Read Online Annie on the Lam: A Christmas Caper by Jennifer Archer - Free Book Online

beneath her arm, then climbed out of the cab holding tight to the briefcase.
    Joe met her at the curb and walked beside her across the snow-covered walk to the building’s entrance. While she pulled out her key, he shoved his hands into his coat pockets and stood far enough back so as not to increase her anxiety. She was still unsure of him, he could see that. The image of Harry Landau holding his crotch came to mind again and Joe wondered if he shouldn’t be wary of her.
    The keys slipped from her fingers and landed on the cement with a jingle. When she stooped and picked them up, Joe saw that her hands shook. As she tried the lock again, he stepped up behind her. “Here. Let me.” He placed his hand over hers, and she turned her head slightly and looked up, her face so near to his the warmth of her breath brushed his cheek. Her blue eyes were clouded with uncertainty as he guided her hand to the lock and, together, they inserted the key.
    The door opened and Joe stepped back. He shook snow off his hair, brushed it off his shoulders before following Annie into a brightly lit hallway and up two short flights of stairs.
    At her door, she said, “I’ll just be a second. Wait here.” Then her eyes widened and she quickly covered her mouth and let loose a sneeze that would have easily rattled the windows if there had been any in the hallway. She lowered her hand and winced. “Excuse me. It’s this perfume. I’m allergic.”
    â€œToo bad. I like it.”
    Joe watched her self-deprecating expression shift again to one of wariness, watched her eyes darken with the same unwanted awareness he felt in himself. He imagined lifting a hand, tracing the curve of her jaw, her smooth pale neck, the hollow beneath her throat. He pictured himself lifting the purse strap over her head, easing the coat from her shoulders as he backed her against the closed door. And as the moment stretched and energy crackled in the air between them, it was easy to pretend she wouldn’t resist, that she would welcome his hands on her body, his mouth on her breast, soothing that angry red scratch.
    Joe blinked and the fantasy vanished.
    Annie glanced down, pink staining her cheeks. She opened the door and went inside, closed it behind her.
    That’s it , Joe thought, cursing quietly and raking a hand through his hair. Time to call old man Macy and put an end to all this. He would deliver his report about what had happened tonight and be through with it. Macy could take it from here. Why should Joe give a damn if Annabelle Macy was in over her head? He didn’t know her. He didn’t care about her. She might look good, but she damn sure wasn’t his type. He didn’t even like the woman.
    He started down the hallway, cursed again, returned to her door. As much as he wanted to, he couldn’t walk away. And not only because he was low on cash, short on work and the rent would soon be due. Until he was certain that the woman was not in any danger from Harry Landau or Frank Reno or anyone else, he couldn’t leave her alone. He’d just have to lock up his libido. It shouldn’t be all that difficult; he had no use for fancy-pants women. Especially this one.
    He’d keep telling himself that.
    Â 
    A NNIE STOOD in the dark with her back against the door, drawing deep breaths, her eyes closed. Except for her feet, she no longer felt cold and she wasn’t all that afraid anymore that Harry might jump out of the shadows. Now it was the man in her hallway who frightened her. More so, her reaction to him.
    On the other side of the door, she heard him utter a particularly foul word, and thought, I couldn’t agree with you more . Good gawd. What in the hell was she thinking letting him get so close? He was a complete stranger and she could not afford to be reckless. Right now, she couldn’t trust anyone except herself.
    Her eyes flew open as the parallel hit her. Is this how her mother