Bad Karma Read Online Free PDF Page A

Sky.”
    She felt a tingling along her spine. “What happens tomorrow morning?”
    “ I’m taking you for a walk on the beach.”
    Fear clutched at her gut with his softly spoken words. “I—I...”
    “ She can’t.” Cassie supplied.
    He regarded them both with an amused expression.
    Sky cleared her throat. “I can. I just...”
    “ I won’t let anything happen to you.” His deep voice wrapped around her like a shield.
    When he looked at her so sincerely, she could almost believe him. She swallowed the big lump that had formed in her throat and heaved a sigh. “Okay. I’m supposed to walk every day.”
    “ Seven too early for you?”
    She had to grin at him. “Seven is fine.”
    Zach lifted the grill hood and began turning the fish. “How about you, Cassie. You up for a walk?”
    “ Thanks but I’ll pass. I prefer to catch up on my beauty sleep.”
    Sky cast a disbelieving glance at Cassie, who was always up before sunrise. She caught the little smirk playing around her little sister’s mouth.
    “ So it’s just the two of us?” Zach gave her a wink.
    Sky nodded, trying to control the herd of butterflies racing around her stomach.
    He removed the fish and shrimp skewers from the grill and lined them up on a platter. He served them with the salad and an assortment of grilled vegetables. Zucchini, plum tomatoes, baby onions and new potatoes had been drizzled with olive oil and pepper and placed on the grill to smoke.
    Cassie closed her eyes and inhaled the aroma. “Wow!”
    “ Dig in, ladies.” Zach held the platter so they could fill their plates.
    Sky met his gaze across the table. “This is great, Zach. Thank you for going to so much trouble.”
    “ No trouble at all.”
    The food was delicious and Zach kept the conversation going with bits of local information and stories about growing up as the middle of seven Bailey brothers and one sister, Darla.
    “ Poor Darla,” Cassie said. “It must have been tough for her to hold her own with seven brothers.”
    Zack guffawed. “Not so. She still rules us. Treats us like her own personal slaves.”
    When they had eaten, they sat for a while, watching the tide come in and admiring the dark starry night. Zach, of course, knew all of the constellations in the heavens, pointing them out for his guests.
    When Skyler yawned, he gave her a sympathetic look. “I’ve kept you too long,” he said. “You must be exhausted after your move.”
    “ No, really, I’m fine.”
    “ Go home and get some rest. I’m going to knock on your door at seven sharp.”
    Sky stifled another yawn. “Let us help you clean up.”
    “ No clean up duty. You’re a guest in my home. I’ll walk you to your house.”
    Over her protests, Zach insisted on walking with her and holding her arm as she hobbled down his stairs and in turn when she hobbled up her own set. Cassie had run ahead and opened the door, but Sky knew her little sister was leaving her alone with their hunky neighbor. Very subtle, Cass.
    At her door, she felt suddenly shy. “Thank you, Zach, for everything. Dinner was great and the conversation was even better.”
    The look he gave her stirred up feelings she hadn’t experienced in a long while.
    “ Glad you enjoyed it. We’ll do it again soon.”
    “ And the ceiling fan. Thanks for putting it up for me. I’m afraid Cassie might have electrocuted herself rather than admit she didn’t know what she was doing.”
    “ I hope it helps you sleep. See you tomorrow morning. Wear a swimsuit and some shorts over it. We might get in the water if you’re up to it.” He leaned forward and kissed her cheek.
    The softness of his kiss left a tingling on her skin. She felt a pang of longing, wondered how his lips would feel pressed against hers. She forced that thought from her head and nodded shyly, ducking her head as she escaped inside.
    Idiot! If I’d raised my chin, Zach would have kissed me. Is that what I want? Yes. No. I don’t know.
    She drew back the