Fierce Dawn Read Free Page A

eye.” He swept a forefinger under his eye with flare. Sadie tried to imagine Ben ever having the opportunity to get a black eye. Not likely. Who could possibly punch such a cherubic face? “You tell me if you don’t see a puffy dark area under all that concealer. Promise?”
    “ Promise.” She glanced down an aisle, scanning the north end set of tables. Movement caught her eye. A shot of black. Tingles blossomed through her chest and belly.
    He was here.
    God, if she could tell Ben about the dreams. But she couldn’t. He’d devour every detail, particularly the secret message part. Who wouldn’t? But then he’d give her ‘the look’. That wary stare reserved for the certifiable that Sadie never wanted to witness again. Once in anyone’s life is too much.
    “ Yes, yes. He’s here,” Ben sang. He picked up his stride, took her forearm and pulled her into the closet sized office. “But I don’t think he’ll be coming back.”
    “ What? Why?”
    “ Huh-uh. First, m’lady, I bear a gift.” With a grand flourish, he bowed. Ah, Ben and his whimsy. “Three guesses,” he said.
    She didn’t want to play this game. But Ben could be a pit bull with his gossip. “Okay, okay. You talked to him and he fell madly in love with you?”
    “ I like it, but alas, no.”
    She hated this. “You followed him to his hotel and found his plane ticket and he’s leaving today.”
    “ Better.”
    “ He was on America’s Most Wanted.”
    He crossed his arms, jutted his hip. “Bite your tongue, girl,” he mouthed. “Our boy may be bad , but not criminal!”
    Sadie managed to laugh, pulling her favorite, limp-free cart out. “You met Cher and she’s leaving her wigs to you?”
    “ I wish.” Ben rolled his eyes but grinned.
    “ I give up. I have absolutely no idea.”
    Ben leaned in. “Okay. But I’m warning you. Do not try to kiss me. Promise?”
    Sadie nodded, adrenaline sparking in her veins.
    “ Are you ready?” His eyes glinted, his fingers twittering in the air. “I have his name.” He covered his loud gasp.
    “ His name? What is it?” Her heart hiccupped into triple time. Her cheeks flushed hot. She would die if anyone else witnessed how much this affected her. Ben binged on her reaction, prolonging the moment.
    Before she went to strangle the name from Ben’s writhing body, he spoke. “Elijah. Stokes.”
    Elijah? His sculpted features, his mahogany eyes, the shadow of stubble along his angular jaw. The quiet, serpentine way he moved.
    She blinked hard, suppressing the urge to clap and squeal in delight. “Elijah Stokes?” Her tone sounded impressively even considering the riot in her belly.
    A name shouldn’t mean so much. Yet it did.
    Sadie sagged into a chair, struggling to compose herself. She bit her inner cheek. “Elijah, huh?” she said, forcing herself to sound casual.
    Those mahogany eyes staring into the ether, his mind snared by some observation within the books he scoured week in and out, strong hands toying with whatever hung from the long gold chain around his neck.
    Ben pressed his lips together, nodding, triumphant. “You’re welcome.”
    “ Elijah Stokes,” Ben affirmed, framing an air name plaque. “It suits him, don’t you think?”
    “ Definitely.” Now, for the more important question. “Why did you say he won’t be back?”
    “ Yeah, so, he came in yesterday and I made it my mission. I mean how long can you go on thinking of someone as ‘Angel Eyes’ or ‘Tasty Treat’, right?”
    Maybe she’d strangle Ben after all. But she knew rushing him would shut him up. Plus, the name Angel Eyes gave her pause. No wonder she’d given him wings. “He was here yesterday?” Sadie lined her cart, her palms sweating. Maybe Cynthia would add Thursdays to her schedule. If she could get the microfiche machine down.
    “ Yep. Jealous much?” Ben started on a cart, too. “So, yesterday, I figured if I lingered around him long enough, his girl would say his name.”
    His girl?