Past Sins Read Online Free PDF Page B

her cheek. “A restful weekend would be good for both of us.”
    Olivia’s relief matched his, though for completely different reasons. “Great. We’ll leave right away.”
    His ready agreement set part one of her plan in motion. She told him to pack for a rustic weekend, the location to be a surprise. Jeans, casual shirts and hiking boots. He didn’t question her suggestions. Probably assumed they would escape to Zuma Ridge for hiking or Sullivan Canyon for mountain biking. She hoped he would continue to be so cooperative. The next couple of steps would likely raise his suspicions. But she couldn’t worry about that just now. One step at a time.
    Olivia packed for survival, something she hadn’t done in more than three years. She was beginning to hate that number. Suddenly everything in her new life was a reminder of the way things had ended three years ago.
    Jeans, cotton Ts and a couple of long-sleeved cotton blouses, emergency items like bottled water and first-aid materials. She went into the closet and got the last clip she had on hand for the Beretta. After clearing the right corner of the back of her closet, she tugged the carpeting loose from its tack bar. The envelope was right where she’d put it three years ago after the new carpet had been laid. Inside the envelope were a passport, driver’s license and two credit cards issued under an alias she had hoped she would never have to use.
    She dumped two pairs of shoes from a designer shopping bag, folded the bag neatly and went back into her bedroom. She stashed the cash, the shopping bag and other items in her handbag. Before packing the retainer fee she’d gotten last night, she transferred as much as she could to the various pockets of the clothing she wore and some into her handbag. After a quick search beneath the bathroom sink for a couple of disposable rain ponchos and the pepper spray she’d almost forgotten about, she was good to go.
    “I’ve loaded my bag in the Audi.”
    Looking up too quickly at the sound of his voice, Olivia cracked her head on the edge of the counter. She hoped like hell her instincts would sharpen as she attempted to keep stride with her former ways. Otherwise they might not even make it out of the city.
    “Are you sure you don’t want to take the Saturn?” His lips stretched into a lopsided grin. “It fits with rustic a bit better than the Audi.”
    She rubbed at her head and manufactured an answering smile. “Don’t worry. I have a plan for that.”
    He eyed her speculatively. “There’s no way I can talk you into sharing our destination?”
    She shook her head. “I want to surprise you.”
    He moved his shoulders up and down. “Okay. This is your adventure.”
    Just keep that attitude, she mused silently.
    When her sufficiently sized overnight bag was loaded alongside Jeffrey’s, Olivia slid behind the wheel. She’d already canceled her appointments for the day and Jeffrey had called his assistant.
    Olivia kept a close eye on the rearview mirror as she drove to the airport in Burbank. It didn’t take that long, less than an hour. Her companion didn’t question her destination until she entered long-term parking.
    “Are we flying? You didn’t mention that.”
    She cut him a sidelong look that she hoped came off as seductive and secretive. “You’ll see.”
    The amusement glittering in his brown eyes signaled that she had once more alleviated his niggling suspicions. “This is getting more interesting all the time.”
    When they entered the airport, luggage in tow, rather than going to a ticket desk, she headed for the Hertz counter. The line wasn’t that long but she dropped her bag on the floor about thirty feet from the counter.
    “Do you mind watching the bags while I get the car?”
    “Absolutely not.” He held up his hands. “And I won’t even ask why we need a different car.”
    Good. He was still happy with the game. As brilliant, albeit shy, as Jeffrey was, he was still a man, and the