Check Mate Read Online Free Page B

He grinned, nodded and then walked away. She sighed. Thank goodness. Maybe he'd leave her alone. If not, she'd have to deal with him less diplomatically.
    When she entered the kitchen, she went straight to the refrigerator and quickly removed the ingredients for two sandwiches. If she shared dinner with Jake Ingram, she could accomplish two objectives. One, not having to come back downstairs for a while and deal with Les and Burgess. Two, sharing something as social as a meal with her captive might make him less hostile tomorrow. Working quickly, she prepared two ham and Swiss sandwiches, added a pile of potato chips and dill pickles to each plate. She poured two large glasses of cola, then as an afterthought, she reached up into the cabinet next to the microwave and pulled out a bag of pecan shortbread cookies. She removed four cookies and laid them on the counter. After placing all the items on a serving tray, she added a couple of paper napkins.
    All her life Mariah had been blessed with a healthy appetite and a great metabolism. Even now, out of her twenties, she never worried about her weight. But part of maintaining a toned, healthy body came from regular exercise. And she prided herself on staying physically and mentally fit.
    As she headed out of the kitchen, she saw Les hovering in the hallway. Doing her best to ignore him, she started up the stairs.
    "Don't you want me to carry that up for you?" Les asked. "Looks mighty heavy for—"
    "I can manage just fine. Thank you." Picking up her pace as fast as she could with the extra burden of a heavy tray, she didn't look back at the leering man. And even without eyes in the back of her head, she knew he was ogling her.
    "Get the hell back in here and leave the doc alone," Burgess yelled. "If she needs us, she'll let us know."
    Mariah said a silent thanks to Burgess. When she reached the upstairs hall, she noticed that both the bathroom and the bedroom doors stood wide open. She glanced into the bedroom. Wearing the white terry-cloth robe she'd given him, Jake lay sprawled out atop the spread on the twin bed to the left. He'd crossed his long, hairy legs at the ankles, and his head rested in the cushion of his cupped palms created by his entwined fingers. His eyes were closed, but she doubted he was asleep. His thick black hair glistened with moisture. Odd, Mariah thought, the man looked as if he didn't have a care in the world, as if he were at some swank hotel and was resting peacefully after his shower.
    She cleared her throat. He opened his eyes and looked right at her.
    "I brought our supper up here," she told him as she entered the room.
    He rose from the bed and came toward her. "Let me take that tray."
    "No, thank you," she replied. "I don't need any help."
    He shrugged.
    She placed the tray on me desk. "Come on over and sit down. You should eat and then try to get some sleep." She pulled out the wooden desk chair, then walked over to the corner and dragged the over-stuffed armchair to the end of the desk.
    Jake sat where she'd instructed him to sit, glanced at the meal she'd prepared and picked up a glass of cola. He downed half the glass before he set it back down and grabbed the sandwich. By the time Marian sat, he'd devoured a third of the ham and Swiss.
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    "Slow down," she cautioned. "You're eating on an empty stomach and if you eat too fast, you might make yourself sick."
    Jake grabbed a napkin, wiped his mouth and grinned. "Are you always so bossy?"
    "Yes," she said without hesitation. "It's part of my charm."
    "But only part." His gaze raked over her in a sensual, beckoning way.
    Her nipples tightened. Thank goodness she was wearing a good bra and a bulky sweater. "Yes, only part. I'm also patient and persistent. I usually accomplish whatever I set out to do."
    "Usually, but not always?" Jake munched on the potato chips.
    Mariah picked up her sandwich, but before taking a bite,