Read Online Living on the Edge by Susan Mallery - Free Book Online

seemed to despise her only a little less than he had before. She wondered if she was crazy to trust him, then winced at her word choice.
    No, she told herself. Not crazy. Under the circumstances, trusting Tanner only made sense.
    She was still working on convincing herself when he walked into the kitchen to pour himself more coffee. She watched his easy movements, the bunch and release of muscles. In another world, at another time, she would have found him attractive and intriguing. Now he was just a mystery.
    â€œWhy are you doing this?” she asked.
    He glanced from her to the pot he held. “I like coffee.”
    She held in a smile. “No, why are you helping me?”
    â€œI was hired to rescue you, not turn you over to a potential killer. Until I know it’s safe to let you go, I’ll keep you here.”
    Pretty much what she’d figured. “A man of honor?” she asked.
    â€œThat’s pushing it.”
    â€œBut you’re doing the right thing.”
    He raised his eyebrows. “That has yet to be determined.”
    â€œSo you think I could still be lying.”
    â€œAbout some things. You were right about Hilliard not paying his bills. He has a long trail of angry creditors. A few of them have pursued legal action.”
    â€œI told you that,” she reminded him. “The lawsuits were dismissed.”
    â€œNot all of them, and not necessarily for legal reasons.”
    She didn’t like the sound of that. “Meaning?”
    â€œSometimes the person pursuing the suit disappeared.”
    Her chest tightened and she tasted fear. “He doesn’t like people who get in his way,” she said, hating to have that confirmed.
    â€œApparently not.”
    â€œI know he’s a threat to me. What about my father?” she asked.
    â€œHilliard needs him.”
    â€œFor now.”
    Tanner shrugged.
    â€œCan you protect him?” she asked. “Would you letme hire you to do that? If you could get a couple of guys into the company, just to hang around him…”
    â€œI’ll check into it.”
    â€œI can pay you.”
    He sipped his coffee. “I’m not questioning that.”
    Some of her tension eased. If Tanner would look after her father, she wouldn’t have to worry about him. Sure, Christopher needed Blaine in the short term, but for how long? And then what?
    â€œI hate this,” she said. “I hate that he’s in my life. Just thinking about him makes my skin crawl.”
    â€œFor what it’s worth, he didn’t go to the police about me keeping you here,” Tanner said. “He also hasn’t tried to get in touch with me.”
    She let the news sink in. “If my ex-husband didn’t go to the authorities about you holding on to me, that has to mean something.”
    â€œIt’s helping your case,” he admitted.
    â€œYou’re a very stubborn man.”
    â€œI’m careful.”
    If he kept her alive, she wasn’t going to complain about his need to be cautious.
    â€œI’m going to go crazy here with nothing to do,” she said. “I think we should argue about my computer again.”
    He surprised her by smiling. “You willing to take me on?”
    She swallowed more coffee before offering a brazen, “Absolutely.”
    â€œWhat if you piss me off so much that I won’t help you?”
    She dismissed the suggestion with a shrug. “Youkept me here and safe, even though you don’t like me. I doubt annoying you about my computer is going to make a difference. You don’t operate that way.”
    â€œHow do I operate?”
    â€œI’m not completely sure, but I know you’re not slimy.”
    He studied her for several minutes before speaking. “I reserve the right to review your e-mail. I’ll also download your hard disk and look it over.”
    Relief swept through her. “Read it all twice, I don’t care. I just want