Read Online In the Clear by Tamara Morgan - Free Book Online Page B

. ”
    “Always mess things up.”
    “Lexie.” His tone was much sterner than he intended, but he couldn’t stand to see her misconstruing his intent this way. He wasn’t everybody else. Hurting her was worse than plunging into a thousand freezing lakes, more miserable than spending a hundred lifetimes alone. “You have to understand—this isn’t my call to make. I’m not in charge. I’m just a support volunteer.”
    “Oh, I understand.” She sniffled once and backed away. The distance felt like miles, but something about the gleam in her eye made him realize that sadness wasn’t her ruling emotion right now. That was the exact expression she gave Sean when she was planning some kind of retaliation. “But you’re forgetting one small thing. You didn’t drive here today.”
    Fletcher groaned inwardly. She was right. “Do you think maybe I could borrow your car? Someone here could give you a ride home, right?”
    “Nope.”
    “Are you joking?”
    “Nope,” she repeated, firmer this time. “My car. My rules. Unless you plan on hitchhiking your way to the scene, it looks like you’re going to have to depend on little old Lexie Sinclair for a change.”
    Before Fletcher could try to rationalize further, she turned on her heel, giving him a full view of her back. Her dress plunged in a deep vee to the smallest part of her waist, the delicate line of spine leading to the untold wonders of her backside.
    He gulped and loped to catch up with her. She had no idea how badly he wanted to catch a glimpse of that backside. She had no idea how badly he wanted to depend on little old Lexie Sinclair for everything. His happiness. His future. His heart.
    But getting over his fear of blood and danger was one thing. Getting over his fear of public speaking was another.
    Getting over his fear of losing her?
    He wasn’t sure that would ever happen.

Chapter Seven

    “It’s like we’re having a baby.” Lexie watched as Fletcher grabbed an oversized backpack by the door and shoved his feet into a pair of heavy-duty boots.
    He whipped to face her, an unnatural shade of white taking over his face. “What did you just say?”
    She laughed and leaned on the doorframe, glad to have finally discomposed him. Ever since Fletcher’s pager had gone off, he’d been like some kind of robot, clicking into action and refusing to look her in the eye. Even now, moving efficiently through his freakishly neat house, he barely registered her presence.
    She gestured at the backpack. “A bag at the door, double-checking to make sure you have everything, an overriding sense of panic. I’ve always assumed this is what happens when a husband and wife get ready to head to the hospital for a baby. It’s like that. You know, minus the baby. Or that whole husband-wife thing.”
    The white in Fletcher’s face was quickly replaced by a blossoming red. In Sean, red signaled his short temper. In Fletcher, it was more likely embarrassment. Great. She was at it again.
    “We should probably get going,” she said, attempting to play it off. “What’s in the baby bag, anyway?”
    “It’s just my gear. Supplies and stuff.”
    Despite their rush, Fletcher took the time to hold open the door for her as they exited, and even made sure she was settled in the driver’s seat before buckling in next to her. They weren’t big gestures, but they were gestures that mattered to Lexie. Small kindnesses had a way of hitting her right in her sweet spots.
    “What kind of supplies do you have?” she asked as she started the car. “You mentioned to Henry that you provide your own stuff. All that is yours?”
    As she moved out of the driveway, she peeked at the backpack. Backpack was hardly the right word for it—the thing was huge, one of those enormous metal-framed things people hiked up to the tops of mountains with, right down to the sleeping bag rolled up and tied on the bottom.
    How odd, imagining Fletcher making his way to the top of a snowy cliff. A