Read Online My Tye by Kristin Daniels - Free Book Online Page A

stipulations?”
    “Jim only agreed to the discharge if you had someone to stay with you.”
    “Oh?” It wasn’t too difficult to see where this was headed. “And let me guess. You’re the one who’s going to stay with me.”
    He never wavered. “Not quite.”
    She didn’t spend too long analyzing the zing of disappointment that warred with the relief she felt because he didn’t want to stay with her. She didn’t have to. Not when his next words flipped the chaos inside her and brought to life exactly what she dreaded. Or wanted. Oh God.
    “You’re going to be staying with me.”
    What? Wait… “No, I can’t.” For so many reasons. What if the guy who attacked her was watching her? What if he followed them back to Tye’s ranch? Yes, he was the Sheriff. And yes, he probably owned guns and rifles and who knew what else that he used not only for hunting but for protection too. But her mind couldn’t grab on to that. All she could think about was how secluded they’d be out there.
    And didn’t that stir an entirely new pot? She’d be alone with him, twenty-four-seven, which really threw a wrench in her plans of escaping for a bit of solitude after he interrogated her for the investigation. She just didn’t know what to expect from him once she ‘fessed up with the truth. Would the sexy gleam in his eyes she so loved disappear when he looked at her? Would his smile wane, would his simple touches stop? Or would his reaction be the opposite? Could she— should she—even hope for that?
    Either way, he didn’t seem the least bit interested in her opinion. “Non-negotiable, Laine. You need protection until your attacker is caught. I’ll provide that.”
    “You can’t do this. Your job—”
    “This is my job. Now, do you need help getting dressed? I can call the nurse in.”
    His to-the-point terms combined with his stiff demeanor told her the discussion was over, not that it had ever had a chance to really begin. She sat there and stared at him with her mouth hanging open, searching her brain for a few rebellious words to throw back at him. But none were to be found. They’d hidden themselves away and she couldn’t help but think it was because her subconscious knew the score. Isn’t this what she wanted? Having him all to herself?
    She studied the smug yet sexy I won expression on his face along with the hard seriousness in his eyes, and realized he’d never back down. That just wasn’t his style. Besides, she’d already decided to get everything out in the open. Maybe stealing away to his ranch wasn’t such a bad idea after all. Maybe by staying out there, out of sight, his deputies would have enough time to track down her attacker and haul him in. Maybe by staying alone with Tye, she’d finally be able to let the woman she was on the inside have a little freedom to reveal everything that had consumed her fantasies for so long.
    Then again, maybe not. It all depended on what Tye would say once he knew the truth.
    * * * * *
     
    After the nurse removed Laine’s IV, she lightly bandaged her wrists and ankles and helped dress her in the scrubs. All that was left of the clothes they cut off her last night were a pair of spike-heeled black sandals. Tye pulled them from the plastic bag the ER provided and held them in one hand. He glanced up and met her stare only for a moment before she looked away.
    “If it’s all the same, I think I’ll just wear these lovely hospital socks to the car,” she said, wiggling her toes inside the light blue skid-proof socks.
    “Sure,” he answered, and shoved the shoes back in the bag. He got it, got that she wasn’t ready to deal with it all. But once he had her at the ranch, she wouldn’t be able to avoid the subject. The longer he waited to find out what happened, the harder it would be to catch the man who hurt her.
    Besides, if he actually saw her in those shoes… Damn, at any normal time he probably wouldn’t be able to hold back. A tingle sprang up