Read Online A Kiss In The Dark by Kimberly Logan - Free Book Online Page A

Nat said sharply.
    “Who’s going to make me? You?”
    For a long moment, no one said a word. Emily was certain the pounding of her heart must have been audible in the sudden stillness as the boys who were grouped around the fireplace became aware of what was going on and turned to watch.
    Then, from out of nowhere, a voice spoke up with quiet authority. “’E won’t ’ave to, Jack. I will.”
    Emily’s pulse gave a leap, and all eyes in the room went to the alley doorway, where Peter stood, arms crossed as he took in the scene in front of him. Another lad a few years younger hovered at his elbow, straining to see over his shoulder.
    For what seemed like an eternity, the two older boys eyed each other; Jack with belligerence, Peter with a calm steadiness that belied the tension of the moment. Emily bit her lip and stared up at them both anxiously.
    Then Peter spoke again, his words possessing the impact of a whip crack. “Leave ’er alone, Jack. Now.”
    With a growl, the dark-haired boy finally complied, sending a fulminating glare around the room at large. Emily couldn’t restrain a sigh of relief as he backed away, putting some much-needed distance between them.
    Taking a step into the room, Peter nudged the bag on the floor with his foot, raising a brow at Jack. “What’s this?”
    “Nothing.”
    “It doesn’t look like nothing. We promised Lady R—”
    “ You promised Lady R. I didn’t agree to anything.”
    Peter’s eyes narrowed. “You know the rules, Jack.”
    Instead of answering, Jack bared his teeth in a snarl and hefted the bag back to his shoulder before moving off to the far corner of the room.
    With his retreat, the tension in the air seemed to dissipate, and the other boys went back to their previous activities.
    Peter approached Emily, his expression concerned. “Are you all right?”
    She nodded and offered him a tentative smile. “Yes. Thank you. And I need to thank you for last night, as well. I don’t know what I would have done without your help.”
    He shrugged, then turned to Nat. “Nat, those sausages Lady R brought us smell like they’re almost done. Why don’t you fetch one for our guest? She’s likely starving.”
    It wasn’t until that moment that Emily realized just how hungry she was, and her stomach rumbled in response. She watched as Nat gave a crisp salute and headed toward the group around the fireplace.
    Shoving his hands in his pockets, Peter leaned back against the wall and studied her shrewdly, his intense blue eyes making her feel oddly vulnerable. “You’ve stirred up a ’ornet’s nest, miss, and no mistake. Flynt’s got ’is men out searching the streets for you.”
    Emily shivered as images of Barnaby Flynt’s cruel face flashed across her mind’s eye. That man was truly evil, and the thought of him finding her filled her with terror.
    The freckle-faced boy who had entered with Peter grinned at her. “Don’t worry, miss. Flynt’ll never find our ’ideout.” It was said with a great deal of confidence, and Emily could only pray he was right.
    “You know, miss,” Peter said, pulling her attention back to him, “you never did tell me why Flynt is so ’ot to find you in the first place.”
    She opened her mouth, but before she could speak, Benji hopped up from the pallet and reached out to grasp Peter’s sleeve, giving it an insistent tug. “Is she an angel, Peter?” he whispered, sounding almost reverent.
    The freckled boy snorted. “Course she ain’t! She’s just a girl.”
    “But she looks like the picture in my book. If she isn’t an angel, who is she?”
    Peter cocked his head in a considering manner. “That’s a good question, Benji. I can’t say. She ’asn’t introduced ’erself yet.”
    Emily felt a blush heat her cheeks. He was right. To be truthful, she hadn’t told him much of anything. “Emily. My name is Emily.”
    “Well, Miss Emily.” Peter held out a hand to her, his mouth curving in a lazy grin. “Would you