Read Online Natural-Born Protector / Saved by the Monarch by Carla Cassidy - Free Book Online
Authors: Carla Cassidy
Ads: Link
talked to, and the killer will be on the list.”
“You’re forgetting one little thing,” he replied. “CotterCreek is a very small town. I’m sure everyone knows you’ve been asking questions.”
“So it could be somebody I haven’t even talked to,” she replied with a frown.
“Have you changed the locks on the town house?” He stared down into his drink, finding the slender curve of her neck and the peek of something black and lacy just above the neckline of her robe disconcerting.
“Not yet. I meant to do it, but haven’t gotten around to it. I’ll do it first thing in the morning.”
“Maybe you should stay here for the rest of the night.” He looked at her once again and fought the impulse to reach out and stroke a length of her long, shiny hair.
“Thanks, but I don’t think that’s necessary. If he really wanted to harm me, then he wouldn’t have called to warn me off.”
Hank reluctantly agreed with her assessment. “Still, you’ve made yourself visible and that could be dangerous.”
“Then maybe we should make your services to me official,” she replied. “I don’t know what the going rate for bodyguard services is, but I might be able to afford you for a little while.”
“That isn’t necessary,” he replied. “I’m already on board.” He wanted to demand that she stop asking questions, demand that she leave the investigation to the appropriate authorities. But he didn’t have the right to demand anything of her and besides, he had a feeling it wouldn’t do any good. She was determined, driven by some inner demon to find out the truth.
“Just do me a favor,” he said. “Don’t go asking questions of anyone else unless I’m with you.”
She picked up her glass once again and studied him over the rim. “You’re a nice man, Hank Tyler.”
He wasn’t a nice man. She’d had a scare, and all he could think about was taking her into his arms and discovering just how little she had on beneath her robe. He wanted to find out how that black lace molded to her breasts, then rip it off her to reveal her nakedness.
She tipped the glass to her lips and finished the last of the scotch. “I’m sorry for bothering you with this,” she said as she stood. “The call freaked me out a little bit and I just needed somebody to talk to. I knocked softly, hoping if you were asleep I wouldn’t bother you.” Her cheeks grew pink, as if with a touch of embarrassment.
“Don’t apologize, and anytime you feel frightened or upset, don’t hesitate to knock as loud as you need to.”
He stood as well and walked with her to the door, trying to think of a reason for her to stay longer. The nights had become so long lately.
When she reached the door she turned to look at him, her gratitude shining from her eyes. “Thanks, Hank.”
“For what? For the scotch?”
She smiled. “No, for the company.”
Without even realizing he intended to kiss her, he did. He leaned his head down, saw the widening of her eyes just before his lips touched hers.
Immediately she opened her mouth to him, as if she’d been expecting the kiss, as if she welcomed it. If she hadn’t opened her mouth, the kiss would have been entirely different, but she did and Hank wound his armsaround her, pulled her close and kissed her like he’d wanted to since the moment he’d first met her.
Her mouth was hot and tasted of the scotch and as his tongue swirled with hers, he was lost…lost in a whirlwind of desire that he hadn’t felt for a very long time.
She molded against the length of him, her breasts snug against his chest. He wanted to rip the robe from her, carry her to his bed and make love to her until the sun came up.
Before he could follow through on any of the hundred things he’d have liked to do, she broke the kiss and stepped back from him with a gasp. Her lips trembled slightly and she gazed up at him with wide eyes.
“I’m sorry,” he said and jammed his hands into his pockets. “That
“You’re forgetting one little thing,” he replied. “CotterCreek is a very small town. I’m sure everyone knows you’ve been asking questions.”
“So it could be somebody I haven’t even talked to,” she replied with a frown.
“Have you changed the locks on the town house?” He stared down into his drink, finding the slender curve of her neck and the peek of something black and lacy just above the neckline of her robe disconcerting.
“Not yet. I meant to do it, but haven’t gotten around to it. I’ll do it first thing in the morning.”
“Maybe you should stay here for the rest of the night.” He looked at her once again and fought the impulse to reach out and stroke a length of her long, shiny hair.
“Thanks, but I don’t think that’s necessary. If he really wanted to harm me, then he wouldn’t have called to warn me off.”
Hank reluctantly agreed with her assessment. “Still, you’ve made yourself visible and that could be dangerous.”
“Then maybe we should make your services to me official,” she replied. “I don’t know what the going rate for bodyguard services is, but I might be able to afford you for a little while.”
“That isn’t necessary,” he replied. “I’m already on board.” He wanted to demand that she stop asking questions, demand that she leave the investigation to the appropriate authorities. But he didn’t have the right to demand anything of her and besides, he had a feeling it wouldn’t do any good. She was determined, driven by some inner demon to find out the truth.
“Just do me a favor,” he said. “Don’t go asking questions of anyone else unless I’m with you.”
She picked up her glass once again and studied him over the rim. “You’re a nice man, Hank Tyler.”
He wasn’t a nice man. She’d had a scare, and all he could think about was taking her into his arms and discovering just how little she had on beneath her robe. He wanted to find out how that black lace molded to her breasts, then rip it off her to reveal her nakedness.
She tipped the glass to her lips and finished the last of the scotch. “I’m sorry for bothering you with this,” she said as she stood. “The call freaked me out a little bit and I just needed somebody to talk to. I knocked softly, hoping if you were asleep I wouldn’t bother you.” Her cheeks grew pink, as if with a touch of embarrassment.
“Don’t apologize, and anytime you feel frightened or upset, don’t hesitate to knock as loud as you need to.”
He stood as well and walked with her to the door, trying to think of a reason for her to stay longer. The nights had become so long lately.
When she reached the door she turned to look at him, her gratitude shining from her eyes. “Thanks, Hank.”
“For what? For the scotch?”
She smiled. “No, for the company.”
Without even realizing he intended to kiss her, he did. He leaned his head down, saw the widening of her eyes just before his lips touched hers.
Immediately she opened her mouth to him, as if she’d been expecting the kiss, as if she welcomed it. If she hadn’t opened her mouth, the kiss would have been entirely different, but she did and Hank wound his armsaround her, pulled her close and kissed her like he’d wanted to since the moment he’d first met her.
Her mouth was hot and tasted of the scotch and as his tongue swirled with hers, he was lost…lost in a whirlwind of desire that he hadn’t felt for a very long time.
She molded against the length of him, her breasts snug against his chest. He wanted to rip the robe from her, carry her to his bed and make love to her until the sun came up.
Before he could follow through on any of the hundred things he’d have liked to do, she broke the kiss and stepped back from him with a gasp. Her lips trembled slightly and she gazed up at him with wide eyes.
“I’m sorry,” he said and jammed his hands into his pockets. “That
Similar Books
