AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Well, it might not be his real name, but he doesn’t know mine. It’s a little game we’re playing. Don’t tell each other anything personal. Just enjoy.”
“And you can’t stand dating apps. Seriously, what’s gotten into you?”
I leaned back in the chair, staring up at the ceiling. “I honestly don’t know. I was drawn to him, or he was to me. We just connected.”
“Are you seeing this perfect man again?”
“I guess I will since there are two and a half more days on the train. Maybe. I don’t even know where he’s going. I think there are a couple additional stops before we get to Orlando.”
“Well. I am very proud of you. I hope he’s intelligent and a nice person too. He better be a gentleman. He’s grabbed the hottest catch in Miami.”
“Right.” At least she could always make me laugh. “You know what’s strange? Yesterday he told me he was a bad man. What’s funny is I think he is.”
“That’s not funny. What do you mean bad? As in dangerous?”
“Maybe. I don’t know. I just have a feeling in my stomach that won’t go away.”
“Then maybe you need to find out more about him. Jeffrey Dahmer was good looking too and you see where that got the women he met.”
She always had a flair for the dramatic. “Wrong serial killer and that’s not it.” Dangerous, yes. A killer? Maybe, but not randomly.
“I’m just telling you to be careful,” she insisted.
“Yeah, I know and I will be.” With his attire and expensive watch, he was obviously wealthy. The nagging had been with me for too long, the lump in my throat remaining. I’d always followed my gut. This time it was screaming at me. But why?
“Why don’t you try and look him up. There can’t be too many men with the name Phoenix.”
“With no other information? You’re out of your mind.” I laughed as I leaned against the window, watching as several people ran into the arms of loved ones. I couldn’t imagine my life that way, a family waiting at home for my return.
“Send me a picture of him. I’ll do a little sleuthing. Don’t you remember one of my guys is a police officer?”
“One of your guys. How many do you have in your stable?” She collected men and shoes in the same way.
“A few. Don’t judge me. Think of it this way. At least with being on a train full of passengers, he can’t do anything nefarious.” Elizabeth laughed again, but I sensed concern in her voice.
“I’ll see what I can do.” Why did I have the feeling he wouldn’t like having his picture taken? When I heard a knock on the door, a knot formed in my stomach, the butterflies going wild. “I need to go.”
“If he checks out, have fun. You deserve it, honey.”
“Maybe I do. I’ll send you something later.” I ended the call, dropping the phone and immediately fluffing my curls. I sensed he was on the other side of the door. Waiting.
Hungering.
So was I.
Did that make me a very bad girl?
As I moved toward the door, I took a deep breath. Phoenix had given me no indication that I should be nervous, but after dealing with my father, the warning he’d given me, I remained leery. I’d suspected my father was into criminal activity years before, just by the things he’d said the few times I’d talked to him on the phone.
Then there was the warning before I’d ended our last phone call.
“There are some irreputable people hunting for me. Be careful with the information I sent you. But you’re a smart girl. You’re my beautiful daughter and I love you.”
I’d felt nothing inside. Not fear or anger any longer. After all the years of silence, then his constant attempts at re-entering my life, I’d ignored his pleas because of the emptiness I’d felt inside. There was no reason for me to feel guilty or concerned.
But I was.
As soon as I opened the door, the concern I’d felt faded away. Phoenix’s massive frame filled the doorway, but it was his smile that captured my attention.
