Hustle (Book 1 in The Hunted Hearts) - SYTYCW Winner #action #comedy #romance

Hustle | Chapter 10

Copyright 2013 All Rights Reserved

Hustle By Claire Chilton

10

Incognito

Ellie took a seat at the table beside Jacob's in the hotel restaurant. He offered her a polite smile. She nodded at him, being careful not to dislodge her blue-rinse wig. He was scanning the restaurant with narrowed eyes, probably looking for her.

She wasn't concerned that he'd recognize her. Her experience with disguise had proven that people saw what they expected to see. No man of Jacob's age was going to study an old woman with much scrutiny. He'd see her shawl, the caked-on make-up, and his imagination would age her sixty years all by itself.

She dropped a lacy handkerchief onto the marble floor before sighing. "Could you help an old lady out?" she croaked at him, offering him a wrinkled smile. The thick makeup felt as if it cracked on her face.

He turned towards her with a sympathetic light in his eyes. "Of course." He got out of his chair and knelt before her, deftly swiping the cloth off the floor and offering her it.

"It's not often you see a gentleman around these days." She made her voice as gravelly as possible to conceal it. "You're such a fine young man. Do you have a girl?" She made her hand tremble as she reached for the handkerchief and gave his hand a pat in the process.

He smiled. "I'm afraid not."

"Ah, playing the field, are you?" She nodded. "Just like my Gerald used to before he met me."

"Your Gerald?" He seemed eager to leave, but Ellie was too busy enjoying messing with him to let him get away that easily.

"Sit down, sit down." She waved him towards the seat opposite her. "Keep an old lady company for a while."

He shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other, clearly wanting to get away, but debating the matter of manners.

"Unless you're waiting for a hot date?" she added.

She noticed his eyes darken in anger for a moment before he flashed a polite smile and took a seat opposite her.

That hit a nerve.

She wondered for a moment if he was waiting for a hot date. She frowned when her chest ached at the thought of him with another woman. Ignoring the feeling, she tried to dismiss it as indigestion.

"So who was Gerald?" he asked, interrupting her thoughts and reminding her to remain in character.

"Ah, Gerald was the love of my life. We were so young and wild back then. We met here every year for a crazy adventure." She glanced out of the balcony, down to the white beach and azure waters below. "Back then, you could live a lifetime in one hot summer." She sighed wistfully, flashing him a glance to ensure she had his attention.

She did. He was listening to every word. "Gerald and I lived many lifetimes on this very beach until one year when he didn't show up."

"What happened to him?" Jacob asked. He sounded genuinely sad. She glanced at him. For a second, he didn't look angry or menacing. He looked as lonely as she felt.

Perhaps all great stories of love are just stories. None of it is ever real. We just want it to be, so we make it all up.

"I never found out, but Gerald was gone. I never saw him again. He wouldn't have just stopped coming, so I suspect he died. Still, I come back every year for the chance to have an adventure with him again. For love, we do the craziest things." She nodded, pulling her shawl around her shoulders. "Say, it's getting a bit chilly. Would it be too much trouble if I asked you to help an old romantic up to her room?"