Danger Calls Read Online Free PDF

chair nearby. To refuse him would seem rude. She shifted to the edge nearest the window and inclined her head in invitation.
    When he eased down beside her, his broad shoulder brushed against hers. His denim-covered legs were not as close, but still too near. She was finding it hard to ignore him. He was attractive, with his gleaming dark hair and eyes accented by well-defined cheekbones. His skin had the kind of tanned color that didn’t fade in the winter. And his lips…
    Don’t think about those lips, she warned herself and forced her thoughts to something else.
    Like the fact that he wasn’t tall. Barely five foot ten, but his leanly muscled body gave the sense of greater height. His sculpted arms were bared by his short-sleeved T-shirt. She had tried to put his physical strength out of her mind, but now, with him nearly on top of her, it was hard not to appreciate how compellingly masculine he was. Even harder to just sit here beside him and stare. She grabbed her cup with two hands and shimmied closer to the edge of the bench. He smirked wryly.
    â€œDon’t flatter yourself,” she said.
    â€œI guess I invaded your space, huh? Sorry. I’m Cuban. We’re physical with…” He paused, as if searching for the right words. Finally he said, “Friends and family.”
    â€œWell, have MCI take me off your list,” she replied sharply, then shook her head. “I’m sorry. That was harsh.”
    Sebastian gave a careless shrug, which stretched the fabric of his shirt across the width of his shoulders. He took a sip of his latte. “But you’re right. We’re not family…or friends. Still, you want my help.”
    She was grateful he was enough of a gentleman not to mention their night together. Things were uncomfortable enough. She examined his face but couldn’t read his mood like she had the other night. “We’re not friends yet ,” she said, realizing how weird it was that she had known this man intimately, but didn’t really have a clue about him.
    â€œThere’s time for you to make my list,” he said. “What about you and Ryder? Have you been friends for long?”
    She stared at her coffee and avoided his gaze. “Ryder’s more than a friend. He’s all the family I have.”
    â€œI guess you’ve known him a long time?”
    â€œAll my life.”
    Motioning with his hand, Sebastian asked, “All your life as in—”
    â€œForever.” Melissa took another sip of her latte.
    Sebastian cocked his head, seemingly perplexed. “Didn’t you notice that, well, Ryder didn’t get any older-looking?”
    Out of the corner of her eye, Melissa glanced at him. “No more than I wonder about Dick Clark every New Year’s Eve.”
    Sebastian laughed. Melissa joined him and rolled her eyes, realizing just how unbelievable her whole situation must be to an outsider like him.
    â€œAnd you’ve been his keeper…Do you think we can call you something else? Like his companion, maybe?”
    â€œA rose by any other name—”
    â€œDo you resent it?”
    â€œIt’s what I have to do.”
    â€œWhy?” he challenged with a cocky shrug.
    â€œBecause it’s my duty. Because my family has honored that call for nearly six generations.” Suddenly she had the urge to leave. The conversation was exposing too much to a virtual stranger. This meeting was supposed to have been about him helping, not about her. “Come to think of it, it’s time I returned to the hospital.”
    She began to rise, but Sebastian laid a hand on her arm and applied gentle pressure to keep her beside him. She stared at his hand and followed the line of his muscled arm until her gaze met his. “I have to—”
    â€œNo, you don’t. In fact, rumor has it that the only two things you have to do are die and pay taxes. Only I guess you don’t have to die, do