Backwards Honeymoon. Leigh Michaels

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      “Your parents meant well,” he said. “Keeping you protected like that. After that kidnaping threat—”

      “I know they had to protect me.” The resignation in her voice abruptly gave way to something like triumph. “See? You do understand how it was.”

      “A little, maybe.”

      “And I know that you’re kind,” she said softly, “or you wouldn’t have helped me get outside the walls in the first place. Very kind, or you wouldn’t be helping me right now.”

      Lunatic, he thought, would be a more accurate description.

      He let the silence lengthen and finally said, “I think we should find a pay phone so you can call your father. At least let him know you’re safe.”

      She laughed. “And you talk about me not being logical?”

      “If you didn’t even leave a note—”

      “There wasn’t time.”

      “He’ll be worried about you.”

      “Jonah, that place is so wired for sound that he could trace me within fifteen seconds of answering the phone.”

      “He has good reason for that. And maybe I can figure a way to get around it.”

      “If you can do that, you’re the greatest electronics genius of your day. Even twenty years ago, he had a good enough bugging system that—” Her voice caught.

      Jonah nodded. “That he told the FBI precisely where to find the extortionists who’d phoned him and threatened to snatch you if he didn’t pay them off. I remember. That incident is exactly why you shouldn’t leave him in suspense this time.”

      “The system is a whole lot more sensitive now.”

      “I’ll figure something out—at least a way to get a message to him. He’s not young anymore, Katie. Don’t make him suffer unnecessary stress.”

      “Who are you, anyway? His doctor?” She sighed. “All right, but it’s on your head. If your great idea fails and he finds me, I’m holding you responsible.”

      “Maybe he’ll be so glad to hear from you that you’ll be headed straight home of your own free will.”

      She didn’t answer that, but the tilt of her eyebrows spoke volumes. A little later, she said, “This deal we’ve been talking over—what about if I offer you fifteen percent of Katie Mae’s Kitchens?”

      “Fifteen percent of the company or fifteen percent of your share? Not that I’m indicating interest either way, you understand. It’s just idle curiosity.”

      She looked at him sideways. “Oh, sure, you’re just curious. I meant of the company. That leaves me fifteen percent. My father still holds forty and the rest of the shares are owned by a bunch of investors, so it wouldn’t change anything, really. I’d still be a major stockholder.”

      Jonah shook his head. “You need to learn to negotiate, Katie. Pick your man carefully, approach him right, and you could probably settle for five percent. Certainly for ten.”

      She raised her chin a fraction. “I’d rather be fair up front and get things settled quickly.”

      Shark bait, he thought. She’s doomed.

      Fifteen minutes later, Jonah slowed for a small town. “I wonder if there’s a library here.”

      “Probably not one that’s open at this hour on a Saturday night. What do you want to look up, anyway?”

      “Libraries have public-access computers, sweetheart. If nothing else, we can send your father an e-mail. He does have an e-mail address, doesn’t he?”

      “Oh, yes. His newest toy is a gadget the size of a remote control that lets him download his mail anywhere. He’s in love with that thing. But can’t e-mail messages be traced?”

      “Not this one. Not by the time I get done with it.”

      “In that case, there’s an easier solution.” She pointed at a low building across the highway.

      “A coffeehouse?”

      “Look at the neon sign in the window.”

      “Internet access. Perfect.” He swung the car into the parking lot.

      The coffeehouse wasn’t particularly busy, but Jonah guided Kathryn to a booth instead of toward the row of computers along one side of the room. When she gave him a questioning look, he said, “I could use a cup of coffee. Besides, we’d be more likely to be noticed if we went straight for the computer. Noticed—and remembered, in case anyone happens to come along and ask. What would you like?”

      “Whatever you’re getting for yourself.”

      “I’m ordering a large, plain, house blend—black, no sugar. If you’d rather have something fancy—”

      Kathryn shook her head. “I wish you’d get over this idea that I only like something if it’s expensive and exotic.”

      He gave the order to the waitress and added casually, “By the way, what’s special about the computer in the corner over there? The one that has its own little room?”

      The waitress looked over her shoulder as if she wasn’t sure which one he meant. “It’s wired for sound,” she said. “We’ve got some customers who can’t type, so they like that one. They can just talk to it.”

      Jonah summoned his best smile. “Can you put me on the waiting list to use it?”

      The waitress blinked and gulped. “I’ll make sure you’re next.”

      He turned back to find Kathryn looking at him thoughtfully.

      “Don’t start talking about your bargain here,” he said.

      “I wasn’t planning to. I do have some discretion. I also am capable of feeling shame, which you obviously aren’t. Flirting with the waitress like that—”

      He was mildly indignant. “I didn’t hurt her in the process of getting what I wanted.”

      “Maybe not, but she’s going to be hanging around staring at you and soaking up every word you say as long as you sit here. If you didn’t want to be noticed—and remembered—you’ve gone about it exactly wrong.”

      Their coffee arrived at breakneck speed, and the waitress confided, “The guy who’s using the computer now is in here every night, so I told him his time was up in five minutes.”

      “Thanks,” Jonah said.

      Kathryn only raised her eyebrows and sipped her coffee.

      Once they were in the enclosed booth, it took him hardly any time at all to set up the Internet connection so it would operate like a regular telephone. “Here.” He handed the headset microphone to Kathryn. “You talk in here, but your father’s СКАЧАТЬ