Part 12 (2/2)

As he rounded the back side of the main entrance, he ducked behind a wall. Two of the thugs who'd chased them in Bangkok were checking out his bike.

His body tensed, ready to fight.

Jackson listened as they argued back and forth. One of them instructed the other to check at the desk to see what room Jackson and Mar were in.

The other one called him stupid and said this was a rich hotel. They didn't give away room numbers. Eventually the two decided to sit in their car and wait to see if they could spot their prey.

Jackson needed a new plan.

MAR KNEW AS SOON AS Jackson shut the door that he was gone for good. She'd only pretended to be asleep, knowing that their last lovemaking session was the end. Though she had no plans to stop him, she wanted to know when he left.

Sitting up in bed, she turned on the low lamp. On his pillow Jackson had left her phone and a note.

The phone was dead and she found her charger in her purse and plugged it in. Dreading it, she opened the folded piece of paper he'd left.

Mar, I care about you, more than I have about anyone else-ever. Sneaking out is a cowardly way to go, but I couldn't stand to see that look in your eyes. Our last moments together should be happy ones we shared over strawberry pie.

My life is complicated and I didn't lie. While I can't give you details, I can tell you I'm not Mr. Thomas the detective. I sort of walked in on your case accidentally, and decided to help you out. You're going to find all this out as soon as you turn on your phone.

I'm going to do my best to make sure you are safe by creating a diversion. Give me twenty-four hours and then head straight to the airport. Those goons can't get through security so move fast.

Please, understand that I only did what was necessary to survive. I feel guilty as h.e.l.l keeping things from you, but that's how dire things are for me right now.

That said, I will cherish our time together. You may not believe me, but you stole my heart. I only wish I'd had the courage to tell you to your face.

Jackson Mar folded the letter back the way it had been.

Tears stung her eyes, then the anger took over.

”Stupid man. I could have helped. Whatever trouble it is.” She ranted as she went to the bathroom and washed her face. She'd already decided she couldn't stay here one more minute. This place reeked of Jackson and the longer she stayed the more her heart would break.

”His friggin' life was in danger, and he couldn't tell me.” Fists tightening by her sides she resisted the urge to smash them into the mirror.

”I'm mad at myself for falling for a guy I didn't even know.” And she had jumped off that cliff and dived in headfirst. ”d.a.m.n you, Jackson. You made me care again. Then I find out the entire time you were with me was a lie.”

Her head ached and her jaw tightened.

Picking up her phone, she saw there were so many messages in her voice mail it could no longer accept more. Rubbing her temples, she sat down on the side of the bed and listened to the first few.

”Mar. Dammit. I've called you five times in the last two hours. Answer your phone,” Chi demanded in frustration. ”When you get this, you need to get away from that guy you're with because he isn't who he says he is. In fact, he told Mr. Thomas that he was your a.s.sistant, so G.o.d only knows. He could be an axe murderer. If you don't call me back I'm calling the authorities.”

Hitting the b.u.t.ton, she skipped through to the end of the messages. It was Chi again. ”Thanks for sending the text message. We're glad to know you're alive. I honestly almost called the police and you're going to have several messages at the hotel desk. Can't wait to hear what the deal is with your vacation mate. Call me soon.”

Mariska hadn't sent a text message. She scrolled through her outgoing texts. ”Oh, my G.o.d. The man knows no bounds. How could he do that?” And where were the messages from the front desk? Had he taken care of those, too?

She resisted the urge to toss the phone across the room. Chewing on her lip, she refused to cry.

”Okay. Breathe. You had a fling with a stranger. You knew that going in. A hot guy with a complicated life, and he was evidently being honest about that part.”

Mar thought back to their initial meeting, to what he'd actually said. He'd said he worked all over the world, and that he'd been here researching a few cases. The man had a gift for languages, and he certainly knew how to evade those mob guys in Bangkok.

And he'd solved her case. The anger dissipated a little. He didn't have to help her, but he did. Even put his life in danger to keep her safe.

There was no way she could have found Gladstone on her own. She hadn't even known where to begin searching.

”He knew what he was doing every step of the way. And he helped me. Honestly, he helped me. It's really hard to hate you when I know you're a decent person. Jerk.”

And I'm sitting on the bed talking to myself out loud and trying not to cry.

She needed to make sense of it all. If she took her feelings out of it-they'd both been in it for the pleasure. At least that's why she had originally run off with a man she didn't know.

”But why would he come with me?” That was a question she wasn't sure she could answer. He found her attractive. Though he had called her beautiful several times, it went beyond words. She'd seen it in his eyes. There were moments during their time together that she also saw vulnerability in his face, especially when they delved too close to the past.

Whoever Jackson was, he was a good man. She knew that at least.

Mar stared up at the ceiling. As much as she wanted to hate him, she couldn't. Jackson, if that was his name, had given her some of the best days of her life. She'd had fun, and she'd found an intimacy with him that she'd never experienced before.

The phone rang and she nearly fell off the bed, she was so jumpy. ”h.e.l.lo?”

”Mar, what's going on?”

”Hey, Chi, what are you talking about?”

”It's not only me, Makala and Katie are here, too. You're on speaker.”

Mar sighed. Katie was a former NYPD detective and had a B.S. detector like no other, and Makala was an FBI profiler and their resident shrink.

”Great. What time is it there? Because you know it's like four in the morning here, right?”

”It's the only time we figured we could reach you. We'll let you get back to bed as soon as you tell us about this new man of yours,” Katie insisted. ”We demand details. In fact, what kind of guy lies about who he is to get in your pants, and still gets to hang around?”

Blowing out a breath, she thought carefully about what she was about to say. While she doubted she'd ever see him again, she couldn't bring herself to b.i.t.c.h about him. Even though she had every right after what he'd pulled.

”Is he there?” Chi asked. ”Go in the bathroom so you can talk to us.”

Mar gave a forced chuckle. ”No, he's not here. We've parted ways. So he's no longer my man.” She sniffled. d.a.m.n, I won't cry.

”Oh, Mar, tell us, hon. What's wrong?” The concern in Makala's voice was almost her undoing. A tear slid down her cheek, but Mar held it together.

”I'm tired. You know. I had some fun with a mysterious guy. It was the best s.e.x of my life, but he had to leave. End of story.”

There was silence on the other end of the phone.

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