A Vow to Love Read Online Free PDF

wondered what he'd held over Sam's head to get him to agree this time.

    Sam's temper had finally cooled sufficiently enough that he could look at Penny Hayden without wanting to murder her. He'd pretty well trampled any little flare-ups of guilt, as well, and was beginning to enjoy watching her trying to extricate herself from any share of the blame for the false alarm.
    If she weren't such an obvious pain in the neck, she might be attractive, he thought, idly studying her smooth-as-silk complexion and the dusting of freckles on her turned-up nose.
    The kid had gone and grown up on him. She was wearing jeans that fit like a second skin, a denim shirt she'd tied in a knot at her tiny waist and those cowboy boots that she'd used somewhat effectively as weapons. She'd scooped her hair into a ponytail, though most of it had fallen free during their tussle. Sam had the oddest desire to free the rest of it and let it tumble through his fingers. He nixed that notion right away. He had no difficulty whatsoever recognizing trouble and until today he'd gotten fairly adept at sidestepping it. It was a skill he liked to think had come with maturity.
    He deliberately forced his glance away and caught Ryan studying him speculatively. "What's your problem?" he growled.
    The younger cop grinned. "I'm not the one who came within a hairbreadth of being hauled in for breaking and entering and assault."
    "Oh, go catch some criminals."
    "Thought we had," Jake reminded him. "Might even write up a lengthy report on it."
    "You do and you'll be hoofing it around the lousiest beat in town come the first blizzard of winter," Sam warned.
    "Come on, Jake," Ryan urged, still grinning. "You know what Sam's like when he gets testy. Can't take a joke."
    Sam briefly considered pounding their heads together, then decided the subsequent aggravation of explaining why to the heirarchy at headquarters wouldn't be worth it. Fortunately, they seemed ready to beat a hasty retreat.
    "Now don't you two go squabbling the minute our backs are turned," Ryan warned cheerfully as he closed the door.
    Sam glared after them. As soon as their footsteps faded, Penny whirled on him.
    "How could you humiliate me like that?" she demanded.
    He regarded her incredulously, remembering with absolute clarity exactly how irritating she could be...and how turned on that tended to make him. Dammit, she could still do it.
    "Excuse me?" he said. "If there was any humiliating done around here tonight, it was watching two men I work with come after me with their weapons drawn."
    "Served you right. You had no business standing in that hall and scaring me half to death."
    He shook his head, refusing to acknowledge the truth in the accusation. "You really are obnoxious."
    "Now that's a mature response," she countered. "How can you call me that? It's been years since you even set eyes on me."
    "Not nearly long enough," he shot back.
    Their gazes clashed, hers every bit as fiery as he knew his must be. He'd stared down hardened criminals more easily. She never even flinched. A little frisson of admiration cut through his irritation. He sighed and let the last of his anger fade away.
    "So, Penny Hayden, welcome to Boston."
    She didn't seem to be quite so willing to let bygones be bygones. "If you're the kind of welcoming committee this town sends out, I'm surprised anyone ever moves here."
    "They usually reserve me for the people they expect might be troublesome. I'd say we're right on track this time."
    She rolled her eyes in obvious disgust. "Why are you here, really?"
    "At the risk of stirring up a hornet's nest, I'll tell you the God's honest truth."
    "A pleasant change," she noted.
    Sam shook his head. The woman was constantly spoiling for a fight. At least that was something they had in common. He held on to his patience by a thread. "Granddad Brandon called, said you were just settling in. He wanted me to stop by and see if there was anything I could do to help."
    "Was this your idea of