Read Online Love you to Death by Shannon K. Butcher - Free Book Online Page A

like a rabid dog panting on the back of her neck, waiting to attack.
    She had to get out of here and go someplace else. Someplace public with lots and lots of light.
    Elise saw Trent jogging toward her car, and she briefly considered tearing out of the driveway before he could catch up to her. The man was shirtless again, wearing only a pair of khaki shorts, and she wasn’t sure she could stand the distraction right now.
    Instead of running away, she waited for him with her car door open, hoping he’d say what he had to say and then leave.
    He glared down at her, his gaze sliding over her body. It paused briefly at her thighs, then kept on going all the way down to her too-high heels. “You’re not going out dressed like that, are you?”
    Anger flashed just below her skin, making it grow hot. She knew how provocatively she was dressed, and she’d done it on purpose. Men’s tongues loosened up when they couldn’t keep them in their mouths, and Elise wasn’t above using her body if that’s what it took to get information about Ashley. “If that’s what you came to say, then move away from the car. I’m leaving.”
    He didn’t budge. He kept his body in the way of the door, preventing her from closing it. His abdomen was at eye level, giving her an up close view of all those lean ridges. The dome light in her car cast his muscles into stark relief, accentuating how well sculpted he really was.
    The urge to reach out and touch him grabbed ahold of her until she was sure her hands were shaking.
    Thankfully, Trent crouched down to eye level, keeping her from doing something stupid. His hair was damp, and the scent of some manly soap wafted up from his skin.
    He was close. Too close. She could see flecks of gold glinting in his blue eyes, fine lines of paler, sun-starved skin fanning out toward his temples. She doubted they were smile lines, since he didn’t seem the smiling type.
    “I’m not letting you go out like that.” He acted like he had some sort of say in the matter. She wasn’t sure if it was because he always poked his nose into other people’s business, or if it was because she’d allowed him to see her in a moment of weakness earlier.
    Either way, she had to resist the urge to laugh in his face. “You say that as if you have some sort of control over me. My mother’s been dead a long time. I’m not looking to fill the position.”
    He scrubbed a hand over his face in frustration. “You’re going to get hurt, snooping around, asking nosey questions, dressed like you’re offering more than you are.”
    “I’ll be fine.”
    “Ah, yes. That’s right. You carry pepper spray.”
    “Want to test it to see if it works?” she asked sweetly.
    “Damn it. Do you think I’m standing out here half dressed because it’s fun?”
    Elise shrugged one bare shoulder and Trent’s eyes darted toward the movement, locking onto it. “I assumed you liked showing off. You seem to do it often enough.”
    “Showing off?” He muttered something low and indecipherable that Elise was likely glad she hadn’t understood. “Would you please just go back inside with me so we can talk about this?”
    “There’s nothing to talk about. I’ve got a plan. I’m executing it. End of story.”
    “Executing might have been a poor choice of words.”
    He had a point, but it was one she was happy to ignore. “Move out of the way, Trent.”
    “At least let me come with you.”
    She eyed him up and down. “You’re not exactly dressed for the occasion.”
    “Give me five minutes.”
    “Why?”
    “Because it takes that long to put on some damn clothes and comb my hair.”
    “No. I mean why bother? Why come with me?”
    His lips pressed shut for a long minute as if he didn’t want to say it. “Because it’s not safe to go alone.”
    “I’m perfectly capable of—”
    “And, because I feel responsible.”
    “For what?”
    “Ashley. I should have done a better job of looking out for her.”
    Elise knew how that