Read Online Relatively Risky by Pauline Baird Jones - Free Book Online Page B

of relief, he accepted. While also reminding himself that he didn’t have to worry about kids. Not anymore. Done with that. Having dinner not having babies with her.
    With a pause to leave her portfolio on a table by the door, they went outside. Nell waited while Alex inserted the key into the lock of the passenger side of his truck.
    â€œWow, great parking place. Are you sure you want to give it up?”
    He grinned. “If you’re going to drive in this city, you have to learn when to let go.”
    â€œI suppose so.”
    There was no come-hither or sexual undertone in her eyes, but he felt heat build in his mid-section. They weren’t up a tree now. He wanted to kiss her, just to know. No, that wasn’t all of it. He didn’t know what it was, or why it was, but whatever it was, it dried out his mouth. Left him wanting to know the taste of her. Her eyes widened, as if she’d joined his wave-length. She licked her lips. Not sure if she knew it was provocative. She appeared to decide something and he braced for it.
    â€œIf you…” Her voice faded and she had to clear it, the husky sound incredibly sexy when taken with the innocence in her eyes. “If you want to kiss me, I wish you’d just do it,” she said in a rush, “because the suspense is killing me.”
    Her chest rose and fell in a quick breath. Maybe that’s what made him notice the tiny red circle of a targeting laser right over her heart. He knocked her to the ground. Above their heads, the passenger window of his truck shattered, spraying glass all over his back.

4
    N ell was about ready to eat her own arm. Seriously. She didn’t get the kiss or the pie. And she’d hit the ground three times in one very long day. An ironic twist on third time’s the charm. Third time’s the harm? She winced at the cliché, and from the sting of alcohol as the EMT re-cleaned the “blood” on her arm, then gave the same painful attention to her knees.
    At the apex of the confusion, Alex presided over a scene filled with flashing lights, yellow crime tape, the neighbors, random ghouls, and one or two press types. He hadn’t answered her question—which she couldn’t believe she’d asked—but she’d sensed a yes, a little mouth-to-mouth incoming. Instead she got a crime scene she couldn’t pedal away from. And some more bruises. She shouldn’t have changed into the shorts after the creepy encounter with Dimitri. Felt about five with her thoroughly scrubbed knees and elbows.
    At least Sarah was away, meeting with a client. It was a target-rich environment for an artist, but not the best advert for a caterer.
    â€œYou hit your head?” the EMT asked, sounding like she was going down a mental check list.
    Nell considered the question. There had been a tree root. They ran along the top of the ground. The water table was barely under the ground in the city, except when it rained and then it was above ground. The roots were very Middle Earth and rather cool—until your head got slammed into one. Her back, too. Nell half nodded. Wanted to apologize, though she wasn’t quite sure why. EMT was gentle, but it still hurt like a son of a gun. Probably a good thing she hadn’t eaten yet, since the pain induced a wave of nausea that popped up beads of sweat along her upper lip.
    â€œSo how long have you known Alex?” Her voice was pitched low and Nell saw her glance dart briefly in Alex’s direction.
    Her cheeks warmed. “Since this morning.” Felt longer, though she didn’t say it. So this EMT—Nell’s gaze did an up and down—this very attractive EMT, knew Alex.
    EMT’s eyes widened. “Well, how interesting.”
    Nell couldn’t argue that. The whole day had been interesting in a bruise-inducing, bat crap crazy, creepy guy overload kind of way. Was this gal a girlfriend? Past, present, or hoping to become one? The