Page 31 of Love on the Run

“Callie, you have to come clean.”

“I didn’t do anything!”

“Well, you showed up here in a stolen car and a bullet hole in your body, and you won’t give any details about that night, so what am I supposed to think?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”Callie turned away and refused to speak further.If she’d learned one thing about Jake, it was that he was tenacious.He wouldn’t settle for anything less than the full truth, and Callie absolutely couldn’t tell him that.But, she realized, she also wished she could.

“I think you do,” he said, his voice flat.

“Well, you’re wrong.”

“Prove it.”

“How?”

“By telling me something halfway believable!”

“This isn’t fair!” she protested.“You’re interrogating me in your house, in the middle of nowhere, and I can’t even leave!”

“It’s not fair,” he agreed.“If you like, I could drive you to the police station.”

“I just want to be left alone.”

“Then what will you do? Go back to LA?This Malcolm knows where you live, right?Is he going to leave you alone?”

“You know what? It doesn’t matter,” she suddenly snapped. “Never mind. Just leave me alone.”

“I am trying to help you, Callie.”

“I don’t need help.”

“What do you need, then?”

“I don’t know! Less questioning!Peace and quiet!Chocolate!”

He grinned at her pique, despite the seriousness of what they were discussing. “Demanding, aren’t you? Go sit on the porch then.It’s both peaceful and quiet, and I promise I won’t follow you and ask questions.”

“Really?” His sudden retreat surprised her.

“Scout’s honor.”

“Were you ever a Boy Scout?”

“Now who’s the interrogator?” he asked mildly, and Callie nearly laughed despite her anger.God, but he was disarming.

She gave in, however, and walked out onto the porch, where she eased herself down on the wooden chair facing the mountains.Now that she was alone, it was easier to admit that there was plenty of peace and quiet out here.Her leg throbbed dully, but she dragged over the footstool that matched the chair and stretched her leg out until the pain subsided.

The breeze was cool, allowing Callie to breathe in and try to get control of herself. She had never planned on actually, consciously covering up what had happened with Malcolm.She hadn’t planned anything at all, really.And now this man was pressing her for answers. He meant well, Callie was sure of that.But the truth was so far beyond what anyone could accept that Callie couldn’t begin to imagine telling him.

The porch door squeaked open, and she heard Jake’s footsteps behind her.

“I thought you weren’t going to follow me out,” she said in a wry voice.

Jake didn’t answer. Instead, Callie watched as he placed a small stack of cookies on the wide arm of the chair.“Oh.”

“You asked for chocolate.”

“Are those thin mints?”

---