Challenging Andie Read Online Free PDF

took the one, black item that his colorful sister seemed to possess, and put it aside.
    He didn’t want to go back down there. Didn’t want to be in the same room with Andie while his emotions ricocheted around like a bullet in a bunker. Slowly, he stacked the folded sweaters back into the drawer. His hands were shaking.
    Job done, he slid the drawer shut and sank onto the bed. Andie’d kissed him, and he kissed her right back.
    Ryan lowered his head into his hands and groaned aloud.
    The ring of a cell phone pulled him back to the present.
    “Hello?”
    “Ry, why didn’t you call and tell me you were in the country? What’s going on? You’re plastered all over the news. With that girl…” Brianne’s voice was high and breathy. “Are you okay?”
    “I was going to call you.” The lie tasted ashen. He’d hoped to be back to Bekostan without alerting Brianne. “I’m fine. We drove into a press ambush, that’s why I needed the cottage.”
    “So she’s with you? Andie Harte?”
    “Yes. What are they saying on TV?” He breathed in and held it, hoping to hell Emily’s body hadn’t been found. Andie had had enough shocks for one day, the last thing she needed was more bad news.
    “They’ve found a body.”
    Ryan closed his eyes. His hands clenched into fists.
    “They have to do tests …” Brianne’s voice trailed off. “I’m sorry, Ryan, I know she was a friend.” A moment’s hesitation, then Brianne continued, her voice barely above a whisper. “The body was badly charred. Unrecognizable. It may turn out not to be her.”
    “It’s her.” A rock settled in his stomach. “The press wouldn’t be going so crazy if they weren’t sure. There must be more information they haven’t released to the general public yet.”
    There was always stuff that didn’t make it as far as the front pages, or the TV. Stories of the painful present and bleak future that were deemed un-newsworthy. These were the stories that consumed Emily Harte. She had been committed to revealing the truth about the regime that ruled Bekostan. In two years, she’d done more than any other correspondent to shine the torch of truth into dark corners even her own network avoided.
    She’d been brave and compassionate. A damned fine reporter.
    Ryan felt the pressure in his back teeth as his jaw clenched and consciously relaxed his mouth. When he returned to Bekostan he had work to do. Emily’s work. The most important thing on the agenda was to follow up where she’d left off. He would do the interview in her stead, and show the world that the rebel leader was not a man to be feared, but rather a wise and caring man, who, with the support of the international community, could be the salvation of his country.
    There was a noise from downstairs.
    “I have to go, Bri, I’ll call you later.” Ryan scooped up the sweater and headed for the stairs.
    Andie stood in front of the television, staring at the screen. Ryan took the remote control and paused the feed.
    “We’re…”
    Onscreen was a frozen image of them both captured earlier. Despite the protective arm that curled around her shoulders, fear was evident in Andie’s pale face and panicked eyes. His snapshot self glared at the cameras like a lion defending a kill.
    “What else did you see?”
    “Nothing, just our arrival at the house…”
    Ryan eased her down onto the sofa. “We need to talk.”
    Her gaze flickered up, eyebrows pulled together in a frown.
    “They’ve found your mother’s body.”
    At the words, her face crumpled. Dark eyelashes blinked rapidly. After a few moments struggling for composure, she took a deep breath. “Tell me.”
    Ryan passed on the Brianne’s news, watching pain bloom in her expressive eyes. “Do you want to watch it?” he asked carefully.
    “I think…yes.” She clasped his hand.
    Ryan clenched his teeth to avoid reacting to the flash of electricity that shot through him at the contact. He breathed in deep as the whole rotten