Read Online Pitch Black by Susan Crandall - Free Book Online

someone who knows what they’re doing.”
    Her hair curled in an utterly feminine way that begged to be touched. He took a lock between his fingers. “From what I’ve seen, you’re doing great.”
    She raised her gaze to meet his and those brown eyes became a clear window to her soul. Tucking her chin, she gave a breathy scoff. “Yeah, well, things always look better from a distance.”
    Then, before he could respond, that open window snapped shut. She straightened her back, the movement pulling free the curl wrapped around Gabe’s finger. “What about Mr. McPherson? Did you get his body off the mountain?”
    “Yes.”
    “And Kate knows?”
    “I stopped at the hospital and told her and Todd before I came here. I didn’t get far enough into the room to get a read on Jordan’s condition though.”
    With a sad shake of her head, she said, “Ethan went to see him before we left—no change.”
    “Poor kid. The other two boys have been sent home. I plan to question them tomorrow.”
    “Question? Why?”
    “You’re a journalist. You know the drill; unattended death has to be investigated.”
    “Yes, but . . . the boys told you he fell. No one else was up there. What other explanation could there be?”
    “The law says
every
death, not just those I personally question.”
    She gave him a sly look. “Extra vigilant with your father running for governor?”
    He leaned his forearms on the table and leaned closer. “That sounds like a probing, journalistic question.”
    Lifting her chin, she said, “I do have a paper to run. Gotta keep abreast of the current political winds.”
    He held her gaze and tapped his index fingertip against the tabletop. “Here’s a quote you can print. ‘I’m always vigilant when it comes to my job. My father’s political career is moot.’”
    “Oooooh, touchy.”
    Leaning back in his chair, he ran a hand through his hair. He’d been working hard to distance himself from his father’s political campaign. He admired his dad and his commitment to serving their state. And he and his dad got along fine . . . as long as they didn’t discuss politics. So while Marcus Wyatt was on the campaign trail, Gabe kept a very low profile.
    “Not touchy,” he said. “Tired.”
    “Yeah. Tomorrow morning is going to be a bitch. I haven’t decided if I’m going to make Ethan go to school. He’s so worried about Jordan.”
    “A boy like Ethan, having been on his own for so long and having to concentrate on his own survival . . . his concern for Jordan shows a lot about his character.”
    She pressed her lips together for a long moment. “Of course, you’re right. I just don’t want him to get so involved that he’ll be hurt if Jordan doesn’t fully recover.”
    “Looks to me like it’s too late. First, he’s Jordan’s friend, and a good one at that. Second, he was there when it happened. If Jordan doesn’t get over this, it’s gonna hurt. Only thing you can do is be there, make sure he knows this is one loss he won’t have to go through alone.”
    Wrapping her hands around her coffee mug, she heaved a sigh that spoke of both exhaustion and worry.
    Gabe stood and stepped behind her. “I should go.” He settled his hands on her shoulders. His fingers massaged the tightness he felt even through the bulk of her sweatshirt.
    She rolled her neck and released a throaty moan. It was a sound that drew sensual thoughts that Gabe shouldn’t be thinking at the moment. Stopping mid-massage, he gave her shoulders a pat with both hands. . . . Had she noticed the abruptness?
    Leaning her head back, she looked up at him. Her brown eyes were sharp with recognition. Raising a challenging brow—which somehow lost its meaning when looking at it upside down—she asked, “Did I scare you?”
    “No. Of course not. Why would you ask some—”
    “Maybe it’s that look of pure fear on your face.” She spun around in her chair to look at him without contorting her neck. Her eyes glinted with