Bound by Danger Read Online Free PDF

earn enough money to pay for the new vehicle.
    She ran her hand over the new leather as she climbed in and he said, “It’s paid for.”
    Deidre, not wanting to venture further into Charlie’s past misadventures with Dave present, considered the phone hang-ups again. The calls totally frustrated her as she felt helpless to stop them. Dave temporarily distracted her as his shoulder pressed against hers though he had ample room to give her some breathing space. His fingers rubbed the seat next to her thigh, and she watched them bump into her playfully. The spicy scent he wore intoxicated her while the heat from his body warmed her. She was powerless to stop the visions of them dancing, their bodies touching, moving as one.
    “How did you know I had phone hang-ups?” The look on Dave’s face, one of fleeting astonishment, made her suspicious.
    “Have you?” Charlie ran his hands over the steering wheel.
    “Just assumed it.” Dave shrugged. “You had a perturbed look on your face, wrinkled brow, a slight scowl. You didn’t say anything further and hung up the receiver. If it had only happened once, you probably wouldn’t have pursed your lips so.”
    “Oh.” She wasn’t certain she believed Dave’s answer, but she couldn’t pinpoint what made her suspicious.
    Several minutes later, they pulled into the restaurant’s parking lot. Charlie jumped down from the cab as Dave helped Deidre out.
    Charlie opened the door to the restaurant and smiled broadly. “Here’s Marilyn.” He hurried to make introductions all around while Deidre studied the blonde whose blue eyes were definitely enhanced by contact lenses. Her dark red lips stood out from her ivory skin making them the most noticeable feature on her mousy face.
    Deidre normally didn’t get a bad feeling about people from the first, but something about this woman irritated her. It might have been the way she wrapped her fake red fingernails around her brother’s arm or the way she tilted her small chin up to consider her as if she baited her adversary. The smile appeared faked, just like the eye coloring and nails.
    The waitress’s arrival broke Deidre’s concentration. They followed as she led the foursome to a booth.
    Deidre stared at the coziness of the burgundy leather seating arrangement. “Uh, maybe a table for—”
    “Booth,” both Dave and Charlie said at once, countermanding her wishes.
    Why did the men insist the women scoot first into the booth with their skirts shifting uncomfortably over their figures? So they could ensure the women belonged to them only for the evening? Sequestered in their corners—isolated from other males’ interest?
    Dave smiled at Deidre as she straightened out her skirt. Before she could lift her menu from the table, he hurried to hand it to her. He tried so hard to please her. A twinge of guilt tugged at her. Poor guy, guess he was kind of lonely, being new to town and all. She smiled sweetly and thanked him. She knew she shouldn’t have done it the moment he scooted closer to her. His leg warmed hers, and she hoped her cheeks hadn’t turned noticeably red.
    “My treat,” Charlie said.
    “Charlie…”
    Charlie shook his head at Deidre, and she closed her mouth. Maybe he could afford supper for four at a swanky restaurant. She had no idea what he’d been up to the last few months.
    Charlie ordered a bottle of wine to start the evening off.
    Deidre considered Marilyn and wondered if she thought she’d picked up a wealthy tycoon or something. No telling what her brother had told the woman.
    After sipping her wine, Deidre turned to her. “So my brother hasn’t had time to tell me where you all met.”
    The woman wrinkled up her face in another simpering smile. “ You all , how quaint.”
    Okay, now Deidre knew she didn’t like the woman. Used to her dad’s criticisms, she really never thought about it. But for a stranger to pick on her speech oddities, the notion really ticked her off. Deidre pushed herself