Read Online Volcano by Patricia Rice - Free Book Online Page A

up at her. “What in hell are you doing back here? I thought I told you to stay near the beach.”
    â€œYou told me you’d be back in an hour too. You tell me a lot of things. That doesn’t necessarily mean any of them are true.” She ignored his wince as she applied the towelette to the back of his head. It wasn’t bleeding much and seemed more scrape than cut.
    â€œLook, we have to get out of here. Those thugs could come back any minute once they realize you didn’t bring the cops with you.” Pulling the towelette from her hand, he struggled to sit up.
    â€œAny normal person would be nauseous, have a splitting headache, and be dizzy as all get out after a blow like that. Why would you want to be normal?” she asked sarcastically as he pushed to his feet.
    â€œAny normal female would be weeping and carrying on and offering to take me back to rest my poor head on her pillow,” Charlie countered, staggering slightly as he straightened. “Let’s just accept that we’re different. Come on, let’s see if we can still catch that taxi. I want to get you out of here.”
    â€œCan you walk?” Penelope asked doubtfully, for the first time admitting a measure of fear, whether for herself or this man she couldn’t quite determine. She glanced nervously at the narrow street, wondering who watched from the darkened doorways beneath overhanging balconies.
    â€œI’ll manage.” Finding his balance, he proceeded onward with only a slight hitch in his gait. “I’ve been hit from behind by a two-fifty tackle and survived.”
    â€œI daresay you were wearing a helmet at the time,” she reminded him.
    Charlie glanced at her wryly. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you? Did you hire those guys, just to teach me a lesson?”
    â€œWell, I wish I’d thought of it, but I haven’t learned my way around that quickly. I think it more likely some of those old chums you’re hiding from hired them.”
    â€œChums don’t come after a guy with a tree. Did you see what the hell they hit me with?”
    â€œA big stick,” she said calmly, although her heart still raced and perspiration slithered down her back. “Shouldn’t we call the police?”
    â€œUnless you can identify them, it wouldn’t do any good. The town’s inhabitants don’t normally attack tourists. They’re smarter than that. Gives the place a bad name. It’s me they were after. And I’d rather not let the police know I’m here.”
    Penelope made a noncommittal noise while mentally tallying all the reasons he wouldn’t want the police to know of his presence. The list was far from reassuring, yet still she walked beside him and worried about his welfare instead of running as fast and far as she could. Maybe his incompetence at covert activities reassured her. She’d helped Zack out of his various scrapes throughout their college years. Maybe it was just habit, one she really ought to break.
    They walked the rest of the way to the dock in silence. Penelope imagined Charlie’s head hurt like hell so she obligingly kept her opinions to herself. By tomorrow, she would be back at the work she knew best, and he could fall into the ocean for all she cared. Somehow, they just had to struggle through the night ahead. With his head pounding like a kettledrum, Charlie shouldn’t present much problem. From the right perspective, she could almost feel grateful for his attackers.
    â€œOh, shit,” he muttered as they reached the dock in time to watch the sun ease into the sea in a blaze so hot it should have produced steam.
    Ignoring his profanity, Penelope watched the magnificent sunset with awe. The lapping of the waves at her feet, the cool sea breeze, and the tropical setting of riotous flowers and palms soothed her shattered nerves. She could almost wish they had those champagne glasses in hand now. With