Read Online Come Gentle the Dawn by Lindsay McKenna - Free Book Online Page A

sleep, she nuzzled the hand, which she discovered had wiry hairs across it. When it slowly dawned on her whose hand it was, she jerked awake and sat up.
    “We’re near Canton,” Linc said quietly, giving her a worried look.
    “What time is it?” she asked groggily, rubbing her eyes.
    “A little after ten. How do you feel?”
    “Like I’ve been hit by a Mack truck,” she muttered, sitting up. “My neck feels like it has knots in it.” She began to rub it gently. Her hair had dried and was mussed, giving her a fragile look that Linc found hard to ignore.
    He wondered what it would be like to make love to Brie. She was so responsive, like a hot, spirited thoroughbred. He had spent the past hour mulling over many facets of Brie, making a checklist of what he did or did not like about her. In the minus column, she was his boss. She was either a target or had set up Holcomb to be murdered. Which was it? Linc wanted to discount that Brie was capable of having her partner blown away, but he couldn’t that easily. Then again, if she was the culprit why did she risk injury as she did? He had only a few answers, and there were still so many pieces of the puzzle that didn’t fit. A plan had formed in his mind as she slept, and now he was going to spring it on her.
    “Listen, I’ve been thinking, Brie.”
    “Uh-oh, that could be dangerous,” she said, digging for the thermos.
    “Are you always a tart when you wake up?”
    She sat up, the thermos between her hands. “Just with your kind, Tanner. Want some?”
    “No, thanks. What do you mean, my kind?”
    Brie poured herself a cup of coffee, capped the thermos and sat back, enjoying Linc and her just awakening state. “Your kind meaning the guys in the fire service who are all macho and given to rooster crowing and strutting. They always have a line for the women who come around. Actually, I should thank all those guys I spent my fire fighting years with. They helped me handle someone like you.” She glanced out of the corners of her eyes to see how he was taking her teasing.
    “You can really dish it out, can’t you, Ms. Williams?”
    She grinned, placing both feet on the dash. “That’s right, any time, day or night. I’m on twenty-four-hour call, Tanner.”
    “I’m impressed as hell. When I wake up, I’m not sharp at all.”
    “No? Pity. Here I thought all you ever did was parry your way through life.”
    He slid her a warning look laced with humor. “Only with smart mouths like you, Williams. Satisfied?”
    “Immensely. Now, what did you want to talk about?”
    Saucy little cat. I’ll corner you someday and then we’ll see just how fast you can try and talk your way out of me kissing you. Linc wondered where that thought had come from. “How about if I crash and burn on your couch? We’re both beat. There’s no sense in driving all over Canton to find a motel open at this time of night. Besides, if you are called out, you’ll have to come and pick me up, wasting valuable time.”
    Brie’s good humor disappeared abruptly. She put hercup down, rested her hands on her knees and pondered his suggestion. Panic riffled through her. She didn’t want Linc at her house. She had no way of knowing when she would have another nightmare and she’d awake screaming. No, she couldn’t risk her image with Tanner like that. She wanted no one to see that weakened side of herself at any cost.
    “I think you’ll be more comfortable at a motel, Linc.”
    “I don’t sleep well in motels. There’s just something about a home that puts me at ease.” He glanced at her, seeing the set of her lips. What was going on inside that head of hers? Was she hiding something at her house she wanted no one to see? “I promise I’ll stay on the couch. No cute stuff. Okay?”
    Brie rubbed her brow, feeling a headache coming on. Great, he didn’t sleep well at motels. Neither did she. “It’s a small couch. You wouldn’t be comfortable on it. Take my word.”
    Linc softened