Read Online Pucker Up (A Damsels of Distress Novel) by R. A. Gates - Free Book Online Page B

Come out now and I'll
    only break yer legs.”
    All the air must've vanished
    because suddenly she couldn't breathe.
    She stood frozen, Mr. McGregor's
    words ringing in her head.
    He's bluffing.
    But the steely glint in his eyes as
    he caught her gaze said otherwise. His
    thin lips pulled up in a disturbing smile,
    exposing his yellowed teeth. “Hey,
    lassie.”
    Instinct guiding her, she jumped
    up and swung the plank as hard as she
    could at his head. He didn't expect it.
    The board made contact with the side of
    his face. Painful vibrations shot up her
    arms and she felt like a cartoon
    character trembling all over from the
    blow.
    He went down and she took off
    at full speed. Unfortunately, he wasn't
    out. “Ye better run,” he yelled as he
    chased after her.
    She pushed her feet to move
    faster and take her to the first place that
    popped in her mind. His footsteps faded
    as she rounded corners and dashed
    through alleys until the little apothecary
    shop came into view.
    Garren flipped over the sign,
    closing up the store. When the light
    inside switched off, she moved faster.
    No! Come back! She ran right
    into the door and banged against the
    glass to get his attention. The window
    fogged beneath her heavy breaths as she
    waited for him to notice her.
    “What are you doing here?”
    Garren asked as he unlocked the door.
    “Couldn’t wait to see me again?”
    She pushed him out of the way
    and slammed the door behind her.
    Grabbing his arm, she pulled him down
    and around a display stand of charmed
    jewelry. Her lungs were burning and her
    legs felt like rubber as she struggled to
    catch her breath.
    He opened his mouth to speak
    until she held up one finger, silently
    asking for a minute to compose herself.
    “McGregor... pissed... chasing
    me...,” she said between painful gasps of
    air.
    He didn't seem to understand at
    first, never seeing the more aggressive
    side to her landlord's personality before.
    Mr. McGregor had the whole town
    fooled. But something in her face must
    have conveyed her sincerity, because
    without a word, Garren took her by the
    elbow and led her upstairs to the
    bathroom.
    “So, what'd you do?” he asked as
    he turned on the faucet and wet a
    washcloth for her.
    “I borrowed his car without
    asking, remember? He got home before I
    did.” The cool water stung as she
    washed all the dirt and gravel from her
    cuts.
    He didn't say anything else, but
    watched, arms crossed, as she cleaned
    herself up. The silence made her
    uncomfortable and she checked the little
    mirror to make sure she got all the blood
    cleaned off.
    Her curly brown hair was
    sticking out all over the place and her
    skin was paler than usual, making the
    freckles splattered all over her cheeks
    more prominent.
    “We'll hide you out in Cora's
    room. She won't mind, because for some
    reason, she thinks you're cool.” He
    picked up her bag and led her down the
    hall to his little sister's room.
    Cora was more than happy to
    share the room with her. She'd probably
    be up half the night listening to Cora
    ramble on about everything under the
    sun. And that was fine with her as long
    as Mr. McGregor didn't find her.
    “I'll talk to Thane,” Garren said.
    “Under the circumstances, I think we
    need to leave tomorrow.”
    “And exactly how are we getting
    to Sacramento?” She hoped it didn’t
    involve them “borrowing” someone
    else’s car.
    Garren stopped at the bedroom
    door and grinned. “We’re flying.”
    Chapter 6
    “Are you sure this thing is safe?”
    Sitting in front of Ivy on the tiny
    airstrip surrounded by forest was an old
    plane. At least, that's what it resembled.
    It had definitely seen better days. The
    four propellers on its wings were so
    rusty she feared getting tetanus just
    looking at them. The tires were bald and
    under-inflated. Even the pin-up girl
    painted on the side had gray hair and
    crow's feet. She wanted to find a shotgun
    and put the poor thing out of its misery.
    Captain