Dangerous Flames (Mafia Hearts)
Page 20
“My name is Monique,” the woman said. “And I can tell by the circles around the classified ads. So you need a job and an apartment?”
Chelsea slowly nodded. “It seems impossible. I just got here and without a job I can’t get a place to live. I don’t have credit cards so I can’t even get a hotel.”
“Where’s your family?”
Oh no! “I don’t have any,” she mumbled.
“Well guess what?” The woman leaned toward her. With a lowered voice she said, “I have a credit card and can help you. My husband and I are on our way home from a vacation. Would you like to stay in our hotel and then head to Portland with us?”
She looked at the woman once more. The designer label on Monique’s shirt was one she recognized but had never owned. The purse she had sat down probably cost more than a month’s salary for Chelsea. But should she trust them? What other choice did she have? Either sleep on park benches or go with them. “Okay.”
“One condition first.”
She nodded, knowing she’d do almost anything to get a shower and a nice comfy bed to sleep in for the night.
“Answer one question for me.”
Chelsea nodded again.
“Are you pregnant?”
Chelsea jerked upright. How did Monique know? Could she see the pregnancy already? “No, I—”
Monique stood up from the chair. “Don’t lie to me or I won’t help you.”
“Fine. I am, but how do you know?”
An OBGYN card dropped on the table. “This had fallen on the floor next to your backpack.”
Chelsea got up from the table and followed Monique to the door.
Just before going outside, Monique turned to her. “Are you keeping the baby?”
Having not made that decision yet, she gave Monique a shrug.
“Once you’re settled in with us, we’ll discuss your options. How does that sound?”
Chelsea smiled as she followed her out. Two tons of weight seemed to have been lifted off her shoulders.
CHAPTER 1
Dear Ms. Montgomery, Hello. I recently learned you gave birth to my child. I wish to speak to you. Enclosed is my business card. Please contact me before I alert my attorney in regards to this situation.
Jordan Case
An Oregon autumn breeze blew Chelsea’s hair up into her face. She shoved it down while trying to keep her eyes focused on the paper clutched in her hand. The neatly printed words mocked her. The urge to cry built inside her but she wouldn’t allow herself the relief. Wind from the incoming storm ruffled the paper and blew her hair up once again. She chewed on her nail for a minute, caught herself and dropped her hand back down to her lap.
Rain pelted from the sky. Afraid it would smudge the ink, she shoved the letter into her coat pocket. It didn’t matter if her hair was now plastered against her head. She didn’t care that her coat failed to keep the drops of water from slipping down through the collar, soaking her blouse to her skin. The scent of the moldy leaves made her cough. The letter connected her to Jordan, an important connection she hadn’t known she’d missed. Until now.
Jordan Case. His memory came swooping though her like a flooding river. She remembered the way she’d run her fingers through his curls, or when he’d kiss the tip of her nose. He’d made her feel so special when he had carried her books for her, as though they had been in another era. When he had been waiting to walk her home from work at night, he’d grab her in a giant hug as though he hadn’t seen her in a month. All this time, she’d tried not to care about her past. But she did.
She also cared about how Jordan had found her. What had been the point of the letter? Ten years. Damn, it had been a long time. Why now? Why pull her back? He should hate her and she would, if it were the other way around. But no. Here he was, writing to her. Why couldn’t he just leave her alone? She stood up from the park bench and walked out of the park. How many other people knew where she lived? It didn’t matter anymore. “I owe it to him,” she whispered to herself while crossing the street.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Wendy Ely is a contemporary romance author. She writes some romantic suspense, really hot stories, and the wonderful happily-ever-after. She lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her own real-life hero and her two teenagers.
Wendy loves to hear from readers. Email her at authorwendyely@gmail.com