a week has been like that, and I’m at my wit’s end.”
    “Sounds like you need a restraining order.”
    “He’s not dangerous. And I don’t like to get police involved, unless it’s necessary.”
    “Well, he sounds sick in the head. He has a different perception of reality and is unwilling to hear the truth. It could lead to a dangerous situation, Charlie. Be careful with him.”
    Her knuckles were white, clenching the steering wheel, and she didn’t answer him. Les wondered what was going on in her mind, and didn’t want to let it go, but her body language was telling him she was finished talking. So he turned up the radio and leaned back, wondering exactly where he could kiss her to make her come undone…

Chapter 6
    From the Serendipity Herald —
    Serendipity has a new hero in town, but nobody seems to know who she is. The Refuge of Light has had a new influx of teen girls that have been rescued and left on their doorstep. While The Herald hasn’t been able to get permission to speak to the girls themselves, a representative of the organization, Rachel Owens, spoke to us briefly. She runs the intake aspect of the Refuge, and also heads the therapeutic rehabilitation of the girls.
    “Nobody has really seen her except for the girls, and for various reasons out of their control, their descriptions have proven to be unreliable.” Owens goes on to say that The Liberator, as they’ve unofficially named her, seems to have insider information as to the girls’ whereabouts. “She takes them from rooms at a local motel, and brings them to my house in the middle of the night. At least she doesn’t have the location where we currently