Rogue's Angel (Rogue Series) Read Free Page A

glared at him. Pedro just grinned and went back to the kitchen.
    So I hadn't made him up, but he hadn't been back. Maybe he'd just been passing through and I'd never see him again. And so what if I never did? People came in here all the time and I never saw them again.
    Him, though, I wanted to see again. I didn't know why. Every night I saw his big brown eyes when I closed mine. I felt his strong arms around me. I felt safe and warm whenever I thought of him.
    A poke on my arm brought me back to reality. I looked around to see Jenny holding a rag out to me.
    "Earth to Em! Wake up! Let's get this place shut down and go home. I'm so looking forward to tonight! The start of a whole week off! We should remodel more often. Of course, that would be bad for the bank account, but I can't say I'm not ready for a little vacay. What have you got planned for your time off?"
    I shrugged. "Sleep mostly." When I slept, I saw Rogue. "Then probably some cleaning. My apartment is horrible. You know what a horrible housekeeper I am. Maybe do a little shopping. I could use a few more outfits. Classes start at the U in a few weeks."
    "Sounds like a plan. I'm going to do the same thing, except the cleaning part. Sleep and shopping sound wonderful, though! How many classes you taking this semester?" she asked.
    "4. Maybe 5 if the Tues/Thurs theology class isn't full," I answered.
    "What's your major again?" she asked.
    "Religious Studies," I said, smiling.
    Jenny shook her head at me. "I don't get you, Ems. You don't even go to church, yet you're making a career out of studying God."
    "Gods," I corrected. "I study religion. Just because I study it doesn't mean I believe any of it. Besides, I'm focusing on a specific area of religions, remember."
    "Right. Angels. I forgot. Anything new for the collection recently?" she asked.
    I shook my head. "Not yet. The glass ornament you got me for the tree at Christmas was the latest. Maybe I'll find something out shopping this week."
    "Good luck with that!" she said and turned back to wipe the bar down.
    I joined her and we got the place cleaned in no time. Pedro helped us stack the chairs and carry them in the back and move all the tables to one side and cover them with a drop cloth. The painters were coming first thing in the morning and we'd been given specific instructions to have things ready for them.
    "Well, goodnight!" Jenny called to both me and Pedro as we all headed out of the bar and locked up behind us. She got in her car and left. Before I went to my car, Pedro pulled me back by my arm.
    "Hey," he said. "Why'd you shush me in there about the guy who left you a big tip? What, you didn't tell Jenny about him?"
    I bit my bottom lip and shook my head guiltily.
    Pedro grinned. "You've got a thing for him."
    "I do not!" I protested, my cheeks flushing. "I don't even know him! And I haven't seen him again!"
    "Yeah, whatever. You've got a thing for the Mystery Man and you don't want Jenny to know. I gotcha. You could have just said something!" he laughed.
    "Well, now you know, so just drop it!" I ordered, blushing even more.
    "If I see him, I'll tell him you're looking for him!" Pedro teased, and danced out of my way when I made a grab for his middle.
    He took off running in the direction of his other job and I sighed and shook my head. I went to my car and headed back home.
    #
    The following day I woke up to bright and cheerful sunshine earlier than usual. For a second I almost panicked because I thought I'd be late for work, then I remembered I was off for the whole week while they remodeled. I had no classes and nothing to do but whatever I wanted.
    That was a problem for me. I wasn't good with free time. I laid there looking up at the ceiling above my bed wondering what to do with myself. My stomach growled. I sighed and sat up. I stretched and took a deep morning breath as I got out of bed and headed for the shower.
    I stayed in the shower until the hot water ran cold. I loved standing in the