Read Online Moonrise by Anne Stuart - Free Book Online

hide?”
    There was no place she could run to, no place she’d be safe. He knew that, even if she didn’t. The safest place for her was with him. The man who had almost killed her.
    He wasn’t going to do it. Not now, at least, not while he had a choice. He knew enough about life to know that the damnedest things could happen. The odds were against the two of them, and if he were a gambling man he’d bet they’d both be dead by Halloween.
    But odds didn’t mean diddly squat when you threw human beings into the equation. She just might make it out alive. And if there was a chance, then he was going to see to it that she did.
    He wasn’t any too happy with his decision. It was impractical, emotional, a weakness. But when it came right down to it, he didn’t want to kill Annie Sutherland unless he had to.
    He reached past her for her suitcase, being very careful not to brush against her body. Her hair was already beginning to dry in the late morning heat, and he could smell the scent of her body, the heat of her skin. And, on the sultry breeze, the tang of blood and death.
    “We’re getting out of here,” he said. “Before anyone else comes after me.”
    “Someone’s come after you?”
    “An annoying woman named Annie Sutherland,” he drawled. “I don’t want to risk having your ex-husband show up as well.”
    “I thought Martin was your friend.”
    “He is. Or as close to a friend as I have.”
    “Where are we going?”
    “Do you trust me?”
    She looked up at the man who was going to kill her, tilting her head to one side as she considered it. Her eyes were a clear, limpid blue. The same color as her father’s had been, though without Win’s malice or guile. She wore no makeup today, but oddly enough she looked prettier without the protective coloration she usually wore. Her skin was soft, fresh, touched with natural color. Her eyelashes were thick and tawny, like her hair. Her wide mouth was full, pale, and there was a scattering of freckles across her unremarkable nose.
    Jesus Christ, what was he doing, standing there thinking about her freckles?
    “Can I?” she said.
    He wanted to tell her the truth. He wanted to tell her to run like hell, to get away from him as fast as she could. But it would be a waste of time. If she tried to run away, he’d catch her. If he caught her, he’d hurt her. Lying was the only choice.
    “Of course, darlin’,” he drawled, letting theTexas slip into his voice, knowing its usual disarming effect. “Your father trusted me, didn’t he?”
    “With his life,” Annie said.
    Poor choice of words. He didn’t let his faint, sexy grin falter. “Then you can trust me as well. I’ve got a car parked down the road a ways. We’ll have to go through the brush, but you look a little better dressed for it today.” He glanced down at her sneakers. She could run in those if she had to. He could carry her, if need be.
    “Okay,” she said. “Let’s go.”
    Her sudden acceptance brought all his usual suspicions into play. People weren’t as straightforward, as honest, as trusting as Annie Sutherland seemed to be. She’d probably stick a knife in his back before they were halfway to the car.
    Or at least she could try. If Mary Margaret Hanover couldn’t take him, then Annie Sutherland wouldn’t be able to either. He half hoped she’d go for him. Then he wouldn’t have to think about it, wouldn’t have to decide. It would tie matters up quite neatly.
    But life wasn’t made of neat packages. She followed him down the stairs, and while half of him was tempted to push her up against a wall and run his hands over her, to make sureshe wasn’t carrying a weapon, the other half knew the worst thing he could do was to touch her.
    He headed out onto the front porch. There were three corpses out back there. If he just kept her going straight down the path that paralleled the ocean, she would never know what had gone on here this morning.
    “Aren’t you going to pack?” she