Midnight Action Read Free Page B

dragged his thumb over her soft jaw before taking a step back. “But it was bound to end, sweetheart.”
    She nodded sadly. “I’ll walk you out.”
    They moved through the dark bungalow in silence, with Maya ahead of him, her expression shielded from his view. Although she’d known the score from the get-go, Morgan knew she was disappointed he hadn’t put up a fight about ending it. He could see that disappointment in the slight slump of her shoulders and the weariness in her long strides.
    But he wasn’t going to give her false hope or make empty promises. He wasn’t the man she wanted him to be. Husband, daddy—that wasn’t him, and never would be.
    “Will you at least tell me about her?”
    Maya’s quiet plea made him frown. As they paused in the shadow-ridden front hall, he searched her gaze, trying to make sense of the request.
    “Tell you about who?”
    “The woman who broke your heart.”
    A harsh laugh slipped out. “Oh, sweetheart, I’ve never had my heart broken.”
    “I see.” Maya hesitated. “She died, then?”
    A thread of discomfort knotted around his insides. Christ. Why did women always assume he belonged to the
loved and lost
camp? Why did they always feel the need to analyze him, to discover what his demons were?
    “I know I’m right,” she murmured. “And I’m never going to see you again after tonight, so what’s the harm? Tell me about her, Morgan. What was she like?”
    Morgan stifled a sigh. He didn’t have time for this. Didn’t
want
this.
    But when he opened his mouth, the words that popped out surprised them both.
    “She was sweet.”
    Maya’s eyebrows shot up to her hairline. “Sweet,” she echoed. “What else?”
    “Strong.” He swallowed. “She was very, very strong. And innocent. And when she laughed...” The lump in his throat made it difficult to go on. “Her laughter was...Fuck, I can’t even describe it. And she always knew what I was thinking. She could read my mind, and it was damn infuriating.”
    Maya bit her lower lip. “She’s dead, isn’t she?”
    An ache tightened his chest. “Yes. She’s dead.”
    “I’m sorry, Morgan.”
    He managed a shrug. “Yeah, so am I.” Before she could question him again, he dipped his head and brushed his lips over hers. “Take care of yourself, Maya. Maybe I’ll see you around in town sometime.”
    “Maybe.” She sounded noncommittal, and he could feel her retreating from him as she flicked the dead bolt and opened the front door to let him out.
    He stepped into the night air without another word, and headed for his SUV without looking back. The soft click that met his ears told him she’d closed and relocked the door.
    The moment he slid into the driver’s seat, he popped open the glove compartment to retrieve the nine-millimeter Sig Sauer stashed there. He never brought a weapon into Maya’s little bungalow—he didn’t want to scare her—but he felt naked without his trusty Sig. Even now, just sitting in his car, he didn’t feel fully comfortable until he placed the gun next to his thigh, within reach of his right hand.
    Letting out a breath, he started the engine and reversed out the dirt driveway. He didn’t glance in the rearview mirror to get a final glimpse of the house. Their time together was over, which meant it was time to move forward.
    And if there was one thing Jim Morgan excelled at, it was never looking back.
    Still, his heart felt heavy as he drove down the darkened street toward the intersection that would lead him into town. He hadn’t wanted to hurt Maya, but he suspected that he had. He just hoped this new man of hers could give her everything she needed. Everything she deserved.
    He reached the heart of town a few minutes later, found himself easing his foot off the gas pedal. The sleepy village of Turtle Cove didn’t offer many options in terms of nightlife, but it did boast a tiny dive bar that Morgan and his team of mercenaries often frequented. He headed toward it, and