Return (Matt Turner Series Book 3) Read Online Free Page A

grassy court, and no sign of campus security. What would he do if he were attacked? Was that a possibility? If Turner wanted him hurt, couldn’t he just pay someone else to handle it? Actually, would that be preferable?
    “Questions?” was all Cameron could spit out as he reopened the book cover. He needed water. His mouth felt like left-out bread. He mindlessly stacked the books in front of him, as if building a wall of protection. Was Turner truly buying these books? Did he really want him to write in them? Surely a lawsuit was in the works.
    “Yes. In the book with my name emblazoned across the cover in such a way as to suggest that I wrote a book called Psychometry , you mentioned communicating with the First Lady of Kenya, my ex-girlfriend, Tuni. Was that true?”
    Cameron’s mouth and hand stuttered in sync as he tried to draw a comma after Dear Matt inside a copy of the book in question. He lifted the pen, observing that he’d actually written Dear Dear. “Well, the wording … It doesn’t … precisely state that an exchange of words took place … so much as express what must be her feelings on−”
    “Okay, so it wasn’t true. A simple yes or no will suffice for the rest of these questions.”
    “Cam?” Joss called from the ticket office door at the far end of the lobby. “Can I come out?”
    Cameron exhaled. Had he been holding his breath?
    “Yes, of course!” Cameron blurted. “You can help me pack all this up.” Joss began walking toward them. “And look who’s here, Joss! Mr. Turner, you remember Joss Lynn Leland, right?”
    A skeptical snort, then a stunned Joss’s face lit up. “Are you kidding me?” She rushed toward Turner. “Are you flippin’ kidding me? Holy shit … Is it really—Are you really … you? ”
    Turner appeared pleased to see her, but thrown off, awkward. She moved to embrace him, but stopped herself, recalling his vulnerability. “Oh, sorry! It’s just so … Wow, right? It’s so great to see you! How the hell are you? Other than alive? ”
    Turner smiled, shrugged, and stretched out his arms. “It’s fine, actually. And I’m doing well.”
    They hugged and Cameron’s transfixed eyes caught Joss’s sleeve graze Turner’s bare forearm. Her hoop earring bounced and then pressed against his cheek. No reaction. They separated and just smiled at each other, searching for more words.
    “I like the beard,” Joss offered, her eyes trying to take in all of him at once. “And you’re so … healthy.”
    “Could we talk a minute?” Turner took her gently by the arm. As they headed toward the exit doors, he peered back and set cold eyes on Cameron. “You can keep signing all those books. Remember, ‘Dear Matt,’ okay? I look forward to reading whatever strikes you.”
    * * *
    It was a particularly hot day for early June in Pennsylvania. Matt and Joss moved off the wide concrete path and into the shade of a red maple. Matt gazed past her shoulder to the auditorium lobby. Her con artist boss was watching them, then caught Matt’s eyes on him, and shot his focus down to the books on the table.
    “You work for that guy.” Matt rubbed his head.
    Joss cocked her head and squinted, a tiny smirk. “Eh … yeah. It’s fine. I do have to work for a living you know, Matthew.”
    Bad opener on Matt’s part. She was right (and merciful in her response, thankfully). Who was Matt to question her choices? Despite their brief childhood interactions, in her mind, Matt would rank only a hair higher than a stranger.
    “Please, call me Matt. And sorry. When I saw you up there I was shocked. I assumed he’d conned you into being a guest at this seminar. I had no idea you’d be here at all.”
    “Appreciate the concern, but no, no one’s conning me. And people not knowing about me being the special guest? That’s the idea.” She beamed. “Throw them some surprises. Exceed expectations. The ‘today’s special guest’ concept was my idea. As if he gets a different one