Firefly Run Read Online Free PDF Page B

knees and made her feel as if she’d slipped into a suit of armor.
    When she returned to the other room, Reed sat at the kitchen table, his hand draped over his gun. The sight of that cold metal startled her, then offered a strange calm. She knew Eddie Victor would taste those bullets before Reed let him get anywhere near her. Even though a gun had cost her the person she loved most in the world, Reed’s gave her more comfort than her bath had.
    "What would you like?"
    He shrugged. "Don’t care."
    Needing to lighten the situation before she fell apart, she said, "Okay, fried possum and poke salad it is." She glanced over at Reed to find him looking at her as if she’d lost her mind, his eyebrows lifted and his mouth slightly pinched. She chuckled. "I’m just kidding. I may have moved back to the mountains, but I didn’t turn into some roadkill-eating hillbilly."
    "That’s good to know. Need any help?"
    "No, thanks."
    Figuring Reed hadn’t eaten any better than he’d slept recently, she pulled some leftover fried chicken from the fridge and put it in the microwave to heat while she made salad, then microwaved some potatoes and toasted thick slices of bread. Reed remained quiet, his gaze focused toward the front of the cabin. She fancied she could hear his thoughts clicking. He didn’t acknowledge her presence again until she slid the plate of food in front of him. He pushed the gun to one side but still within easy reach.
    It only took a couple of seconds for Shelly to understand how hungry Reed was. He devoured the meal, licking his fingers as he ate the chicken. But instead of commenting on his appetite, she let him eat, filling his plate with seconds without him having to ask. Only when he finished and leaned back in his chair did he seem to realize the relish with which he’d eaten the meal.
    "Guess I was hungrier than I thought."
    "So it seems. It’s nice to cook for someone besides myself." As soon as she said it, she wished she could retrieve the words. A pained expression clouded his eyes. His eyes were so striking. Why hadn’t she remembered that? "I cook for Mom and Dad sometimes, but I know Dad prefers Mom’s cooking."
    "Yours was good."
    She smiled. "Thanks. But I think you were pretty easy to please tonight."
    "Considering what’s in my fridge would probably walk out if I ever opened the door, this was five-star dining."
    "Maybe I should start a bed and breakfast on the side. Come to Firefly Run B&B where our specialties are leftover chicken and microwaved potatoes."
    That garnered the ghost of a smile from Reed. The sight of it lifted her heart. She realized suddenly that she’d missed him. "What...what have you been doing since I saw you?"
    "Working."
    "That’s it? I’m sure you’ve hit the town a few times. I seem to remember you turning heads on a regular basis. We never knew if we’d ever see the same girl on your arm twice." And for a moment, Shelly was jealous of all those beauties. Argh, she needed to stop thinking like that. Sleep, that’s what they both needed. In the morning, they’d be back to their old selves. Hopefully.
    Reed’s tired expression didn’t change. "I work a lot. Don’t have much time for dating."
    Reed Tanner not dating? Her heart nearly broke. Troy’s death had punched a bigger hole in his best friend’s life than she could have imagined.
    "Why?"
    He looked up at her, held her gaze with those beautiful eyes of his. She didn’t have to elaborate. He knew what she was asking. "Didn’t seem important anymore, frivolous. Figured my time was better spent tracking down the scum of the earth and making sure they got locked up away from decent people."
    "I wouldn’t say trying to find someone special is frivolous."
    "My past dating wasn’t exactly a search for Miss Right."
    "It’s never too late."
    He sighed. "Shelly, I’m not in the market for a wife. So don’t get any matchmaking ideas. All I want is to make sure Eddie Victor stays away from here and then go