Wild Ways by Tina Wainscott Read Free Book Online Page B

who was encouraging someone to take care of themselves.
    “Is Rath going to ride with you?” Chase asked Julian.
    “Once he gets back from Texas, he’ll have my back. Until then, I can handle this.”
    They finished their breakfasts, and Chase picked up the tab before Mollie could take out her wallet. “It’s my pleasure to treat you,” he said.
    As she opened her mouth to protest, Julian winked. “He has a private jet. I have a feeling he can handle twelve bucks.”
    This seemed too good to be true. Things didn’t happen easily in her life. And the rare times when there wasn’t a struggle, it didn’t feel right. Like with her last romantic relationship, which had ended months ago. Jimmie had been sinking into depression, having anxiety attacks. She had tried to help, but their relationship resembled two people swirling around in a toilet bowl. When it finally flushed away, she had only felt relief, no trace of sadness. He’d just been another soul needing all her attention. Di was enough.
    Out in the parking lot, Chase said, “I’ll be in touch when I get any information. You two be careful.”
    She watched him walk to the Lincoln that was waiting for him. “Jet. Private cars. Who
is
that guy? And why would he help me?”
    “Sometimes when you get screwed over in life, you feel a need to make things right for others.” A thread of emotion lowered his voice. “He’s tight-lipped about his story, but he formed a company to get justice for those who can’t get it through normal channels. I imagine he got stomped somewhere down the line. Chase is the real deal. Trust us to help you.”
    “It’s hard to trust anyone. A lot of people have offered to help or given me information, and it’s all led to big fat nothing. But I’ll accept your help for as long as you’re willing to offer it.” She gave them a couple of days at most before other things pulled them away.
    He studied her, and though she sensed that he wanted to delve deeper, he merelynodded. “First order of business is to grab a couple of hotel rooms and get some shut-eye. You look like you’re about to drop. Rath and I usually pull off the road and sleep on our rolls.” He pointed toward a mat tucked up against his bike by pursing his lips, an unusual gesture he’d used once earlier. “But that’s at night where we’re not visible. And I don’t suppose you’d be up for that anyway. Today we’ll sleep all civilized.”
    She nodded, feeling the drag of everything pulling her down. Not only that she hadn’t slept in twenty-four hours, but nearly being killed. The roller-coaster ride of hope and disappointment. She only hoped she had enough credit left on her cards.
    He gave her what he called a skull cap, the small black helmets she’d seen many bikers wearing. They mounted his Harley, and she settled her arms loosely around his waist. Her soul ached to hold tight and lean against his back. Let him drive, both figuratively and literally. But she couldn’t let herself count on anyone.
    A short while later, Julian pulled into a clean, small motel parking lot. She grabbed her small bag, retrieved earlier from her car, and preceded him into the office.
    “Two rooms,” Julian said, taking his wallet from the back pocket of his jeans.
    “I’ll pay for mine.” As he began to object, she said, “You’re helping me at no charge. I can take care of my own expenses.”
    Except she couldn’t, because the clerk shook his head after running the card a third time. “It’s not going through. Have another one?”
    Humiliation washed over her. She pulled out her second one and prayed for a miracle. No such thing.
    “I’ll get both,” Julian said, pushing his card toward the guy.
    “No.” She dug through her cash, but that was dwindling, too, and she might need it to pay for information. “Can we share a room? Would you mind? I don’t feel right you paying for my room, and heck, I’m beyond being squeamish about sharing with a guy for a