Read Online For Her Honor by Elayne Disano - Free Book Online Page B

“Not in this instance, it doesn’t.”
    He waved her forward. “Contrary to popular belief, I don’t bite. Well, not that hard. You back up any farther you’ll be in the bathtub.”
    Feeling stupid, she took a deep breath. Okay, he’d freaked her out showing up like this, but he wasn’t some wandering stranger. She’d already met him - twice. She’d toss him a bone, just until the rain passed and he could ride. “Sorry,” she said, sitting on the far edge of the bed. “You caught me off guard. “How’d you find me?”
    “Process of elimination. Didn’t think you had a place yet, so I figured you were in a motel. This is the only place off the exit which ain’t a skank hole.”
    Okay, that question was answered . “So, why?”
    “Why, what?”
    “Check me out?”
    He leaned back against a round desk table in front of the window, folding both arms ac ross his chest. She swore those eyes of his took in every inch of her with nary a blink. “You piqued my interest.”
    “I’m anything but interesting. You’re wasting your time.”
    “Let me be the judge of that. So, Karen ?”
    Karen saw a window of opportunity to catch him off guard. “Yes, Gabriel ?”
    He barely missed a beat , keeping a straight face before giving her a look of concession. “Eva tell you that?”
    She shook her head. “Closer source. Your mother.”
    Now he was interested and pushed away from the table. “Care to expound upon that?”
    She told him the story and how Janice had put two and two together. “That’s what you get for telling your mother your whereabouts.” The sassy response made those dimples deepen and brought a twinkle to those black eyes. Karen wasn’t disrespectful, but she wasn’t going to leave the playing field uneven after he’d pretty much tracked her down. “She slipped and said your real name. She’s a nice lady. Looked pretty pleased to know I met you. I wonder why.”
    “I don’t.”
    “That’s sweet,” Karen said. “Your mom’s trying to play matchmaker.”
    “She’s been tryin’ for fifteen years, sweetheart. Ain’t succeeded yet.
    Fifteen? “How old are you?”
    One of those brows rose as that lip curled with mirth. “Don’t you know that’s rude to ask?”
    Karen was getting a little more comfortable. The banter was fun, and his cooperation in it made her at ease. “Sorry.”
    “You first.”
    She wasn’t at an age to have to be vain about it. “Thirty…..and a half.”
    “Thirty -six. So, yeah, ma’s been tryin’ to hook me up since I could drink. Well,” he snickered, “legally. What else did she tell you?”
    Oh, now he seemed nervous that his mother may have spilled some embarrassing childhood secret or something. “Just how you got your nickname.”
    He looked proud. “Yeah, I was quite a handful.” Those eyes hooded and gave her a look which made that strange warmth return. “Still am.”
    Karen swallowed as the rain pounded against the window outside. His eyes followed hers and turned his head. “Looks like I ain’t leavin’ anytime soon.”
    “You…..you can’t stay here.”
    “Gonna send me out in that? Really?”
    “I don’t know you.”
    “Why do you think we’re talkin’? Fine, I’ll tell you my favorite color, food, movie. Wanna know what my zodiac sign is? If you really want to get personal, I can get into positions.”
    She felt herself flush, but kept her cool. “You’re quite a talker.”
    He flashed that smile again. “See. You’re getting to know me already. So, Karen,” he walked over to where she was sitting on the edge of the bed before crouching down. His legs were spread and his arms dangled between, hands clasped. “How about tellin’ me all about you? Because, I gotta say, as much as I appreciate the addition of your lovely face in these parts, I ain’t buyin’ your ‘ change of scenery’ story.”
    That chipper manner completely vanished. Kneeling before her was the man he looked like, the dark, devilish biker he