The Freelancer – Chapter 49, part 1
Jenna opened her eyes and looked around the dark room. She knew she was in bed, but it wasn’t her bed. She sat up and rubbed her eyes in an attempt to wake herself up. Then it all came back.
She was alone and she was sure Jackson wasn’t in another room. Jenna was always able to sense the presence of other people in her home. Though it wasn’t abnormal for her to wake up by herself, she hadn’t wanted to this time. That simple fact told her all she needed to know.
Probably more.
“I scared him off.” That thought haunted her in the time it took to wash her face and brush her teeth for bed. A part of her knew while she was talking to Jackson earlier that it was too much information to dump on him at once. Or maybe it was that some of it was the kind of information she was never supposed to share. She couldn’t blame him for running at the first opportunity. It’s what any guy would do.
Why did he have to be any guy? He was supposed to be special – or at least, she wanted him to be special. She wanted more than anything for him to be that one percent of men out there who could handle – really handle – when things got tough and real and honest.
If only wanting something made it real…
But deep down, Jenna knew how unfair that was. Once in a lifetime was all anyone could hope for something like that. Her once upon a time had already come and gone long ago. Everything she ever wanted in a man, she’d already had in Tony. To try to project all his qualities onto Jackson wasn’t just unrealistic, it was insanity.
It was also cruel. To Jackson. How could he think anything about the way she’d thrown herself at him that night other than what he thought? Why would he believe her desire for him was separate from the rush of emotional release she’d experienced just before? She couldn’t blame him now if he was wondering now about each time things had grown heated between them. Would he be able to realize her need to touch him, kiss him, feel every inch of him had nothing to do with filling the void left by Tony?
Could he understand it?
She didn’t.
In so many ways, Jackson did remind her of Tony. Tall, dark hair, wicked sense of humor. Then there was the powerful authority that exuded from his very being in even the most casual of situations. It made sense for Tony to have that being that he was a seasoned member of law enforcement, but Jackson…She’d never in her life met an accountant who could pull that off. While some might fire off a few shots at the firing range, there were few accountants who would ever have that same sense of confidence that came from wielding a weapon to save lives, knowing that you could beat anyone to the draw.
Except Tony hadn’t.
“Damn frustrating misplaced male ego.” Two glowing yellow orbs met her gaze from the bedroom as she made her way to the lonely comfort of her own bed. “No, Buddy, I don’t mean yours. You’re allowed to have an inflated ego.”
It was eleven o’clock. Four hours passed since she drifted off yet she didn’t feel rested. Something danced on the fringe of her memory; something she sensed she should remember. What was it? It was as if she gained some insight from an already forgotten dream. Maybe it didn’t matter. She wanted this frustrating day to be at an end. Once tomorrow came she would be able to sort things out.
Things were always better in the light of day.
Jenna had no sooner turned off the lamp on her nightstand when she heard the soft click of her front door being closed. Her heart leapt into her throat, causing her mouth to go dry. Someone was in the condo, but she was too terrified to move. Instead, she strained her ears to hear the footsteps, desperate to know where they were, where they were going, but they were too quiet. This wasn’t some junkie looking for cash for a quick score.
Whoever was there had done this before. What did they want? Her mind raced through the possibilities. She didn’t have priceless antiques and all Elaine had the bulk of the family jewelry worth anything. Her purse contained maybe twenty dollars in loose cash and change. She herself would be worth little in terms of ransom.
Reason took over before panic fully took hold. Jenna nearly convinced herself her mind was playing tricks on her. Her condo wasn’t all that big so an intruder would already have made their way back to her. The years of living alone while reading crime and murder mystery novels were finally catching up with her. Maybe if she were a dog person then she’d be less jumpy. How could anyone not be paranoid when they lived with two cats who chased imaginery monsters down the hall and stared at random spots on the wall as though they were concealing leering slime monsters?
What was that? The familiar squeak of the loose floorboard in her hallway made her heart skip two beats.It wasjust outside her bedroom door. Unless her imagination had taken corporeal form, this was not a drill.
A shadowy figure filled her doorway and she prayed it was someone after money or electronics. Should she use the element of surprise to knock them off balance and get away? Would playing possum work? Why didn’t she know what to do? She did her level best to appear as though she were asleep as the figure approached her bed.
Oh, God!
Jenna’s heart stopped as the intruder knelt beside her. This wasn’t a jewel thief. This wasn’t a jewel thief. This wasn’t…
