Bodyguard Under the Mistletoe Read Online Free PDF Page B

intruder didn’t come here to rob you. He didn’t take the flat-screen TV or the computer. I’d say he was looking for something specific.”
    But her house hadn’t been torn apart. The drawers and cabinets in the kitchen were untouched. “He was searching for something big enough to fit into one of these boxes.”
    â€œSomething that’s about the size of a suitcase.” With the fingers of his right hand, he raked his black hair off his forehead. “Something that’s gone missing.”
    Fiona realized that she should have been frightened. The unlocked door and the boxes were evidence. An intruder had been inside her house . Instead, she felt angry and confused as she imagined a stranger wandering throughher house, poking into her things. “I’m not in the mood for guessing games. What was he looking for?”
    â€œThe ransom,” he said. “A million dollars in cash. That much money in small bills would fill a suitcase.”
    â€œWhy would anyone think the ransom was in my house?”
    â€œThat’s a million-dollar question.”
    â€œHow about an answer?”
    â€œYour property is close to the Carlisle’s. If the kidnappers were on the run and had to stash the money, they might have stopped here.”
    â€œIf so, they wouldn’t have to search,” she said. “They’d remember where they stashed it.”
    â€œThere are two of them.” He rested one hip on a high stool beside her worktable. “One of them might have decided he didn’t want to share with his buddy. So he hid the money in your house. Now his buddy is looking for it.”
    She remembered the voices she’d heard last night. It has been late, after two o’clock. She couldn’t make out the words but they sounded angry.
    Her awareness of fear became reality. The danger—real danger—had come too close.
    She stared through the window of her studio and saw the searchers approaching the barn. If anything was hidden here, they’d surely find it. But if they didn’t, what should she do?
    â€œFiona.” He spoke her name softly. “It’s all right. Nothing bad is going to happen.”
    â€œHow can you say that? Those men could have come into my house last night. How would I have protected Abby?”
    â€œI’m here now. I’ll keep you and your daughter safe.”
    Panic shivered through her. She wanted to run, to get as far away from here as possible. But where could she go? Shedidn’t have a house in Denver anymore, didn’t have enough money to stay in a hotel. “I can’t afford to hire you, Jesse.”
    â€œYou already did. Remember? Pro bono.”
    She wasn’t too proud to accept charity, especially when her daughter’s safety was involved. Still, she asked, “Why?”
    â€œI owe you,” he said simply. “Your husband took a chance on hiring Longbridge Security when I was first starting out. Because I proved myself capable of protecting Wyatt Grant—the district attorney of Denver—my reputation was established. I’ve been busy ever since.”
    His calm tone and steady gaze bolstered her confidence. Her fear began to recede. “You’ll stay with me and Abby until this is over?”
    â€œYour guest room looks comfortable.”
    Gratitude urged her toward him. Avoiding his sling, she hugged the right side of his body. “Thank you.”
    His right arm encircled her. For a long moment, they held each other in a clumsy embrace. Fiona had touched plenty of other men since her husband’s death; she was an unrepentant hugger. But being this close to Jesse was different. His nearness awakened long-suppressed feelings of sensual warmth, the memory of what it was like to be a woman.
    She stepped away from him. “There’s something I need to give you.”
    She saw a subtle change in the way he looked at her. Had he felt it, too? The tiny