Rogue Asset (Book 3 of the Wade Hanna Series) Read Online Free PDF Page B

to run around and open Megan’s door. Before he could pull the handle, an attendant had already opened Megan’s door and extended his hand to help her out.
    They entered the upscale restaurant to the wonderful aroma of roasted garlic and herbs. The décor was upscale like one in Rome and smelled like grandma’s Italian kitchen. Megan stepped up to the maître d’.
    “We have reservations for two under Megan Winslow.”
    “We have a nice table for you and your guest in the corner as you requested. Please follow me.”
    The soft red leather booth was in a quiet corner to one side facing into the main dining room. It was the perfect spot to enjoy a private conversation. Although never having discussed the subject before both preferred to have their backs to the wall and often selected tables for precisely that reason.
    The maître d’ handed them menus and asked, “Can I get you anything to drink while you’re looking at the menu?”
    They both looked at each other and replied, “No, thank you.”
    Megan put her menu down and just looked into Wade’s eyes for a moment, “Well, after four years we’re finally at our first dinner together. I’m so glad to see you in person.”
    Wade was not comfortable in socially awkward moments. The shyness tightened his throat. It had been a long time since he had been dressed up for a real date with a beautiful girl at a nice restaurant. He made the response to Megan’s comment more difficult than it needed to be. Missing her point and mood he responded. “I’m wondering how assignments are given out after we graduate.”
    She quickly diverted the question. “I promised myself we wouldn’t talk shop this evening. I want to know more about you.”
    Wade lifted his water glass to drink hoping it would give him enough time to think of a better response.
    “My life is pretty simple compared to yours. It doesn’t seem fair. You know everything about me. You know more about me than I know about myself. I know very little about you.”
    “That’s a fair assessment. What do you want to know about me?”
    “Is that a picture of your parents on the table in your condo?”
    “Yes, that’s the last family picture of us before my father died. He was a doctor and died of cancer when I was sixteen.”
    “That probably explains all the medical books in your bookcase.”
    “No. Those are mine. My father always wanted me to go to medical school, and I tried. I finished pre-med and one year of medical school. I just couldn’t do it. I don’t know what happened to this day. I just lost all interest when I realized I was doing it for him and not for myself. I keep the books around to remind me of our time together. Sometimes I feel I left something behind when I left med school. The books bring me back to reality and remind me of why I left.”
    Megan knew Wade’s file backward and forward. She wanted to know more about what made him tick.
    “Did you find it difficult when you lost your mother?”
    Wade paused at the question. His face took on a more serious expression. “Yes, but there were problems between us. I try to remember things in a different way than the way it was. I usually don’t talk about that part of my life.”
    Megan could feel that she touched a raw nerve. She thought it best to leave that topic for another time.
    Wade was ready with another question, “Was that a black belt ceremony in the other picture?”
    Megan thought for a moment, “Yes, that was my martial arts award ceremony. I received my fifth-degree black belt in that ceremony then went on to do more advanced training with the company.”
    Shaking his head in silence Wade acknowledged her accomplishment.
    Without changing her expression, Megan continued. “I’m trained to kill a man twice my size.”
    Caught off guard Wade replied, “I’ll have to remember that.”
    It was Megan’s turn for questions now, “What’s this thing you have about the swamp?”
    Wade thought for a moment, “I