Shadow Dance by Julie Garwood Read Free Book Online Page A

homey. I think you’ll like it.”
    Jordan called the number for the garage on her cell phone and was curtly informed that no one could look at her car until tomorrow. The mechanic told her to bring it in first thing in the morning. “Figures,” Jordan said with a sigh as she flipped her phone shut.
    “Are you just passing through Serenity, or did you get lost?” the woman asked. “If you don’t mind me asking,” she hurriedly added.
    “I don’t mind you asking. I’m meeting someone here.”
    “Oh, honey. It isn’t a man, is it? You didn’t follow a man here, did you? Tell me you didn’t. That’s what I did. I followed him all the way from San Antonio. It didn’t work out though, not for long anyway, and he up and moved on.” She shook her head and made a tsking sound. “Now I’m stuck here until I can earn enough money to move back home. My name’s Angela, by the way.”
    Jordan introduced herself and shook the woman’s hand. “It’s nice to meet you, and no, I didn’t follow a man here. I
am
meeting a man for dinner, but it’s business. He’s bringing me some papers and information.”
    “Nothing romantic then?”
    She pictured the professor and almost shuddered. “No.”
    “Where are you from?”
    “Boston.”
    “Really? You don’t have that accent, at least not much.”
    Jordan wasn’t sure if the comment was good or bad, but Angela was smiling. She had a lovely smile and seemed to have a sweet disposition. In her younger days she’d been a sun worshipper, Jordan guessed, because she had deep creases in her face, and her skin looked a bit like dried leather.
    “How long have you lived in Serenity?”
    “Close to eighteen years.”
    Jordan blinked. The woman had been saving for eighteen years and still didn’t have enough to move back home?
    “Where are you going to meet this businessman for dinner?” Angela asked. “You don’t have to tell me. I’m just curious is all.”
    “We’re having dinner at The Branding Iron. Have you ever been there?”
    “Oh, yes,” she said. “But it’s not as good as the food here, and it’s located in a bad part of town. The restaurant’s a local landmark, so it stays open, and they do a real good business on weekends. It’s not safe after dark. Your businessman must be a local, or maybe a local told him about the place. No one outside of Serenity would even know to suggest The Branding Iron.”
    “His name is MacKenna,” she said. “He’s a history professor, and he has some research papers for me.”
    “I haven’t met him,” Angela said. “Of course, I don’t know everyone in town, but I’ll bet he’s new to the area.” Angela turned to leave. “You go ahead and enjoy your tea, and I’ll leave you alone. Everyone thinks I talk too much.”
    Jordan knew the waitress was waiting for her to disagree. “I don’t think you do.”
    Angela turned back, a big smile on her face. “I don’t think I do either. I’m just friendly, that’s all. Too bad you can’t have dinner here. Jaffee’s making his special shrimp dish.”
    “I think the professor suggested the restaurant because it’s right across the street from a motel he recommended.”
    Angela’s eyebrows lifted. “The Lux? He suggested The Lux?”
    Jordan smiled. “Is that what the motel’s called?”
    She nodded. “There used to be a big old sign that lit up. The word ‘luxury’ flashed off and on all night. Only the first three letters still light up, and that’s why folks call it The Lux. They do a good business at night…all night as a matter of fact.” Her voice dropped to a whisper as she added, “The creep that runs the place charges by the hour. Get my drift?”
    She must have thought that Jordan didn’t understand because she hurriedly explained, “It’s a whore place is what it is.”
    “Yes,” Jordan said, nodding so the waitress wouldn’t feel the need to explain what a whore was.
    Angela thrust her hip out and leaned against the table. She