Read Online Nothing to Fear by Karen Rose - Free Book Online Page A

coursing through his veins. “I’m Ethan. I was a bystander. The guard chased whoever did this out of the building. He’s called the police.”
    Something moved in her brown eyes, rapidly elusive. “Wrong place, wrong time,” she murmured, gently pushing his hand from her shoulder and herself to a sitting position. She then gingerly turned her head to where the old woman still stood wringing her hands. “Did he hurt you, ma’am?”
    The old woman shook her head. “No. Did he hurt you?”
    Unbelievably the woman sitting in front of him smiled. “Not too bad. Just knocked the wind out of me. Did he get your purse?”
    “Yes.” The old woman’s lips quivered and Ethan felt a spurt of outrage on her behalf as he realized what had happened. The outrage was followed by disbelief that the redhead had stood in the way of a mugger.
    With a frown he looked down at her. “You tried to stop a purse snatcher?”
    Mildly she looked up at him. “He had his hands around her throat. I wasn’t terribly worried about her purse until he grabbed it. Do you have a last name, Ethan?”
    Ethan sat back on his heels. “Buchanan. And you are?”
    “Dana Dupinsky. Do you think you could help me stand up, Mr. Buchanan?”
    He opened his mouth to suggest she stay put, then closed it. Already he could tell she was a woman who would do only what she wanted to do. “Give me your hand.”
    For just a moment she faltered, her brown eyes flickering uncertainly. But then she squared her shoulders and extended her hand. Before he touched her he knew. Knew it would be more than he expected. Knew that she knew it, too. Then knew he’d been right when he took her hand and felt a jolt that skittered straight down to his toes. His heart skipped another thump.
    Wrong place, wrong time, she’d said. Perhaps, perhaps not. But he sure as hell wanted to find out. Placing a steadying hand on her back, he pulled her to her feet, feeling her muscles tense under his hand as she found her balance, watching as her eyes changed yet again. Heated. Narrowed. She felt it, too, the electricity between them, and he could see she was not at all happy about it. And that intrigued him more than anything else.
    Was she attached? Deliberately he lifted her left hand, dropped his eyes to her bare fingers. She was unmarried, at least. And if she did have a boyfriend, he had to be a real louse to let her come to the bus station alone. If she were mine, I wouldn’t. He looked up with arched brows and her brown eyes flashed, as if she’d read his mind.
    Politely but firmly she disengaged her hand. “Thank you, Mr. Buchanan. I appreciate your help, but as you can see, I’m fine. I won’t take up any more of your time.” She turned to the old woman and put an arm around her thin shoulders. “You need to sit down,” she said and led her to an unoccupied row of seats. “How’s your heart? Are you on any medication? Are you waiting for someone?”
    Ethan followed, concerned, but even more curious. He heard the old woman say her heart was as strong as Dana’s and that she was waiting for her grandson to come.
    “Did you have anything valuable in your purse?” Dana asked her.
    “I don’t carry anything valuable anymore. The world’s filled with too many crazies.” She patted Dana’s hand, so much calmer now. “I just hate that awful man knocked you down.”
    “Well, I’m fine, so don’t you worry.” She stood up and Ethan watched her close her eyes for a few seconds. When she opened them he could see the pain brewing. “The security guard will be back soon, ma’am. I hope he gets your purse back.”
    “Thank you.” The old woman caught Ethan’s eye. “Your Good Samaritan is waiting.”
    Dana’s eyes glanced his way, then back down to the old woman. “I really have to go.” She took one of the woman’s gnarled old hands in hers. “Take care.” Then she made a beeline for the exit and Ethan had to quicken his pace to keep up with her.
    With a hand