Charming Lily Read Online Free PDF Page B

Let me put it to you another way, you don’t have any options. Get him up, tie his hands behind his back. Let him take a leak first.”
    Matt gritted his teeth. “Where’s my dog?”
    â€œI told you, he hopped out of the car when we stopped for gas. The dog was alive. I like dogs. That’s the truth. Come on, move.”
    â€œThe dog is a she, not a he.”
    â€œWhatever.”
    He was right, there were no options.
    It was just turning light when Matt was shoved into the backseat. He felt something hard nudge his thigh when he landed against the back door. The cell phone? It felt like it. One of the men climbed in next to him. “Wake me up when we get there,” he snarled.
    Matt worked his bound hands around the hard square he was half-sitting on.
    â€œWhat the hell are you doing back there, Mr. Starr?”
    â€œTrying to get comfortable. Can’t you just tie one of my hands to the door handle or something?”
    â€œNo.”
    It was the cell phone. Now the problem was, how to get it into his hip pocket, and he had to do it before it became full light. He sat quietly, his mind racing. Without stopping to think, he brought up his knees, one leg outstretched. He shoved the leg into the driver’s neck, knowing he was going to get clobbered for doing it, but it gave him precious seconds to jam the cell phone into his hip pocket. The Jaguar careened to the right and then the left as the driver struggled to control the powerful car.
    â€œTry a stunt like that again, and you’re dead meat. Get on the damn floor and don’t move. Keep your foot on his neck and don’t go to sleep.”
    Matt felt himself being shoved to the floor. His leg swung out again and clipped his seat companion smack on the mouth. He felt something warm splatter on his face. Blood.
    The Jaguar came to a screeching halt. Strong hands yanked him from the car. He inhaled deeply of the crispy pine-scented air and wished he had a cup of Starbucks coffee to welcome the new day.
    â€œPut him in the damn trunk!”
    â€œNo. We want him alive and well. The trip’s too long. Find something to tie his ankles with and give him another shot of that stuff. Do it now, you idiot. He’ll sleep the rest of the way. Am I the only one with any brains around here?”
    A moment later, Matt’s ankles were tied. For the second time in under an hour he was shoved into the car. He thanked God for the hip-length windbreaker that covered his hip pockets. The needle stung, then his world went dark.

Chapter Two
    The mirror said she looked like a beautiful bride, but it was all a big lie. In order to be a beautiful bride, one had to go through a wedding ceremony, preferably with a groom in attendance. The stunning Demetrios original with matching veil and the requisite blue garter just wasn’t cutting it. Especially since the groom had been a no-show.
    Lily Harper gritted her teeth. By God she wouldn’t cry. She absolutely would not cry. Dumped at the proverbial altar on her wedding day for the second time. Not just any day. Oh, no, he had to do it on New Year’s Day. Jilted twice and by the same man both times. What kind of fool was she? A lovesick fool who believed a man’s lies. She remembered now how bad it had hurt that first time. How devastated she was. So devastated, she trashed the gown and veil and ran as far and as fast as she could. She’d ended up in Wyoming and signed on as an outdoor survival guide with a company that planned Extreme Vacations for wealthy businessmen. With her degree in forestry, she’d aced the rigorous training program and managed to hide out until Matt Starr came back into her life. Sweet-talking Matt Starr and his dog Gracie. Oh yeah.
    Her face burned now when she remembered how eager she’d been to swallow the lies he’d fed her. With no family to fall back on to guide her, she’d had to rely on her friend Sadie, who thought Matt