Read Online The Drifter by Vicki Lewis Thompson - Free Book Online

Freddy and Leigh had been rocked to sleep in it. For a reason he didn’t want to explore too thoroughly, he wanted Bartholomew to sleep in it, too. And he hoped Amanda wouldn’t take the next plane out of town. Not because he wanted anything more to do with her, but because he couldn’t say goodbye to his son just yet. Maybe in a few days he’d have it all worked out in his mind, but for now, he wanted that baby around.
    The cradle was still in one piece, but the quilt had fallen in the dirt. He shook it out and tucked it under his arm. He’d noticed an extra blanket in the closet that he could use instead. Tossing the quilt on one of the porch chairs as he walked by, he carried the cradle into the room and shut the door behind him.
    Amanda stood by the table jiggling Bartholomew against her shoulder as she stared out the window. “I’m sorry I blew up, but I want to go home, Chase,” she said softly. “This isn’t my type of place. Will you help me get back?”
    â€œNot yet.”
    She looked up at him, rebellion flickering in her eyes. “I can just call a cab. I haven’t even unpacked.”
    â€œI thought you needed information before you left.”
    â€œMaybe it’s best if we communicate by phone.”
    His gut twisted. She could leave, and he had no power to stop her. He swallowed. “Please don’t leave yet.”
    She studied him for several moments. “Chase, a snowstorm brought us together,” she said finally. “Otherwise, we’d never have met because our lives were so different. They still are, even more so now that you’re out here. Give me what I need and let me go. It’s the best thing we can do with a situation we didn’t ask for.”
    He struggled with the urges coursing through him. He’d never felt possessive about a woman in his life. Easy come, easy go had been a motto that had served him well for years. Yet he couldn’t imagine watching Amanda walk out of his life. She was the mother of his child. That created a bond he couldn’t take lightly. A shrink would probably say it was because in his own case, that bond had been so carelessly broken. At any rate, apparently Amanda didn’t feel connected to him; she could hardly wait to get away from the True Love.
    â€œI told you, I’m not very good at remembering things,” he said. “I need to make some phone calls before I can give you what you’ve asked for. I haven’t had a chance to do that yet.”
    â€œCan you do it now?”
    â€œMaybe.” Once he figured out where to start. He’d been out of touch for so long, he might find only dead-end streets. “I’ll make some calls, Amanda, but I can’t promise I’ll get you quick results. If you really want to fly out now, I could mail you something, but I’m lousy at writing stuff out. I’d probably miss some detail you’d want.”
    She heaved a long, shaky sigh. “You’re right. It’s late, and we’re both tired, and Bartholomew’s been through enough for one day. I should at least stay until tomorrow, but...” She raised her eyes to his. “That snake frightened the daylights out of me, Chase. I don’t know if I can sleep in this cottage tonight.”
    He almost offered to stay with her, but he thought she might misunderstand the offer. Maybe he didn’t even mean it so innocently. Scared as he’d been when she ran out the door and shouted the word snake, he’d still noticed her unbuttoned blouse and had glimpsed her bare breast. Sometime during the incident, she’d refastened her blouse, but that didn’t eliminate the air of sensuality that still clung to her like morning dew on clover. He might not love her, but he definitely lusted after her. “I’ll bet Dexter would let you have Chloe for the night,” he suggested.
    At the mention of her name, Chloe sat between them and