Read Online Robin in the Hood (Robbin' Hearts Series Book 1) by Diane J. Reed - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Diane J. Reed
Tags: General Fiction
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arms.
“LISTEN MISTER,” I said really loud, “I know you’re out here.”
I turned a little, just to see if I might catch a glimpse.
But there was nothing.
Frustrated, I let out a huff.
“And you should’ve asked me before you sold
m
y
car!”
Silence.
Not even the leaves dared to rustle.
“That was my frickin’ car!!”
Still nothing.
I decided to go for the jugular—always my best tactic at Pinnacle. Find the soft spot and press until it really,
r
e
a
l
l
y
hurts.
“So, how would you like it if I took something of yours? I know where you hide Dooley! Nothing’s stopping me from calling Child Protection Services right now—”
In a split-second, the mystery man had dropped in front of me, leaves falling all around us, as if he’d jumped down from a tree.
“You do that and you’re
d
e
a
d
—”
His large hands were around my neck in a heartbeat, all heat and hard muscle pressing down upon my skin, fully prepared to crush my throat.
And I’m pretty sure my pulse ceased right then and there. I was so scared I felt like my brain had flatlined.
But if I’ve learned anything from my incarceration at Pinnacle, it’s to stare down the enemy, no matter how terrified you are. Then kill ’em with a smile.
“So, you gonna do me in the same way you knocked off your mom’s boyfriend?”
I deliberately curled my lips into a wicked grin.
“Aw, come on, can’t you show me some originality?”
Creek’s whole body appeared as tight as a coiled snake. I swear to God, I could feel the heat of his anger radiating off his skin in waves. But his absurdly blue eyes—the kind that only belong to winged, celestial figures in Renaissance paintings—grew twice their size.
Ha!
I knew I’d found his tender spot then! He may be an incredibly tough customer, but at least he did have one bottomless wound that I could liberally dust with salt.
“You did kill that guy, didn’t you?” I pressed viciously, trying hard to keep myself from trembling like jello. “Or is that just a nasty trailer park rumor?”
Creek’s hold didn’t loosen a bit. But his eyes narrowed as he studied mine with the same intensity of Granny Tinker, as if he could somehow read the darkest corners of my heart that even I might not be aware of. Yet in his grip, all of a sudden I felt like we’d become one creature—one tense, balanced-on-a-razor’s-edge being—and if he dared to hold me much longer, I might just be able to see right into
h
i
s
most secrets places, too! With that thought, I felt the barest shiver run from his fingertips into my skin.
So, I smiled to myself, who’s the predator and who’s the prey now?
To my total surprise, Creek’s grasp seemed to ease slightly with my line of thought as if it had vibrated through my skin. And he very cautiously released his fingers one by one, leaving only the sweat from his grip that lingered upon my neck. His gaze seared into mine.
“I had that asshole on his knees,” he seethed.
Creek’s eyes were blue flames, so fierce and so very full of . . . rage.
“But Dooley came.”
His words hung in the air between us—bitter and painfully fresh—as though the incident had happened mere moments ago.
Slowly, Creek raked his hand through his messy, blonde hair. His gaze never flinched from my eyes.
I stole a deep breath—my first in what felt like a minute—and seriously considered making a run for it. But I knew my odds of escape at this point were infinitesimally slim. Instead, I swallowed hard, my mind racing to do the math.
“So . . . you were about to finish the guy off, when Dooley . . .”
I played out the scenario in my head.
“Walked in?”
Creek’s jaw clenched, then twisted.
“And you let him go, rather than allow a child to . . . witness something like that?”
“Smart girl, Silver Spoon.”
I nodded, grateful to be breathing. But I didn’t kid myself for a second—now was the time to negotiate some kind of pact with this guy, or spend the
“LISTEN MISTER,” I said really loud, “I know you’re out here.”
I turned a little, just to see if I might catch a glimpse.
But there was nothing.
Frustrated, I let out a huff.
“And you should’ve asked me before you sold
m
y
car!”
Silence.
Not even the leaves dared to rustle.
“That was my frickin’ car!!”
Still nothing.
I decided to go for the jugular—always my best tactic at Pinnacle. Find the soft spot and press until it really,
r
e
a
l
l
y
hurts.
“So, how would you like it if I took something of yours? I know where you hide Dooley! Nothing’s stopping me from calling Child Protection Services right now—”
In a split-second, the mystery man had dropped in front of me, leaves falling all around us, as if he’d jumped down from a tree.
“You do that and you’re
d
e
a
d
—”
His large hands were around my neck in a heartbeat, all heat and hard muscle pressing down upon my skin, fully prepared to crush my throat.
And I’m pretty sure my pulse ceased right then and there. I was so scared I felt like my brain had flatlined.
But if I’ve learned anything from my incarceration at Pinnacle, it’s to stare down the enemy, no matter how terrified you are. Then kill ’em with a smile.
“So, you gonna do me in the same way you knocked off your mom’s boyfriend?”
I deliberately curled my lips into a wicked grin.
“Aw, come on, can’t you show me some originality?”
Creek’s whole body appeared as tight as a coiled snake. I swear to God, I could feel the heat of his anger radiating off his skin in waves. But his absurdly blue eyes—the kind that only belong to winged, celestial figures in Renaissance paintings—grew twice their size.
Ha!
I knew I’d found his tender spot then! He may be an incredibly tough customer, but at least he did have one bottomless wound that I could liberally dust with salt.
“You did kill that guy, didn’t you?” I pressed viciously, trying hard to keep myself from trembling like jello. “Or is that just a nasty trailer park rumor?”
Creek’s hold didn’t loosen a bit. But his eyes narrowed as he studied mine with the same intensity of Granny Tinker, as if he could somehow read the darkest corners of my heart that even I might not be aware of. Yet in his grip, all of a sudden I felt like we’d become one creature—one tense, balanced-on-a-razor’s-edge being—and if he dared to hold me much longer, I might just be able to see right into
h
i
s
most secrets places, too! With that thought, I felt the barest shiver run from his fingertips into my skin.
So, I smiled to myself, who’s the predator and who’s the prey now?
To my total surprise, Creek’s grasp seemed to ease slightly with my line of thought as if it had vibrated through my skin. And he very cautiously released his fingers one by one, leaving only the sweat from his grip that lingered upon my neck. His gaze seared into mine.
“I had that asshole on his knees,” he seethed.
Creek’s eyes were blue flames, so fierce and so very full of . . . rage.
“But Dooley came.”
His words hung in the air between us—bitter and painfully fresh—as though the incident had happened mere moments ago.
Slowly, Creek raked his hand through his messy, blonde hair. His gaze never flinched from my eyes.
I stole a deep breath—my first in what felt like a minute—and seriously considered making a run for it. But I knew my odds of escape at this point were infinitesimally slim. Instead, I swallowed hard, my mind racing to do the math.
“So . . . you were about to finish the guy off, when Dooley . . .”
I played out the scenario in my head.
“Walked in?”
Creek’s jaw clenched, then twisted.
“And you let him go, rather than allow a child to . . . witness something like that?”
“Smart girl, Silver Spoon.”
I nodded, grateful to be breathing. But I didn’t kid myself for a second—now was the time to negotiate some kind of pact with this guy, or spend the
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