In Your Wildest Dreams Read Online Free PDF Page A

he knew everything, didn’t he? He might even be right, but his matter of fact tone made her worries sound practically unfounded. “You sound just like the cop I talked to. I did try that route before coming to look for her, just so you don’t think I’m totally crazy. Bit I couldn’t get any help from the.”
    “Cause they know she’s probably fine.”
    She pursed her lips. “I took it a different way. I figured they didn’t care because, to them, she’s just another prostitute.”
    He shrugged—annoyingly. ”Either way, I’m probably right.”
    She blinked, growing more irritated by the moment. “So I’m supposed to let her drop out of my life, forget she exists? Even if she is fine, I still have to find her.”
    “Some reason you didn’t hire a P I, beb? Most people who can’t get answers from the cops would try that route.”
    “For your information, I did. But within a few days he said the trail was cold. That left me no other choice than to track her down myself.”
    His gaze remained steady on her. “And when you do?”
    “I’ll talk her into coming home and putting this chapter of her life behind her. I’ll help her find a job. Help her get over the guy. I’ll be there for her, as long as she needs me.”
    Jake thought about how to reply. Sounded to him like Miss Chardonnay was pretty controlling when it came to her poor sister. But since she already seemed pissed off, he wasn’t about to tell her that. “So you thought it’d be a good idea to come trottin’ yourself down to New Orleans and dress yourself up like a high—priced hooker?” he said instead.
    She looked as sheepish as he thought she should. “It wasn’t exactly my idea.”
    “You got a partner in crime?”
    She dropped her glance slightly before raising it again. “A woman I met doing research on the internet—at a site where prostitutes trying to get out of the business can go for advise. Her name’s Melody and she’s an ex—escort—high—priced—who used to work in the French Quarter. She thought the best way to find Tina was to ask people who might work with her, or who might be her customers. And she doubted anyone would talk to me if I didn’t appear to be…one of them.”
    “Which is how you knew about this place.”
    She nodded.
    He lowered his chin, wondering the obvious. “Any reason Melody couldn’t ask around for you?”
    “She doesn’t move in these circles anymore. She’s married now, with a baby, and a husband who doesn’t know her past.”
    Jake shrugged—it was a good reason. Girls who chose this life didn’t usually end up where Miss Chardonnay’s hooker friend had. “Stilla pretty stupid move,” he couldn’t stop himself murmuring.
    She cast him a sideways glance, “What was I supposed to do? And why do you care so much anyway? Yoou’ve got an awfully vested interest in this for a bartender.”
    She was right—like it or not, his old instincts were showing. Still, if the woman had any sense, she’d be grateful. “The way I see it, I might have saved your life tonight.”
    She let out a wry laugh. “That’s an exaggeration, don’t you think?”
    He gave his head a solemn shake. “It’s like \i told you earlier—you fool around with these people, you’ll get hurt. It’s dangerous to say you’re selling somethin’ you aren’t.”
    Her ire seemed to calm a little, her next question sounding more inquisitive. “What makes you so smart about these things?”
    “I see a lot. Hear a lot.”
    She looked at him long and hard with those soft blue eyes, clearly trying to see behind his. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but you seem too smart to be a bartender.”
    He sighed. She sounded just like Tony, just like his mother. It made him feel tired, much older than his thirty three years. “I used to be a cop, okay?”
    “Used to be?” She bit her lower lip, looking puzzled. “You’re not…working here undercover or something are you?”
    He shook his head. “No way,