Runner's Moon Trilogy Megabook Series by Linda Mooney

the guy didn't force her or anything. Know what I mean?"
    "Like kidnap?"
    "Yeah. Like kidnap." Finishing his beer, Carl dropped his bottle on the bar and slid off the stool. "Let her tell me face-to-face that it's over between us, and I'll leave. Plain and simple. It's the least she can do after pulling such a stunt.
    She owes me that much." Giving the man a weak grin, Carl added, "Thanks, Manuel. I owe you one."
    * * * *
    Rosas gave him a little salute with his beer and watched as Jamison left the bar. It was clear by the way the man walked 94

    that Carl was nowhere near drunk. In fact, it looked like Carl was walking with a purpose now.
    Giving a little belch, Rosas got off of his barstool and headed for the back where the pool tables were located, hoping to catch some action. Carl Jamison never crossed his mind again.

    95

Chapter 10

Healing
    He could smell something cooking before he got out of the truck. His stomach fluttered as he detected eggplant and tomato sauce. Eggplant Parmesan. Damn. How did she know it was one of my favorites?
    When he entered the lodge, the odors hit him like walking into a wall. A silly grin crossed his face as Jeb stood in the doorway to watch her work.
    It only took Hannah a moment to realize he was behind her. She glanced up from the salad she had been tearing to give him a wide smile. "How did it go today?" she asked brightly, unaware of the effect she was having on him. She had on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt that almost covered her bottom. Her long legs were bare, as were her feet. Her sunflower-yellow hair was pulled up into a ponytail. And despite the dark bruises and swelling that marred her face, she looked happier and more beautiful than he had ever seen her.
    "Great! Mallon phoned Bennetson to check on my references. I was hired on the spot."
    A grin turned up the uninjured corner of her mouth. "I figured that was what happened."
    "Oh?"
    It was taking everything in him not to walk over and pull her against him, and feel the softness of her body along his.
    She had never been far from his thoughts as he had gone 96

    through the workday, learning a new craft, new rules, new responsibilities.
    She turned to place the bowl of salad on the tiny table.
    "Yeah. If you hadn't gotten the job, you would have come and told me. Then gone off to look somewhere else."
    "Am I that predictable?" He chuckled.
    When she shook her head, her hair swayed behind her in a way he enjoyed watching. "I know practically nothing about you, Jeb Morr, except that you're considerate of others. Now, go wash up. Dinner's ready." She sighed as she glanced over the meal. "It isn't much. I did the best I could with what you picked up yesterday and..." Her voice trailed off as she gave him a wary look. "And with what Mrs. Newburg loaned me."
    Jeb froze. "Mrs. Newburg? She saw you?"
    Hannah's hand went up to touch her purplish jaw. "I figured it was the best thing to do. I'm sorry, Jeb. Don't get mad at me. But if we're going to stay here a week, chances are she or someone else is going to see me. I figured that if I took the bull by the horns and confronted her, it would save us a lot of explanations in the future." Again she gave him a cautious, almost fearful look, wondering how he would take the news.
    Immediately he understood why she seemed ready to bolt for the door. As she had said earlier, she knew practically nothing about him. And the only relationships she had ever been in had been abusive.
    Pulling his lips into a smile, Jeb held out his arms to let her know he was not angry. To his relief, she walked straight into 97

    his embrace and hugged him. "Tell me what happened," he murmured into her hair.
    She moved against him as she cuddled. The scent of tangy lemonade momentarily overrode the mouth-watering smell of dinner. "I wanted to have dinner ready for you when you got home. I called the mill to see when you would get off work.
    Then I debated on what to fix. I saw the eggplant you'd bought, but I