One Night In Reno Read Online Free PDF Page A

more than twenty bucks at the blackjack tables.  And blackjack was his game.  All he could think about was the shame of it all.  A sweet girl like Jenny, desperate enough to barter her body and here he was throwing his money around.  When all he really wanted to do was give her everything he owned. 
    He wasn’t the kind of guy to take advantage of a single mom.  He had to figure out how to help her in a way that allowed her to salvage her pride.                                           
    Maybe he’d tell her he had a good night at the tables and get her to take a couple hundred dollars that way.  But lack of money wasn’t her only problem--she lacked resources--support of a family, friends.
    He had no delusions about why she’d come on to him.  She was scared of the direction her life had taken.  There had been something a bit naive about her seduction.  She was desperate for someone to take care of her--or maybe just to care--that could be a powerful aphrodisiac for the wrong man.
    Even for the right one.
    #
    Garrett knocked on Jenny’s door the following morning half expecting they’d fled during the night.  A solemn woman, child and dog greeted him.
    After loading up his Bronco again, he treated them to breakfast.  Josh had a resigned look on his face as he picked at his pancakes.  Very different from the happy go lucky kid who’d chowed down on a banana yesterday. 
    Jenny wouldn’t even meet Garrett’s gaze. 
    He glanced at the dog tied up outside before returning his attention to the woman.  “I called a women's shelter not far from here,” he said.  “They’re expecting you.  They have a job placement program and can help you get Josh enrolled in school this fall.”
    “I don’t want to go to school,” Josh said, stubbornly.
    “Of course you do,” Jenny said without conviction.
    “I want to go with Garrett!”
    Jenny shook her head in an unspoken signal to her son.  “Thank you Mr. Erickson,” she said.  “We appreciate all you’ve done for us.”
    “Thank you.”  Josh echoed dutifully.
    “If you ever need anything, call me.”  Garrett dug into his wallet and handed Josh his card.  “Deal?”
    Josh handled the card as if it were embossed in gold.  “Deal.”
    Garrett reached over and mussed the boy’s hair.  “Take care of your mom, okay?”
    Josh nodded.
    “You’ll let me know when you get settled?”  Garrett held Jenny’s gaze until she nodded in agreement.  He wished he could be sure she meant it.  They finished the rest of their meal in tension filled silence.  He didn’t have to check in back at base until next Monday.  He’d love noting better than to spend another day or two, or a week, splashing around in the pool with Josh and Jenny.
    The single mom and her son stirred something inside him that had been dormant far too long.  Because of his physical reaction to her attempted seduction last night, he knew he had to put some distance between them.  
    Those tiny scraps of silk and lace, generous breasts and warm, summer scented skin had him wanting to drop his towel along with her dress, and not just to kiss away her worries. 
    After he paid the bill, they left.  Garrett couldn't figure out how to give Jenny money without embarrassing them both.  So he’d tucked everything he had into her purse while they were settling into the booth and hoped it wouldn’t be lost or stolen before she found it.
    They drove the short distance to the shelter.  He wasn’t allowed beyond the front desk because the place was specifically for battered women and children.  He didn’t know Jenny’s whole story, but enough to suspect she was running from someone or something, most likely a man.
    He had to fight his natural instinct to make sure Jenny and Josh were settled before their goodbyes.  His gut felt like yesterday’s peanut butter sat there in one big clump.
    “Looks like a nice place,” he said, inanely for