Within Striking Distance Read Online Free PDF Page B

because he was in a hurry to follow up on the lead. No, he was impatient because he wanted to talk to Becky.
    That bothered him. Since when did he let anything take priority over his job? He knew better than to allow his feelings enter into his business. Although Becky Peters wasn’t technically his client, she was the subject of his investigation, which was even more of a reason to keep his distance. He couldn’t afford to think about her in any way other than professionally.
    Uh-huh. And how was that going so far? He’d need a lot more than mental pep talks to get that woman out of his mind.
    Jake deliberately kept his gait slow as he worked his way through the crowd toward Becky, giving himself time to observe her. She was talking to a couple who appeared to be in their early sixties, and judging by their body language, good friends of hers. Correction. They were doing most of the talking. Becky’s gaze kept straying to the action on the garage floor where the Cargill-Grosso team was readying for the race.
    Jake frowned. First the shirt, now this. Was she already assuming she was part of the Grosso family? Great if it was true, but it was going to devastate her if it wasn’t. He hadn’t been able to forget that flash of lost-child vulnerability he’d seen in her eyes. He’d hate to see her hurt.
    She lifted her head suddenly and looked around. Past the handful of people who separated them, her gaze found his immediately. A smile curved her lips and lit her eyes. She looked genuinely pleased to see him.
    Well, sure she’d be pleased, he reminded himself before his pulse could speed up any more than it had. He was the guy who was going to find out who she was.
    “Mr. McMasters! I didn’t expect to see you here.”
    “There’s not much that would keep me away from a race, Miss Peters. I didn’t know you were a fan.”
    The woman she was with spoke up. “Becky grew up watching NASCAR. Hi. I’m Shirley Dalton and this is my husband, Bud.”
    Jake looked at Shirley and the name she’d given connected. Dalton. They must be Tara’s parents. “I’m Jake McMasters.”
    Shirley raised her eyebrows and gave Becky an inquiring look.
    “Mr. McMasters is a friend of a friend,” Becky said quickly. “We met last week.”
    Good, he thought. She couldn’t have told them about the investigation yet. He steered the conversation to the upcoming race, which elicited a spirited discussion betweenthe Daltons. Before they could wind down, he caught Becky’s gaze and nodded toward the garage exit. “I’d like to talk to you. Could I buy you lunch?”
    They left the Daltons in the garage, but not before he got a head-to-toe scrutinizing from Shirley. Becky would have been only fifteen when her mother died. Had Shirley Dalton helped fill the void?
    If so, he could understand Shirley’s scrutiny of him. She had to be curious why a young, beautiful woman like Becky would want anything to do with a man who was Jake’s age and who looked the way he did.
    When they reached the infield restaurant, he saw they were in luck. The lineup was short so they only had to wait a few minutes. Their table turned out to be near the kitchen entrance and beside a family with three wriggling kids. Not the quietest spot for a conversation, but it would have to do. Once the waitress had given them their menus and turned to clean up a soda one of the kids had spilled, Jake got down to business.
    “Miss Peters,” he began.
    “Please, call me Becky,” she said.
    He might as well. He’d been thinking of her that way for days. “Sure, Becky.”
    “And do you mind if I call you Jake?”
    “Whatever you like.”
    “Thanks.” She slipped off her hat and set it on the empty chair beside her. “I’ve been waiting to hear from you, Jake. You said you’d phone me.”
    He tried not to be distracted by her hair. He’d known what to expect when she pulled off her hat, yet he took a few seconds to admire it anyway. Even indoors, under artificial