Queen of Hearts Read Online Free

“Mmm,” she moaned. “Helen’s buns are the best.”
    I nodded, too busy shoving the rest of the roll in my mouth.
    Licking her fingers, she stared at me, a curious look that made me nervous. Sandi and I got along pretty well, but we’d never really talked all that much. It was usually shop talk, or sometimes the weather, but nothing substantial. I was good with that. I didn’t need any more connections to the town.
    “What?” I asked.
    “There was a guy in here looking for you. Two days ago, and then again last night.”
    I gulped down the chunk of dough and swallowed heavily. I didn’t like where the conversation was going. Every cell in my body was on high alert. Run . That was the only thing going through my head.
    Rationally, I knew it was impossible that Flynn had found me. I’d left not one trace, and butt-fuck Oklahoma was barely on the map. No... there was no way.
    “What did he want?” I tried to sound as nonchalant as possible, but it wasn’t without difficulty. I was freaking out.
    “I don’t know. He was strange, if you ask me. First, he asked about the cute brunette that worked here, and I kinda made a joke about it being me. I told him, ‘standing right in front of ya, handsome.’ He just stared at me like I was crazy, and then he left.”
    She shrugged, brushing it off like it was no big deal, but me? Inside, I was trembling. Something was up, and my subconscious was ready to kick my own ass for being such a slacker. I knew it. Knew it . I freaking knew someone was following me. My instincts were right, and I’d chosen to ignore them.
    “Look, Jayne. I know we don’t know each other real well and stuff, but I care about Jack. Don’t hurt him, okay?”
    My eyes shot to hers, and I wasn’t sure what to say at that point. The look in her eye said it all. She was in love with him, and I’d taken that for granted. Looking at her, the way her eyes misted and her lips pressed together, tight and steady... I’d missed the signs. I’d been so wrapped up in my own selfish bullshit that I’d ignored this girl and her obvious affection for Jack.
    “He’s known from the beginning this isn’t serious, Sandi. I would never hurt him on purpose.”
    She gave me a sad smile and pushed away from the counter. “He’s just, well, he’s a good man, and that guy that was looking for you—I don’t think he is. He gave me a really bad feeling. I tried to throw him off your trail, you know? I know you’re running from something, and I thought it might be him. No one comes here because they want to.”
    I couldn’t get into it with her. She was fishing for information, and I was in no way going to get her involved or give her ammunition to get between me and Jack
    “I appreciate you looking out for me, Sandi, but it’s not necessary. I came here to start over. That’s all. You don’t need to worry, okay?”
    She didn’t look convinced, but there was nothing I could do. I got up, wiping my hands on my napkin, and took a long gulp of my already cold coffee.
    “Well, this tastes like crap. Let’s get busy and start a few fresh pots. The customers will be beating down the doors before we know it.”
    Sure enough, by seven-thirty we were packed. I had to admit—it was impressive the amount of business Jack did. I attributed most of it to Ray, his brother and the cook. The guy was a short-order genius. He made the best damn biscuits and gravy I’d ever had.
    The rush afforded me the opportunity to forget about the stranger and the gut feeling that things were about to get bad. We had every table full, to-go orders up the ass, and being short-handed didn’t help. But it was good having something to keep my mind off things.
    Finally, we had a break after the breakfast rush, so I quickly tallied up the till and went back to the motel to rest, gather my bearings, and think about my next step.

FIVE
    S leep was hard to come by. I had a lot to think about, including Jack. We’d fallen into a routine