Eye of the Storm - By Hannah Alexander Page 0,46
be allergic to? Bug spray, termite treatment?”
“You mean something that would also poison Lynley and the cats? We’ve gone over all that. Everything we can think of.” She sniffed and turned to look into the backseat. “Gerard, what are we going to eat? I don’t see anything.”
“I bought some salad and gluten-free pizza at a health food store Kirstie likes. It’s in the back.”
“Good. Forget the hot stuff. I’m starved.”
He nodded and glanced at her. “Wait a minute. You already mentioned hot stuff. Is there a Mexican restaurant somewhere nearby? Because honestly, gluten-free pizza sounds like it should be against the law.”
“Not if you’re gluten intolerant.”
“Which I’m not, and neither are you.”
“But it’s healthy food. The crust Kirstie gets is usually made out of cheese and cauliflower.”
He grimaced. “I wish I’d asked before I bought it.”
“Alec knew I liked hot stuff, and he told me about a Cajun restaurant in Monett. When we were dating he constantly tried to find something too hot for me to eat. I didn’t meet my match until I went to Corpus Christi.”
Gerard gently placed his tongue between his upper and lower teeth and concentrated on not biting down. How long had it been since he’d engaged in this type of imbecile emotional reaction—before today? Yes, he’d already betrayed his jealousy earlier this morning, but to be jealous about the simple fact that she had spoken with Alec about food? Unmanly.
Maybe it was because now that he’d met the guy, and because Kirstie had told him about how heartbroken Megan was after their post-graduation breakup—now, why had Kirstie thought it important to mention that?—he realized on several levels that despite a marriage contract, Alec may be interested in Megan as more than an employee. And right now Megan could be susceptible to the sweetheart of her youth, who didn’t remind her of a recent murder every time she looked at him.
“Let me guess,” he said, “you had a long talk with Alec about me.”
“Really, Gerard. It doesn’t always have to be about you.” She grinned as she said it, but that didn’t stop the sting of her words.
“But it was.”
“Only parts of it. And no, he didn’t get anything out of me about Kirstie or about why I’m here, though he tried. As did his mother. What on Earth prompted you to tell my friends how desperate I was to leave the mission?”
“I’ve found the truth is always best.”
“But it only led to more questions. I wasn’t lying, Gerard. I was keeping quiet about certain things. This was my secret and you violated it. All you’ve done is tempt my friends to pressure me harder to tell them something I don’t plan to tell.”
“Sorry. I’d hoped they would realize you’ve been through more than they can imagine and that they needed to give you some breathing space.” Especially Alec. “But maybe it wouldn’t hurt to share it with one or two of your closest friends.”
“Not your decision to make.”
“I’m simply advising, not making decisions.”
“Well, stop talking to my friends about me, okay?”
“Fine.” Gerard tapped the brake and made another left turn onto a farm road.
“Alec’s willing to at least continue a discussion about your plans for Jolly Mill,” Megan said.
“So you did talk to him about them?”
“I had the opportunity. I’m not sure he’s ready to be your biggest ally in this venture, and if my friends find out why I’m really here and how dangerous that mission is, I could be your only ally in town, so it wouldn’t hurt you to keep your mouth shut about the subject of Megan Bradley.”
Gerard felt a lash of shame, not because of her words, but because right now he found himself caring less about the project than he did about Alec’s proximity to Megan. Being here and meeting the man, seeing his resistance to the rehab plan, seeing Megan here on her home turf made Gerard feel like an outsider, when he had come here to help Megan through her PTSD and make inroads into helping the homeless who could be rehabilitated. He hadn’t come here for a boxing match with her old boyfriend.
Megan pulled a wrapped cookie from her purse and held it out for him. “Nora made these, and I guarantee they’re the best you’ve ever tasted.” She unwrapped it, broke off a piece and held it to his lips. “Try it?”
He opened his mouth and allowed her to place it on his tongue, and the intimacy of that small act nearly made him