Drawing The Line Read Online Free Page B

bangs, and even though she made a good effort to cover the resulting wince, he caught it. “And what causes would those be?”
    “You want to get out of here against medical advice pretty badly, Ms. Gallaghe r. And I don’t want to let you.”

 
     
     
    CHAPTER THREE
     
    A wash of heat rode high on Serenity’s cheeks, although whether it was from having been stone cold busted in her underwear or from the piercing ocean-blue stare of the detective standing across from her, she couldn’t be sure. Of all the cops who could’ve caught this case, fate just had to dish up the one who ate lunch at her diner once a week and could probably charm the chalk out of the world’s stodgiest schoolmarm.
    But Serenity didn’t do anything on a whim, ever. And she wasn’t about to buck tradition with a fast-talking detective, no matter how many nurses he flirted into submission.
    “I’m not sure what you mean, Detective Morgan.” Serenity pasted an ill-fitting smile over her face, and ugh, even that made her head throb. Okay, so the chances that he hadn’t figured out her bungled escape plan were pretty nonexistent, but no one had told her the police would come talk to her here . And while Serenity had finally gotten in touch with Jules and convinced her to go to the diner instead of coming to the hospital, Mac’s was still her responsibility. She needed to make sure the place was taken care of so she could go upstairs to get an update on Colin. He wasn’t just her friend, he was her employee, which made him her responsibility too.
    No matter how charismatically Detective McHot-Hot was looking at her.
    “Jason,” Detective Morgan corrected , pointing to the front of his gray and white striped dress shirt, and even though his expression was totally relaxed, Serenity felt him studying her nonetheless. “And I think you know exactly what I mean.”
                  Okay, so he was as sharp as he looked. “I’m sorry. I wanted to check on my cook and my restaurant, and Dr. Fisher said I’m fine.” She left off the pretty much part, dropping her eyes to pick at a loose stitch in the blanket pooled around her legs. “I know Mac’s is just a small-time diner, but I take my job seriously.”
                  “You took a pretty nasty hit to the head.” He slid his hands into his pockets, and even though it wasn’t a question, she answered anyway.
                  “Yes, but I still have people to take care of and a business to run.” Serenity’s throat triple-knotted over the words, and God, she would give anything to be up to her eye teeth in kitchen prep, slicing crisp apples for turnovers and working through the comfortable routine of feeding people.
    “I understand,” Jason said, and the words, coupled with the sincerity of his expression, snared every ounce of her attention. “My partner just went upstairs to get an update on Mr. Worth and talk to his wife, but all I know is that he’s in surgery. Would you feel better if I checked the status on the diner?”
    Serenity’s chin popped up . “You can do that?”
                  “Sure.” He removed one hand from the pocket of his charcoal-colored pants to reveal his cell phone, keying in a number with a smile so nothing-doing, she’d have sworn he was ordering pizzas rather than dialing up a crime scene. “Hey, it’s Morgan. Can I get an update on Mac’s Diner over on Fourth Street? Yeah. Okay. Who’s on-site?” Jason nodded, his blond hair glinting under the over-bright fluorescents. “Great. Let’s make sure that goes down as soon as possible, yeah? Thanks.”
                  “Well?” Serenity tried to sound nonchalant even though her body thrummed with the urge to throw back the covers and carve a hot path to the door. She couldn’t take care of anything just sitting here.
    “Well, the bad news is that our techs are still there, and nothing can happen until they’re done, including