Read Online Breaking the Rules by Barbara Samuel, Ruth Wind - Free Book Online Page B

quote surprised her. She hadn’t realized she felt so strongly about leaving, and even now, she didn’t know if it was Zeke or Kismet she would miss. Both.
    She wasn’t meant to be on the run, transient and alone. All she had ever wanted—ever—was a quiet, safe, simple life with people she loved around her. A family of her own.
    Suddenly, into the still golden morning came a sound, a deep growling purr. Coming fast. Mattie moved to the screen door, half annoyed, half distraught. She didn’t want to say goodbye to him in person. He’d see straight through her coolness to the silly crush she had on him.
    Intolerable thought.
    Deciding to take the offense, Mattie opened the door and stepped onto the porch just as Zeke pulled up. His hair, unrestrained by the usual ponytail he wore when riding, was wild and tangled. He kicked off the bike, glanced over his shoulder and leaped up to the porch.
    “Zeke—”
    “There’s a redheaded man down at the café looking for a woman with very long hair and scarred hands. Anybody you know?”
    An abrupt and overwhelming fear stole the breath from Mattie’s lungs. She stared at Zeke in horror. “At the café?”
    “And coming this way fast.” He grabbed her arms, spun her around. “Grab your purse and let’s get you out of here.”
    Mattie didn’t question the order. She grabbed the tote and her purse from the bed and dashed out, leaving the door open in her haste to be away. Zeke had already started the bike. Mattie got on behind him and he handed her a helmet. “We’ll sort everything out later. Just put this on and hang on tight.”
    “Go,” she urged, tugging on the helmet.
    He was already moving.
    Mattie had never been on a motorcycle in her life. Instinctively, she pressed close to Zeke and followed the light lean of his body as they banked into a turn. His hair whipped her face.
    The motel parking lot was gravel, on a down slope. Speed was impossible. As he turned into the driveway that led to the highway, Mattie heard him swear.
    “What?”
    “Hold on tight and keep your head down. This is about to get ugly.”
    Over his shoulder, Mattie caught a glimpse of a sky blue El Camino before the bike surged forward. Her heart thundered as they roared past the vehicle. Brian, plain as day, sat behind the wheel, his face murderous as they passed him.
    Then the bike was rocketing down the highway. To keep from flying off, Mattie grabbed hard to Zeke’s waist. Waves of cold sweat flashed over her at the feeling of speed whipping against them. The trees and hillsides were a blur of color. The wind made a high noise. Tiny stings struck her bare arms—maybe rocks or little bugs.
    And she held on with all her might.
    A strange volley of noise pricked her attention. A ping and a deeper thud—
    “Keep your head down,” Zeke yelled.
    At the side of the road a chunk of pavement went flying.
    Bullets.
    “Oh, God!” She buried her face against Zeke’s back, closing her eyes. A shudder rushed down her exposed spine and she thought of Zeke’s bare head.
    The bike seemed to suddenly leap from the road, and for one terrified moment, Mattie had no idea what was happening. She thought wildly that Zeke had been shot and they were flying off the road, out of control.
    Then she realized he’d veered off the highway to a slim path in the woods. The jolt of the rough road yanked her head up—and she was promptly slapped by a pine branch. The stinging blow caught her across the nose and right cheek and brought tears to her eyes.
    “Keep your head down!”
    Mattie ducked into his back.
    The bike jumped and skidded and gave off deep, annoyed growlings. Against her arms and chest, Mattie felt Zeke’s powerful body fighting to control the machine. He flung out, a leg on one side, then the other; she felt him duck and heard the scrape of a thick branch on her helmet. The muscles of his torso flexed and contracted. Between her legs, she felt the tension of his hips.
    Slowly, she grew