Forever Alexa (Book Four In The Bodyguards Of L.A. County Series) Read Online Free Page B

the first question that popped into her mind. “What brings you down to Hagerstown?”
    “My wife’s family lives in Baltimore. We stopped off for a couple of things.”
    Alexa couldn’t help but smile. Doug Masterson, Jack’s old college roommate and notorious player. He’d graduated the year before her. It felt like years ago, but really it wasn’t that many.
    “I haven’t seen Jackson in some time. Haven’t talked to him either. You two keep in touch?”
    Her heart clenched. “Uh, no.”
    “I see you have yourself a little one here.” Doug tugged at the blanket as Olivia yanked the fabric from her head, grinning. Doug’s smile brightened for a moment, then faded.
    Alexa struggled not to turn, put Livy in the cart, and move away from the questions in Doug’s eyes. “We should probably get to our shopping. It was nice to see you again, Doug. Thanks for the help.” She set Livy in the back of the cart and waited for her daughter to sit on her bottom.
    “Alexa…”
    She turned and met his shocked stare, knowing he recognized Olivia’s sharply arched brows, dark blonde hair, bright blue eyes, and full mouth with a hint of cupids bow.
    “I had no idea. He never said—”
    “I need to go, Doug.” She started toward the grapes.
    “He’s not in Pittsburg anymore.”
    Alexa stopped.
    “He moved out to LA three years ago. He works for some fancy bodyguard firm now—Evan Cooke Security or something like that.” He shrugged. “Just so you know.”
    “Thanks. Goodbye, Doug.” She turned again, struggling to put the past away—where it belonged.

    Alexa stared out the living room window, watching the sun hover closer to the mountains in the distance. The deep country dark would soon surround her house. The dread of another long, sleepless night tightened the muscles of her shoulders and jaw until they ached. She eyed the Louisville Slugger, now leaning against the side table, as she listened to Olivia’s happy chatter filling the small space. Livy and her dolls were enjoying the tiny glass teapot Alexa had filled with milk, the apple she had quartered, and the graham crackers she set out for an impromptu after-dinner tea party.
    “Mommy, come play with us. You can sit by Lucy.”
    Alexa turned and gave Livy what smile she could. “Maybe in a little while, sweetie.”
    “The graham cracker is very yummy.” Livy held up the golden half of cookie, dangling it like a token bribe, before she took a big bite.
    “It looks wonderful, but I have more work to do on the computer.”
    Livy turned back to her life-sized baby doll and bit Lucy’s cracker too as the party began again.
    Alexa desperately wanted to join in on the fun but couldn’t. There wasn’t time. She had just over twenty-four hours to collect an unattainable amount of money. Sighing, she twisted the blind closed and turned away from the window, wishing the media vans were still parked along the dirt road out front. At least someone would’ve been close by while she waited for daylight again. The fifteen-car pile up on I-81 North sent the reporters and their news crews scattering several hours before. The knocks at the door had ceased. Abby’s disappearance had already been forgotten, and she had no choice but to keep it that way.
    Alexa glanced at Livy before she sat down to the laptop she’d left on the coffee table. She’d spent the last two hours researching ransom and hostage situations while dodging non-stop phone calls from concerned friends, co-workers, and of course the press. She’d let the answering machine pick them up until the message box was full. She couldn’t deal with the questions.
    She stared at the article she’d read before she had to put the computer down and walk away. The information had been so troubling, so depressing, she’d had to stop. The odds of Abby coming home were dwindling with every minute passing. Mr. Macabee had been correct; if she could get the money and pay the ransom, the kidnappers were