Harlequin Intrigue December 2023--Box Set 2 of 2 by Barb Han

Author:Barb Han
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2023-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

LESS THAN AN hour later, as the box sat on the floor under the seat and the watch was tucked away in Hannah’s purse, Jed pulled his truck up to the curb a block from the best pizza place in town.

When he cut the engine, he sat in place, running his hands along the steering wheel. “It’ll probably be crowded in there. Luigi’s always is.”

“Yeah, so?” She already had her hand on the door handle.

“You sure you wanna be seen with me?” His lips twisted, but not into a smile.

She released the handle and grabbed his forearm. “Are you serious? Are you worried about the past or the present? You were exonerated almost three years ago, and you have strong alibis for both of these murders. Nobody is looking at you for this.”

“I know, but...”

“You’re an ex-con.” She dug her fingernails into his arm. “Stop with the self-pity, Swain. Nobody cares.”

Before he could answer, she released his arm and shoved open the door of the truck, hopping to the ground.

When he joined her on the sidewalk, she hooked her arm through his to show him she meant it. She wasn’t ashamed of being seen with Jed Swain.

She kept a firm hold of him when they pushed through the door of the restaurant. The din of the room and the smell of garlic engulfed them. Nobody here seemed too concerned about the death of two local women.

A couple of guys from a rowdy corner table yelled out Jed’s name and raised their beer mugs in his direction.

Jed’s cheeks sported red flags at the attention, but he tipped two fingers in their direction to acknowledge their greeting. He mumbled in her ear, “All I need is a cheering section.”

“It’s better than torches and pitchforks.” She walked up to the counter and tipped her head back to read the menu board. “Large deluxe? You need a salad?”

“No salad, but I’ll take some of those garlic knots.” He dropped his gaze to the pimpled kid at the counter. “And a large soda.”

The teen’s finger hovered over the computer in front of him. “So, a large deluxe, order of garlic knots and something to drink for you, ma’am?”

Jed smirked beside her, and she elbowed him. “A glass of red wine, please.”

Jed paid with a card and took his plastic cup to the soda machines while she scanned the room for a table.

Hannah made a beeline toward the waitress cleaning off a table for two, wedged next to a larger, round table occupied by a lively group of adults. She could live without the chattering people next to them, but at least they had a window view.

She scurried to the table, planted the plastic number on the clean surface and tossed her sweatshirt over the back of one chair. She smiled at the waitress. “Perfect timing.”

“Yeah, it’s crowded in here tonight.” The waitress glanced over her shoulder at the front door. “They don’t seem too bothered by those murders.”

When she sniffed, Hannah did a double take at the young woman’s red nose and smeared mascara.

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