Read Online Holiday with a Stranger by Christy McKellen - Free Book Online
Authors: Christy McKellen
Ads: Link
problem.’
Connor replaced the handset and stood there thinking. She couldn’t have been here for the robbery, then, but if she’d left the farm an hour ago she should be back by now.
The sun was beating down relentlessly and he knew she’d be having trouble finding shade out there. The flat French landscape didn’t provide such a luxury. If she hadn’t had a drink for a while she’d be pretty dehydrated.
He ran his hands through his hair in agitation. The last thing he needed right now was to have to babysit some stupid townie with no sense of survival. She was stubborn and self-involved, and would no doubt be angry with him for chasing after her, but he knew he couldn’t leave her out there in this heat. He’d deal with the break-in once he knew she was safe.
After grabbing a bottle of water from the kitchen, he strode off in the direction of the farm.
* * *
Josie was drenched in sweat. Her dress stuck to her legs and her hair fell in clumps around her face.
A while back she’d slowed down to look about her, and had realised she could no longer recognise any landmarks. Lavender fields stretched out on all sides of her, each direction seemingly identical to the others. Panic lay heavy in her stomach as she realised she was lost. Logically, she should be able to retrace her steps, but the heat was making her head fuzzy, and she’d taken a few turns without marking them in her mind, and now she wasn’t sure if she could remember them.
She turned back, but wasn’t sure she was heading in the right direction.
Oh, God...oh, God.
Blood pounded through her veins as her body struggled to keep cool in the relentless heat. Her skin was boiling to the touch and her head thumped under the bright glare of the sun. She was exhausted. Her muscles screamed at her to stop and rest, but she was too panicked. She needed to keep going.
What she wouldn’t give for a drink of water right now. Or just a bit of shade.
What had she been thinking? How could she have been so stupid? She’d been so desperate to show Connor she didn’t need his help with a map she’d put herself in danger.
Struggling on slowly, she fanned her hands in front of her face in a vain attempt to cool herself down. There wasn’t a breath of wind in the air. It was like walking through soup.
Her foot hit a bit of uneven ground and her legs went from under her. She lay there, sprawled out on the dry earth, willing her body to move, but it refused. The blood pounding in her ears was keeping time with the sharp ache in her head.
Boom, boom-boom, boom.
All she could do was concentrate on the sound; it was taking over everything else.
* * *
She didn’t know how long she’d been lying there when she became aware of a gentle vibration in the ground and a shadow fell across her. Forcing her aching head to turn and look at its source was agonising. All she could make out was a large silhouette blocking out the sun.
‘Josie, are you okay?’ Connor’s voice sounded urgent.
Her mouth wouldn’t form the words she needed; it was so dry her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth. She managed to shake her head, sending off a fresh wave of pain, forcing her to close her eyes against it. She was vaguely aware of Connor putting a bottle to her lips and liquid pouring into her parched mouth. She could barely swallow, but he kept it there until he was satisfied she’d taken some down. She felt him wrap something wet around her head and shoulders before lifting her up into his arms.
Laying her head against his bare chest, she closed her eyes and relaxed into the gentle rocking motion of his body as he set off walking. She could feel the muscles moving under his skin as he held her to him. She snuggled tighter, like a cat rubbing in for a stroke.
‘What were you thinking ?’
His voice rumbled in his chest next to her right ear. He sounded more worried than angry, which surprised her. She could smell a mixture of suntan lotion and the musk of his skin
Connor replaced the handset and stood there thinking. She couldn’t have been here for the robbery, then, but if she’d left the farm an hour ago she should be back by now.
The sun was beating down relentlessly and he knew she’d be having trouble finding shade out there. The flat French landscape didn’t provide such a luxury. If she hadn’t had a drink for a while she’d be pretty dehydrated.
He ran his hands through his hair in agitation. The last thing he needed right now was to have to babysit some stupid townie with no sense of survival. She was stubborn and self-involved, and would no doubt be angry with him for chasing after her, but he knew he couldn’t leave her out there in this heat. He’d deal with the break-in once he knew she was safe.
After grabbing a bottle of water from the kitchen, he strode off in the direction of the farm.
* * *
Josie was drenched in sweat. Her dress stuck to her legs and her hair fell in clumps around her face.
A while back she’d slowed down to look about her, and had realised she could no longer recognise any landmarks. Lavender fields stretched out on all sides of her, each direction seemingly identical to the others. Panic lay heavy in her stomach as she realised she was lost. Logically, she should be able to retrace her steps, but the heat was making her head fuzzy, and she’d taken a few turns without marking them in her mind, and now she wasn’t sure if she could remember them.
She turned back, but wasn’t sure she was heading in the right direction.
Oh, God...oh, God.
Blood pounded through her veins as her body struggled to keep cool in the relentless heat. Her skin was boiling to the touch and her head thumped under the bright glare of the sun. She was exhausted. Her muscles screamed at her to stop and rest, but she was too panicked. She needed to keep going.
What she wouldn’t give for a drink of water right now. Or just a bit of shade.
What had she been thinking? How could she have been so stupid? She’d been so desperate to show Connor she didn’t need his help with a map she’d put herself in danger.
Struggling on slowly, she fanned her hands in front of her face in a vain attempt to cool herself down. There wasn’t a breath of wind in the air. It was like walking through soup.
Her foot hit a bit of uneven ground and her legs went from under her. She lay there, sprawled out on the dry earth, willing her body to move, but it refused. The blood pounding in her ears was keeping time with the sharp ache in her head.
Boom, boom-boom, boom.
All she could do was concentrate on the sound; it was taking over everything else.
* * *
She didn’t know how long she’d been lying there when she became aware of a gentle vibration in the ground and a shadow fell across her. Forcing her aching head to turn and look at its source was agonising. All she could make out was a large silhouette blocking out the sun.
‘Josie, are you okay?’ Connor’s voice sounded urgent.
Her mouth wouldn’t form the words she needed; it was so dry her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth. She managed to shake her head, sending off a fresh wave of pain, forcing her to close her eyes against it. She was vaguely aware of Connor putting a bottle to her lips and liquid pouring into her parched mouth. She could barely swallow, but he kept it there until he was satisfied she’d taken some down. She felt him wrap something wet around her head and shoulders before lifting her up into his arms.
Laying her head against his bare chest, she closed her eyes and relaxed into the gentle rocking motion of his body as he set off walking. She could feel the muscles moving under his skin as he held her to him. She snuggled tighter, like a cat rubbing in for a stroke.
‘What were you thinking ?’
His voice rumbled in his chest next to her right ear. He sounded more worried than angry, which surprised her. She could smell a mixture of suntan lotion and the musk of his skin
Similar Books
