LITMIR.BIZ

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headed straight for the most distant one.

      “I can’t let you pay for my order,” she insisted, scooting in. “This is not a date.”

      “Of course not.”

      “Good, because I don’t want you to think I’m trying to take advantage of your kindness.”

      The astonished look on his handsome face almost made her giggle. It was ludicrous to suggest that anyone could take advantage of a man like this unless he permitted it. Still, she had to wonder why he was being so solicitous. Perhaps his motives were not as pure as hers.

      As soon as Nicki had ordered a slab of apple pie à la mode and coffee she leaned back, folded her arms across her chest and spoke her mind. “Okay. Here we are. Now why did you really invite me?” The odd arch of one of his brows caused the beginnings of a cynical smile at the corners of her mouth. “Well?”

      “I don’t suppose you’ll believe it was out of the goodness of my heart?”

      “Nope. I’ve had my fill of manipulative men, particularly lately. Try telling me the truth.”

      “Fair enough.” Leaning forward, his hands clasped atop the faux-wood table, Jackson spoke quietly. “My boss wants me to talk to you about what Arianna said with her last breath.”

      “You mean that ridiculous code thing that Murke was screaming about before the shooting started? Forget it. I don’t know anything about any codes. I told you—my cousin and I hardly ever spoke. I am the last person she’d have shared an important confidence with.”

      “Okay. Suppose I buy that.”

      “What do you mean, suppose? It’s the truth. I don’t know a thing about her business or her criminal activities. She and I were at odds from the time we were teenagers. Arianna used to laugh at me for being too goody-goody. She made no bones about it.”

      “Then why would she waste her last breath warning you?”

      “How should I know?” Nicki could tell from the warmth of her cheeks that she was getting upset. “Maybe she was trying to get me into trouble for the fun of it. She did that lots of times when we were kids.”

      “Okay.” Jackson unfolded his napkin and eased back in the booth to make room for their orders. “Eat your pie and then we’ll talk to the manager in case there’s a chance for a job here.”

      “What about my poor apartment and my tires?”

      “If the car isn’t ready soon enough, I’ll drive you home and the garage can deliver it later.”

      “Assuming I have a home. You haven’t really told me what to expect.”

      “It’s probably not as bad as you’re envisioning.” He paused to add cream to his coffee. “I didn’t get a detailed look at it, but they tell me your bedroom is still in pretty good shape so you can salvage your clothes and things like that.”

      “Oh, spiffy. And I can sit in the middle of an exploded sofa to watch TV?”

      To his credit, he winced. “No TV, I’m afraid. No windows, either.”

      “What? I can’t even lock myself in?”

      “Probably not, now that you mention it. I’ll have a talk with your landlord and see about getting you moved into another unit.”

      “I don’t want another unit. I want my home back. I want my job back. I want my life back.”

      “One step at a time. One day at a time,” he said so calmly she wanted to scream.

      Who did this cop think he was, lecturing her? He probably had a family and a real home. That was all she’d wanted. To belong again, the way she had once, when her parents were alive and life had been so peaceful. It wasn’t fair that they had both been taken from her when she was in her teens and made her grow up overnight.

      In retrospect, she could see that that desire for normalcy was what had gotten her into trouble with Bobby Lee, yet it had also ultimately led her back to church and had resulted in her recently renewed faith, so she could hardly complain. Now she understood how desperately she had needed God’s forgiveness, His unconditional love. She still did. And so did her unborn baby.

      They would make a family of their own someday, just the two of them. Nicki knew she could handle being a single mother. Her fondest hope was that raising her child alone wouldn’t be too hard on the little boy or girl.

      It was becoming clear that the Lord had been protecting her when He’d allowed her to glimpse Bobby Lee’s true character. Being deserted by a selfish liar like that had to be better than having him co-parenting their child.

      The only thing she would have done differently, given another chance, was avoid listening to her biological clock and believing the sweet lies and so-called marriage proposal of that handsome cowboy-type in the first place. Anybody could look good in a Stetson. It took a special man to deserve to become a father.

      * * *

      The trip back to Nicki’s apartment was short and uneventful. Jackson pulled up to the curb and stopped. “I truly am sorry you lost your job.”

      “Yeah, me, too.” She sighed wearily. “I’m beginning to realize how hard it’s going to be to find another cooking position. Sagebrush is too small.”

      “You’ll find something. I know you will. My earlier offer stands. If you want me to speak to Lou for you, I’ll be glad to.”

      Nicki shook her head. “No. I can’t go back to work there. Just the thought of that steamy, stinky little kitchen turns my stomach.”

      “Okay.” Jackson circled the SUV to open her door. “First things first. I’ll walk you up to your apartment so you can get some of your things.”

      “Then what? I have no place to go.”

      “There must be an empty suite close by, hopefully in this same building.” He saw she was standing strong, unwavering. Nevertheless, he felt it would do her good to have Titan along so he also leashed the dog and let him jump down. “Let’s stop at the manager’s unit on the way up and ask.”

      “Whatever you say. I’m beyond logical thought right now. It seems like my whole world has been turned upside down.”

      Jackson smiled to reassure her as they made their way along the front walk. The old concrete was so cracked and uneven, he almost cupped her elbow to steady her without thinking of the possible negative consequences.

      Reaching past her, he opened the worn exterior door and held it while she passed through. He’d seen plenty of dumps before, but this building was close to the worst. Moving out might be the best thing for her. Getting into a safer neighborhood wouldn’t hurt, either, particularly since she had her baby’s welfare to consider as well as her own.

      Jackson paused to knock on the manager’s door, then turned to Nicki when no one responded. “Guess they’re not home.”

      “The TV is blasting so maybe they can’t hear us over that noise. Let’s go on up to my place and see what’s left. We can stop by again on our way out.”

      Jackson’s smile spread. “See? There’s nothing wrong with your thinking. That’s a very sensible suggestion.”

      “Yup. That’s me. All brains.”

      “Don’t put yourself down,” he said with a scowl. “I don’t know very many people who could cope with the stresses you’ve faced, and do as well as you are.”

      Her expression was one of astonishment when she glanced up and murmured, “Thanks.”

      “No thanks necessary. It’s the truth.”

      “Well, thanks, anyway. It’s nice to get a compliment that has nothing to do with my looks—or my cooking.”

      He was pleased to see her blush slightly, and hear her

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