The Target by Gerri Hill Read Free Book Online

the trail, knowing that would at least shut them up.
    But she was being childish. Geez, was she ever being childish.
    She was a professional, for God’s sake. These were her people. And apparently they’d all taken a liking to this Jaime what’s-her-name.
    Sara should be thankful. And in all honesty, having another person on the trip who was an accomplished backpacker gave her some sense of relief. Should something happen, should something go wrong, at least Sara wouldn’t be forced to face it alone. She rolled her eyes. Who was she kidding? She knew absolutely nothing about this woman other than she was an attractive, apparently likeable woman that the others had flocked to.
    Attractive? No. She was nothing but a flirt. As if Sara would be interested in looking her up after this was over with. Please.
     
    While they walked, Jaime pulled out a small notepad from a side pocket on her pack and began writing, nodding occasionally at what Sandra was saying. She nearly started laughing as she finished the note. She didn’t know why but she got extreme pleasure out of teasing Sara Michaels. She suspected the woman was much more at home here on the trails than back in the city, yet she hadn’t seemed to relax a bit. For her group’s sake, Jaime assumed she was trying to hold on to her I’m-the-counselor-I’m-in-charge attitude.
    And that was just it. These were not her friends with whom she was enjoying a relaxing hike. These were paying clients. She was responsible for them. And she was trying to lump Jaime in with them.
    Well, that won’t work. She folded the note in half and reached out and poked Celia.
    “Pass this up to the Sarge, would you?”
    Jaime grinned as she watched the note being handed from one woman to the next, finally reaching Abby’s hands who hurried to catch up with Sara. She tapped her on the shoulder then silently handed her the note.
     
    What the hell? Sara kept walking, unfolding the note slowly, wondering what idiot …
    Jaime Hutchinson. Age 34.
    Oh. That idiot. Sara’s eyes narrowed at the information that followed, including Jaime’s address, home phone number, work number, cell number and e-mail address. Slashed below that: Call me sometime, we’ll get together! I guarantee a good time!
    Sara wadded the note into a ball and tossed it on the trail.
    “Hey, don’t litter,” Abby reminded her. She picked up the crumpled piece of paper and handed it back to Sara. “Dispose of your trash properly.”
    Sara squeezed the paper in her fist, trying to ignore the rather loud chuckle coming from the back of the group.
     
    “What was that?” Celia whispered. “I’ve never seen her face get that red before.”
    Jaime grinned. “I asked her out.”
    “Oh my.”
    “Does Ms. Michaels … well, does she do that sort of thing?”
    Sandra asked.
    “Date?”
    “Well, date women?”
    Jaime shrugged. “I’m hoping. That’s why I asked.”
    “Well, judging by her reaction, I’d say no.”
    Jaime only smiled, keeping her eyes fixed on the back of Sara Michaels. Well, it’d be a damn shame. Then she mentally shook herself. She was supposed to be protecting her, not playing with her.
    Jesus, have some decorum, she told herself. She should at least pretend to be working. With that, she glanced over her shoulder to make sure no one was following them. Nope. They were alone.
    So she fell back into step beside Sandra, her eyes scanning the horizon, not looking for would-be assassins but instead enjoying the splendor of the fall colors of the Collegiate Peaks mountain range. She nudged Sandra with her elbow.
    “Take a look at that,” she said, pointing to their left. “The mountainside looks like it was dipped in gold.”
    “Yes. Aspens, right?”
    “Yep.”
    “Where are you from, Jaime? You’ve never said.”
    “Denver. You?”
    “Originally from Michigan—Grand Rapids. But after my divorce, I moved to Chicago.”
    Jaime nodded but didn’t ask anything else. She didn’t want to totally