Read Online Leather and Sand (Riding the Line Series) by Jayna Vixen - Free Book Online

Dax’s senses reeling, but he wasn’t about to reveal that to the stowaway. Something that he wasn’t aware he had lost was now literally in his grasp. Dax found that he liked the way she felt there more than he would ever admit to himself— or, to her.
    Even if he wanted to talk about what had happened between them, now was certainly not the right time. In addition to being in yet another dangerous situation—one that made him want to paddle her sweet little ass—Rhee was obviously afraid of him finding out who she lived with.
    Some chump.
    No, that wasn’t fair, Dax told himself, as he strode up the front walkway with Rhee holding herself stiffly in his arms. Hopefully, she would have chosen well. Or not at all. He smiled grimly, wondering what kind of man he would have to ingratiate himself to. Would he be a nerd? A surfer? Probably that. Yeah, he could see Rhee with a surfer. Surfers were territorial about a lot of things. He hoped this little reunion wouldn’t end in another fistfight.
    “Dax!”
    He snapped to attention as they approached the front door. “Don’t worry, stowaway. I just want to see you safely inside.”
    Dax continued up the steps, intending to set Rhee down on the doorstep. She needs a new nickname. Stowaway doesn’t really fit anymore, he mused. Hmm. Runaway, maybe…
    “No, Dax!”
    He was appalled at the fearful octave in her voice. Just who the hell is she afraid of? Me? Or someone else?
    “Um, this is the front house. I’m in the back. I can take it from here. Put me down already!”
    Dax ignored her, finding the walkway next to the house. In the dim light, he could see the outline of plants and trees that littered the backyard. The sound of running water gave the place a tranquil feel, even in the dark. Dax strode to the front door of a little white guest cottage nestled behind a copse of small trees and hibiscus bushes.
    “Seriously. Put me down, right now!” Rhee spoke in a panicked whisper.
    Yep. Definitely living with someone. The sinking feeling in Dax’s chest was hard to push away, but logic stepped in. Of course he couldn’t expect her to be alone. Look at her, for Christ’s sake. Plus, it wasn’t as if he had been a saint.
    “Look, Rhee. I brought you this far. I just want to see you get inside…”
    “No!” Rhee pushed at him hard, twisting like an eel so that he almost dropped her right on her cute little ass.
    “Goddamn it, Rhiannon….”
    Dax had half a mind to kick the door open, but then it suddenly flew open on its own. He froze as a wholly unexpected development made this night even more interesting. Dax blinked once to make sure he was seeing things correctly. Yep. No mistaking that. It had been a long time since he had stared down the long barrel of a twelve-gauge shotgun, but it was a sight one never forgot.
    “Let her go or I’ll shoot your haole nuts off!”
    Dax was stunned into silence as he assessed the situation. The person wielding the firearm was a much older woman. His eyes swept over her and her weapon. She was short and dark, with the distinctive features of an islander. Her hair was nearly completely white, but her dark eyes belied that she was no passive lady—they flashed with intelligence and fire as she jerked the gun towards him. The weapon was old and it looked rusty. Probably hadn’t been cleaned in decades. There was a good chance that old piece of wood and metal wouldn’t even fire a shot. Still, an angry woman and an unsecured rifle were never a good combination…
    “Manali! It’s not what it looks like!” Turning back to Dax, she hissed, “Put me down before she shoots you!”
    “Ma’am,” Dax said calmly, looking over the woman’s head into the cottage. “Rhee cut her foot. If you don’t mind, I’d like to get her to that couch over there. Then, I’ll be happy to let you handle her.”
    His sharp eyes took in everything he could through the narrow slice of open doorway. It didn’t look like anyone else was