Read Online Leather and Sand (Riding the Line Series) by Jayna Vixen - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jayna Vixen
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there. Is this crazy old broad her roommate? Odd choice. Then again, I like her protective vibe…
Dax wondered at the heightened anxiety and tension that seemed to roll of Rhee in waves. What was she so afraid of? That he knew where she lived? That her roommate was a crazy old bird who came strapped with a loaded weapon? He affected a shrug as he stepped into the small, well-maintained cottage, a firm grip on his irate cargo.
***
“Cut her foot, you say?”
Manali stared hard into his eyes and he didn’t back down. She liked that about the tall man. Humpf. Good-lookin too, for a mainlander. Why’s he callin her Rhee? Short for Rina, maybe? Manali peered down, and upon seeing the gash on Rina’s foot, slowly lowered the rifle. There was something about this man and the way he held Rina. Something that just seemed…right. Manali had been around long enough to know that her gut always told the truth.
“Dax!” Rina’s voice came out as an anxious screech and she lowered it to a whisper. “I am perfectly fine. You wanted to take me home. I’m home. There is absolutely no need for you to barge in here and—”
Rina’s mouth fell open when Manali abruptly stepped aside, allowing the tall, broad-shouldered man into the cottage. Manali didn’t take kindly to strangers, which she assumed made her behavior all the more surprising to young Rina.
“You get Rina settled on the couch there, young man.”
“No!” The girl who had become like a daughter to her responded with such ferocity that Manali blinked.
“Dax, I want you to leave. Right now. I mean it!” Rina looked wildly to her for support but Manali turned away.
“Let me get a bandage.”
Manali turned her back on the two young people so that Rina would not see the smile that had appeared on her face. The energy crackled between them. Whoever this man was, he was supposed to be here. Manali wouldn’t stand in his way. She rubbed her finger over the large, onyx pendant she wore around her neck. The stone held the secrets of the ancestors. It was never wrong.
***
“Dax!” Rhee’s voice came out sharp even though she tried to whisper. “I really appreciate your help, as always. But, right now, I am just—just really tired. We can meet up tomorrow if you want to talk, okay?”
Dax regarded her with a slightly wounded look that caught Rhee off guard. “You really want me to leave? It’s four in the morning.” He glanced at the couch longingly.
Rhee sucked in her breath, following his gaze. Oh, God. He can’t expect to muscle his way in here after all these years and then just stay over on the couch? Shit, shit, shit…
“Yes,” she commanded, with as much authority as she could muster. “Yes, I want you to leave. Right now.”
Dax sighed tiredly. “Okay, okay. I’ll have your vehicle back in a few hours.” He turned to the door, which still stood ajar. “Oh, and Rhiannon? This isn’t over. Not by a long shot.”
Rhee nodded violently, her chest tight. Oh, thank God! Thank God. He’s going. Just another two steps…
***
Dax was unsure what to make of the situation, but now that he knew where Rhee lived, there was no need to impress his company on the distraught girl right this moment. She looked exhausted. He’d be back after his meeting tomorrow. Then, he would get some answers. Dax had so many questions for Rhiannon Blake, or whoever she was these days. Being around her again had been extremely enlightening. Dax was beginning to comprehend the degree of resentment and anger he still held at what he perceived as a betrayal. But he couldn’t bring himself to address all of that tonight. Not when Rhee was so obviously distressed and exhausted.
Even though he was supremely angry that Rhee had betrayed the club by leaving without so much as a thank you, Dax couldn’t deny that she still affected him. A lot. He shrugged, making eye contact with Manali as he turned to leave. She looked him over, a strange light seeming to come into
Dax wondered at the heightened anxiety and tension that seemed to roll of Rhee in waves. What was she so afraid of? That he knew where she lived? That her roommate was a crazy old bird who came strapped with a loaded weapon? He affected a shrug as he stepped into the small, well-maintained cottage, a firm grip on his irate cargo.
***
“Cut her foot, you say?”
Manali stared hard into his eyes and he didn’t back down. She liked that about the tall man. Humpf. Good-lookin too, for a mainlander. Why’s he callin her Rhee? Short for Rina, maybe? Manali peered down, and upon seeing the gash on Rina’s foot, slowly lowered the rifle. There was something about this man and the way he held Rina. Something that just seemed…right. Manali had been around long enough to know that her gut always told the truth.
“Dax!” Rina’s voice came out as an anxious screech and she lowered it to a whisper. “I am perfectly fine. You wanted to take me home. I’m home. There is absolutely no need for you to barge in here and—”
Rina’s mouth fell open when Manali abruptly stepped aside, allowing the tall, broad-shouldered man into the cottage. Manali didn’t take kindly to strangers, which she assumed made her behavior all the more surprising to young Rina.
“You get Rina settled on the couch there, young man.”
“No!” The girl who had become like a daughter to her responded with such ferocity that Manali blinked.
“Dax, I want you to leave. Right now. I mean it!” Rina looked wildly to her for support but Manali turned away.
“Let me get a bandage.”
Manali turned her back on the two young people so that Rina would not see the smile that had appeared on her face. The energy crackled between them. Whoever this man was, he was supposed to be here. Manali wouldn’t stand in his way. She rubbed her finger over the large, onyx pendant she wore around her neck. The stone held the secrets of the ancestors. It was never wrong.
***
“Dax!” Rhee’s voice came out sharp even though she tried to whisper. “I really appreciate your help, as always. But, right now, I am just—just really tired. We can meet up tomorrow if you want to talk, okay?”
Dax regarded her with a slightly wounded look that caught Rhee off guard. “You really want me to leave? It’s four in the morning.” He glanced at the couch longingly.
Rhee sucked in her breath, following his gaze. Oh, God. He can’t expect to muscle his way in here after all these years and then just stay over on the couch? Shit, shit, shit…
“Yes,” she commanded, with as much authority as she could muster. “Yes, I want you to leave. Right now.”
Dax sighed tiredly. “Okay, okay. I’ll have your vehicle back in a few hours.” He turned to the door, which still stood ajar. “Oh, and Rhiannon? This isn’t over. Not by a long shot.”
Rhee nodded violently, her chest tight. Oh, thank God! Thank God. He’s going. Just another two steps…
***
Dax was unsure what to make of the situation, but now that he knew where Rhee lived, there was no need to impress his company on the distraught girl right this moment. She looked exhausted. He’d be back after his meeting tomorrow. Then, he would get some answers. Dax had so many questions for Rhiannon Blake, or whoever she was these days. Being around her again had been extremely enlightening. Dax was beginning to comprehend the degree of resentment and anger he still held at what he perceived as a betrayal. But he couldn’t bring himself to address all of that tonight. Not when Rhee was so obviously distressed and exhausted.
Even though he was supremely angry that Rhee had betrayed the club by leaving without so much as a thank you, Dax couldn’t deny that she still affected him. A lot. He shrugged, making eye contact with Manali as he turned to leave. She looked him over, a strange light seeming to come into
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