In the Blink of An Eye by Jerry Baggett (ebook reader for surface pro TXT) 📕

can’t overestimate the danger she’s in. He turned back to Samantha. “I’m glad you have the commander to look after you. We’re not able to be of much help to you at this time.”

She stared at Hunt. “You’re saying that my mother’s death has my life in jeopardy, Agent Hunt. That’s hard for me to understand. Why would two men with a knife accost me in my home twenty-five years after she died?”

Chapter 18

Grant checked into Rocky Point Inn, the most convenient location for both he and Maria. He had followed the protocol exactly as she asked, and found himself looking forward to the midnight rendezvous. He had been single, all his life. As a young man, he’d focused his energy on building a prosperous business. He had the normal interest in girls, but he wasn’t driven by the overpowering sexual mindset of his friends. He often wondered why. Twenty-five years in prison, however, convinced him that he definitely was not gay.

Since meeting Maria, he found himself with heightened sensations and a growing desire to follow up on this opportunity. He’d once had a month-long relationship with an aggressive woman in his office. That had led to problems there and he’d been forced to end the stressful affair. He decided he could have sex when available, or leave it, and not dwell on it. He’d never felt pressured to have a family.

Maria was an hour later than expected. He wondered if she’d spent that time upstairs. He decided it didn’t really make much difference. He would benefit either way, enjoy life as it came, and not deviate from his goal. He looked through the peephole. She looked entirely different. For an instant, he thought it might be another woman. Her eyes, not as much mascara, still Maria. “Hi, you’re beautiful. Is everything alright?”

Her smile covered her entire face. “Perfect, did you have any problem making the appointment?”

“I don’t think so. I called the number on the card, gave the girl answering the phone my room number and name of the hotel. Oh, and the credit card information.” He reached for her hand and pulled her inside, closing the door. “I’ve been looking forward to your visit. How much time do we have together? It’s after one a.m.”

“We have until I need to go home and get my little boy ready for school. OK?”

He couldn’t take his eyes off of her. “Please stay until then. Would you like to go for a stroll on the beach?”

She cocked her head, “Don’t you want to go to bed with me?”

He knew he was being naive, and hadn’t expected that. “More than you might know. I’m an older man and I haven’t slept with very many women, especially recently. Will you take me as I am?”

She looked puzzled. “I doubt there’s anything to worry about. I like you the way you are. I think you’re a special person.”

Maria looked around the room, then opened the drape to bright moonlight reflecting off the water. She stood there for a moment before moving back to turn down the cover on the bed. He watched her kick off her slippers, then remove her pink blouse. She reached behind her back and released her bra, exposing full, round breasts. He felt himself become aroused, fascinated with her trim young body. She reached out and hooked her fingers in his belt and pulled him against her. Then he realized she was pulling his shirt over his head.

When he turned back around, she was standing there in bikini underpants, looking him in the eyes. He didn’t wait for more help removing the rest of his clothing. She stood back while he pried off his shoes, bent down and removed his socks, then his pants. He started to remove his underwear until she shook her head from side to side. Maria said, “It’s more fun to finish undressing each other while we’re in bed.”

They stood close. Her eyes reflected a childlike hopelessness that pierced his heart. All his life he’d qualified people and placed them in small boxes and set them aside. He gathered her in beneath him and pressed into her. He already knew she would no longer be just someone to be used.

Grant returned to the bed with a bottle of red wine, poured two glasses and leaned back in bed next to Maria. “The things you just told me about the Happy Huntsman gives me concern for your safety. What would happen if you decided to leave?”

She pulled the sheet up over her bare breasts. “I can’t possibly leave there, even if I wanted to. The money helps me care for my son and my mother. She’s old and really needs me. Mr. Marino made it very clear that I would be there indefinitely, whether I wanted that or not. I shouldn’t have told you some of those things. If he finds out I’ll be in big trouble.”

Maria placed her hand on his thigh. “You are a very nice man and now you might do something that would get you hurt really bad. They do bad things to people causing them trouble. Some of the older girls warned me not to talk about the club at all. We will have to be careful about seeing each other. They have ways of checking up on all the people that work there, even their good customers.” She pulled his head down and kissed him. “You sure don’t act like an older man when we’re in bed.”

Chapter 19

“Tell me what you want to do,” Dick said. “I have a room at the hotel for a couple of nights. Come with me. I can’t leave you alone until we know more about what’s really happening, and why those men were after you. Hunt made it clear, you’re my responsibility now, and I’m not letting you out of my sight.”

Samantha