Read Online Razor's Edge by Shannon K. Butcher - Free Book Online Page B

wood headboard was in the way of the next row of boxes, and Tanner hefted it over his head as if it weighed nothing.
    It was terribly inappropriate for her to stare, but she couldn’t help it. She was used to soft executives. Watching his casual display of strength was mesmerizing.
    Her body heated in a way that had nothing to do with the searing confines of the storage unit. A languid softness slid through her, making time lengthen as she stared. His T-shirt stretched over his shoulders and arms, clinging to mouthwatering muscles. Her pulse kicked hard, and her mouth went dry with want.
    Inconvenient, inappropriate want. They had to work together. Anything beyond friendship was frowned upon at the Edge, though if any man was worth risking her job for, it would be one built like Tanner.
    Her silence stretched on, and until he gave her an expectant glance over his shoulder, she’d totally forgotten his question about whether she’d found something.
    Roxanne cleared her throat and wiped sweat from her forehead. “I found some letters, but I don’t know if that’s all of them. I’m going to keep digging.”
    A shadow fell across the wide doorway as someone approached.
    Roxanne assumed it was an employee checking to make sure their visit was legitimate. She wiped her dusty hands on her shorts and went to meet him.
    The sky had darkened while they searched, and outside, several security lights had turned on, but they weren’t as bright as the light overhead. As the man came closer, shadows moved up his body until he stood in the light spilling out from the storage unit.
    As soon as his face was illuminated, Roxanne could see that it was the same man who had been following her yesterday—the man she’d photographed.
    A hot wave of panic slid down her body, pinning her in place. Her heart kicked hard, thudding against her ribs. From the corner of her eye, she saw Tanner turn just as she regained her senses.
    â€œWho are you?” she asked. “What do you want?”
    â€œThe rose and her stolen secrets.”
    Roxanne had no clue what he was speaking about, but his eyes were wild and bloodshot, and he was quivering from head to toe. Her first instinct was that he was high.
    And he was standing between her and the gun she kept in her car.
    Tanner vaulted over a box and stepped in front of her, and while she was all for equality between the genders, she knew he had a much better chance of intimidating their intruder than she did. Assuming the man had enough sense to be intimidated. He sure as hell didn’t seem to be playing with a full deck.
    â€œWhat are you doing here?” asked Tanner.
    She saw the large pocketknife sitting on a box where she’d left it and inched closer to it.
    The skinny man lifted his arm and revealed both needle tracks, and a gun he had hidden behind his leg. The barrel pointed right at her. “She stole from us.”
    Fear shot through her, making time stretch out. Colors became clearer, the light was brighter, and she swore she could smell the sour stench of vomit coming from the stranger.
    â€œI did n—”
    â€œLet’s talk about this.” Tanner cut her off, his voice calm. He raised his hands and took a step to his left, putting himself in the line of fire. “Nothing she has is worth her life. We can work this out. Tell me what she stole.”
    Roxanne had to clamp her lips shut to keep from proclaiming that she hadn’t stolen anything. Instead of spouting her innocence, she reached over and scooped up the knife, slow and easy. The metal was cold in her hand, and her skin seemed to shrink back from touching it, but it was the best shot they had.
    Using Tanner’s big body for concealment, she opened the knife, locking the five-inch blade in place. Her hand shook around the metal, and she gritted her teeth in an effort to control the involuntary reaction.
    â€œSecrets,” said the man. “She stole