AllFreeNovel
Share Us
His eyes danced. “You must have... it’s an unusual name. Most people say it a few times in disbelief.”
She had to stop herself from barking out a laugh.
“You two know each other?” Becky asked, looking between them.
Anna waited for Jackson to respond, interested to see what he would say.
“No, not really. I came here to have a quiet drink and she was at the bar. I sat on the next stool, but her boyfriend had a problem with my proximity to her,” he said, his eyes still on Anna. She didn’t miss the heat in his eyes when he’d saidboyfriend, and it stirred something in her. Was he jealous? She realized she wanted him to be. She swallowed her emotions, pushing them down where they belonged. She couldn’t have feelings for an FBI agent. She couldn’t jeopardize her plan for a man she barely knew. This was dangerous. She needed to get him out of town before this became more complicated.
“Oh, I can imagine how that went down,” Becky said, and he turned his attention to her. “Diaz is not exactly cool-headed. I’m surprised you left with your head, or that you’d come back here.” Her eyes narrowed—Becky was no fool, and she’d grown up around men like Diaz. It still amazed Anna to this day that Damon and his wife, Melinda, had managed to raise three kids in this environment, and that none of them had gotten involved with Diaz. They’d all made a success of their lives.
Jackson shrugged casually, throwing a lazy smile Becky’s way. “We worked it out.”
She raised an eyebrow, looking to Anna, who nodded.
“Interesting,” Becky said, looking between them.
“What is interesting, is that Diaz will be here in about twenty minutes,” Anna said, looking at Jackson. “I think the arrangement you made was that you would stay out of his sight. Diaz is punctual; he’s never late for anything, even drinks with the boys. If I were you, I’d get out of here now.”
A sly smile spread across his lips as he stayed in his chair. “Most people like me when they get to know me,” he said, looking straight into her eyes like he could read her thoughts—like he knew what her heart wanted. “Maybe I should spend a bit more time with Diaz. Without you around, I think my chances would improve, and then I could come here every night and have a burger. Because”—he paused, looking to Becky—“you were right. That was the best burger I’ve ever had.”
Becky grinned. “And it’ll be the last one you eat if you don’t get out of here. I suggest you don’t make friends with Diaz. He doesn’t welcome new people. He keeps a tight circle, if you hadn’t noticed.”
“Becky? Can you come here for a second?” Damon asked from the dining room.
Anna looked over her shoulder, but Damon’s posture was relaxed. When he looked to her, she understood—he was giving her a chance to do whatever she came here to do tonight.
Becky stood, walking over to her father.
“You need to stop this. Don’t involve her, she knows nothing. All you’ll do is get her killed,” Anna said quietly but firmly, her eyes pleading with his.
“I have something for you. Something you need to see,” Jackson said, deflecting from her comments.
“I don’t want anything from you. Your gifts will get me killed too,” she said under her breath.
He folded his arms on the table, leaning toward her—close enough to whisper, but not close enough that it might make her uncomfortable. “Are you looking for Olivia King?” he asked in a hushed whisper.
Anna stilled.
No one had spoken her full name in years.
No one had asked Anna what had happened to her.
Not until now.
She tried so hard to remain impassive, but it was the sound of her full name, and the surprise that it came from him that made her eyes betray her—emotion flickered through them—and he’d seen it.
Damn you, Jackson.
“Meet me in Damon’s office in ten minutes,” he said quickly as Becky returned to the table.
“Sorry about that,” Becky said.
“Not a problem,” Jackson said, smoothly. He looked at his watch. “Actually, I do have to get going, but thank you for dinner. Now I know where to find the best burgers in town and the best conversation,” he said, looking straight at Becky. “I’ll see you again soon.”
A smile spread across Becky’s lips. “I hope so. You know where to find me.”
He winked and Anna felt a flame of anger rise in her chest, but she knew the game he was playing. What she didn’t know was how he was going to get inside Damon’s office, or how he even knew where it was.
