Cherishing You (Thirsty Hearts Book 3) Read Free

revealing a spidered screen. At least it worked. Shannon might be able to get it replaced.
    By the time he journeyed back to the front of the restaurant, the curly-haired blonde sat on a bench outside the entrance, looking up the street.
    “Good news. I found it. The screen is broken, but that can probably be fixed. They might even replace it.” He held up the evidence in one hand. She stood and reached toward him.
    “Thanks. It’s nice of you to help me out. Could I ask you another favor?”
    “Sure,” Jonah replied with an eagerness that surprised him.
    “The police aren’t coming, but they started an incident report. They asked me to call them back with your information so they can contact you for a witness statement. I need to document everything. For the violation of the protective order I have.”
    This guy was for sure a known, dangerous quantity to her. Obviously, he’d given her enough trouble in the past to require a restraining order. Her request also confirmed for him that the guy wasn’t going to go away.
    If he knew where she worked, then she was in danger every time she came to the bistro. That couldn’t go on. Jonah’s father must know some people in the Dallas Police Department. Dropping the Moran name might make sure arresting the guy was a top priority, which clearly it wasn’t now.
    “I’m surprised they’re not coming by, but I’ll do anything I can to help. You shouldn’t have to put up with this.”
    “Well, he’s gone, and there’s not much they can do now anyway except go pick him up.” Shannon stopped and glanced away before continuing. “If they can find him, they’ll arrest him.”
    Jonah dug into his pocket for his wallet and pulled out a business card. Shannon took it from him and turned it over in her fingers.
    “You can reach me at the mobile number 24/7. If you ever have any trouble, just call,” he instructed, then asked the question burning in his mind, “Who is he?” Jonah let his curiosity overwhelm his consideration for her clear hesitance to tell him anything.
    “My ex-husband. He’s never been anything but trouble. I don’t understand how he’s out of jail. He got arrested on some serious charges a few months ago. Nothing to do with me. Or mostly. I didn’t figure he’d make bail. It makes no sense.” Her voice broke, and her bottom lip began to tremble.
    Without thinking, he stepped toward her and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her face to his shoulder and lowering his own to the crown of her head. Her hair smelled of citrus. He coiled one of her curls around his index finger, thumbing the strands. As she cried, her body shook in his arms, and she felt smaller and more vulnerable than she had seemed before he touched her.
    Jonah thought about what might have happened if he hadn’t heard her voice and come around the corner. What would that guy have done to her? He closed his arms around her tighter, which must have triggered something inside her. She stiffened and pulled away, pressing her hand against his chest. Jonah released her immediately.
    Shannon looked up at him with her electric blue eyes, swollen with tears. She sniffled and wiped at her face with the backs of her hands.
    “I have to go. I’m sorry. I need to go home.”
    “Let me walk you back to your car.”
    “No!” Her vehemence stopped him in his tracks.
    “Are you sure?”
    “Yes. I’m sorry. I’m just…a mess,” she whispered. “I’m trying, but my life is still all fucked up. I’m a fuck up. You’re better off letting me walk away.”
    She backed away and ran around the building. Jonah let her go, but walked to the corner where he could see at least part of the lot. He waited until she drove away in her old Honda without so much as a look back at him.
    Her warning did nothing more than make him want to prove her wrong. She wasn’t a fuck up. He knew what that looked like, and it didn’t work as hard as she did. Shannon could leave her mess behind, starting with