Page 106 of Lethal Danger

Hawthorne’s chest tensed as he looked at Jazz. Why was she asking? He’d been afraid she would have picked up on his…attraction to her. Maybe this was a good time to try to clarify he hadn’t meant anything by that. “No. A marriage and family wouldn’t be a good fit for my work, my lifestyle. I need to be free to pick up and go whenever the need or idea hits me.”

Her lips curved up slightly at one corner. “You sound like Carson. You really fooled me in The Killer’s Corpse.”

Book Fourteen, the most recent installment before his newest release. He’d surprised a lot of people with that one, including himself. Mostly by the fact he’d included a romance at all. He hadn’t done that with Carson before. But it was a good way to create higher emotional stakes.

“I really thought he was finally going to give up bachelorhood for Valentine Edwards.” Jazz shook her head as if she still couldn’t believe it. “She was such a perfect match for him. And it seemed like he loved her near the end.”

“He did have feelings for her.” Hawthorne reached for his soda cup. “But Carson values his freedom above everything else.” He took a long sip of the cool drink, checking on Freddie again. Maybe to avoid Jazz’s gaze.

“And you?”

Hawthorne reluctantly met her stare. But it would be better to make things clear now than let her get attached and expect something he couldn’t give her. “I like freedom, too.”

She rubbed her thumb on her thermos. “So you’ve never been tempted? Never met a girl special enough to catch your eye?” Something in the way she threw in the second question, her darted glance away, the flush in her cheeks, made him hold back the flippant denial he was going to give.

And he couldn’t honestly say he hadn’t. That would be a lie. Because he was looking at the woman who was that special. “Well…maybe once.”

Her emerald eyes lit on him, widening slightly as a smile curved her lips.

He shouldn’t have said it. Shouldn’t have looked at her the way he was now, probably revealing too much of his growing attraction for her. Not after all that work to clarify he didn’t want a relationship.

But the way a flame blazed in his torso at the pleasure and heat in her eyes told him his feelings didn’t care about clarifications or boundaries.

“Have a good night, you two.” Freddie waved from outside the canopy as he shouted to be heard above the crowd noise and the music from nearby rides.

Jazz returned the wave with a smile as Hawthorne immediately gathered his soda and remnants of hot dog.

“You’re going to follow him, aren’t you?” Jazz’s perceptive gaze locked on Hawthorne.

“I am free at the moment.” He grinned.

“Too bad I’m working ’til midnight.” Her frown switched to a smile, and she waved him on. “Good luck. Give me a call if you need backup.”

“Thanks for dinner.” He threw the words over his shoulder as he hurried to drop the trash in a bin and make sure he didn’t let Freddie get too far ahead. He might’ve already given the vendor too big a lead in such a thick crowd of people. Maybe he should’ve asked Jazz to bring Flash for the first leg. He could probably track Freddie.

Hawthorne used his height to advantage to see above the people he weaved through.

Freddie was unfortunately pretty average looking with nothing to make him stand out in the crowd. But Hawthorne knew which exit he’d be headed for—the staff door by the main entrance that provided a quicker way in and out by avoiding the lines.

Hawthorne kept his stride long but not too fast. Wouldn’t be good to get ahead of Freddie. Although Hawthorne was off shift. If he did see the man, it wouldn’t be suspicious for Hawthorne to be leaving at the same time.

With that excuse in mind, he picked up his pace. If he passed Freddie without spotting him, he could simply wait outside the gate until he saw the vendor leave.

But as Hawthorne neared the gate, the crowds cleared slightly.

And Freddie’s dark hair with receding hairline caught Hawthorne’s eye. Red polo T-shirt, tan khakis. Glasses and mustache. That was Freddie.

Hawthorne slowed, keeping Freddie in view as the vendor went through the staff exit as predicted.

Since more visitors were entering than leaving at the moment, Hawthorne slipped out through the main exit instead, allowing him to maintain more distance without losing sight of Freddie.

He kept one row of cars between him and Freddie as he watched to see where the vendor had parked.

Freddie eventually stopped by a light blue sedan and unlocked the driver’s door.

Hawthorne sprinted away. His car was parked in another section of the lot too far away.

Sweat dripped from his face by the time Hawthorne reached his car and jumped into the sweltering oven it had become. He started the engine and turned the air conditioning on full blast as he drove as fast as he thought he could get away with toward the section of the lot where Freddie had parked. Too fast, apparently, given the way his brakes slipped as he slowed for a turn.

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