Deadly Shadows Read Online Free PDF Page B

first,” Garrison added to Ms. Black. The chief walked out, closing the door behind him.
    No one spoke as they listened to the footsteps on the front porch, and a car driving away.
    Aiden rubbed his hands over his face. God, what a night.
    “Mr. Kinncaid?”
    He turned to Ms. Black.
    “I really am sorry. I’m--I’m--” She huffed out a breath. “Don’t worry about the first week’s rent.”
    He waved a hand. “I don’t want to talk about this now.” He studied her. “I want to know what the hell is going on.”
    One brow rose on that. “Well, excuse me.”
    “Do you always rent to people without getting their names?”
    “No, I made an exception with you.” She rubbed her forehead and he noticed again how pale she seemed.
    “Should you sit down or something? You don’t look so good.”
    A ghost of a smile flitted at one corner of her mouth. “Figures. Good looking. But the compliments and arrogance are such a hinder.” She took a deep breath and blew it out.
    Aiden cocked a brow and crossed his arms. “I really should try implementing your welcoming technique at my hotels. Alarm guest, arrest guest, and insult guest. Do you have many return renters?”
    Her expression didn’t change. Then a thin, condescending smile lifted the corners of her mouth. “It’s a special technique only reserved for certain visitors.”
    Aiden stared at her and continued to stare. Her eyes narrowed and she walked up to him and poked a finger in his chest, tilting her head back to look at him. “Look, I said I was sorry. I can’t help what happened tonight, so get the stick out of your ass and go back to bed or something ‘cause I’m really, really ,” her voice cracked, “not in the mood to placate you.”
     
     
    20
    “This is your home. Why couldn’t you help it?”
    Raw pain shifted in her eyes. This close he saw they weren’t really black, just a deep brown, like dark, sinfully rich chocolates.
    Aiden shook off the thoughts. Stick up his ass?
    “It’s a long story,” she whispered, stepping back, paler than she had been, if that were possible.“I think you should really sit down,” he said, reaching out in case she fainted.
    She looked at his hand, started to take it, but then dropped her hand back to her side, looking at him with an arched brow. “Afraid I’ll fall prostrate at your feet? You would have an ego.” What was with her? Something about her wasn’t adding up. The paleness, the pain in her eyes contradicted the edged words and attitude.
    Tim shook his head. “Like two damn cats,” he mumbled. Then louder, “Aiden’s right, honey. You should sit down.” He led her towards the kitchen, but she shrugged him off.
    “I’m fine, dammit,” the last word wavered in the air. “I am.”
    No one spoke. Aiden leaned on the newel post.
    “Jesslyn,” Tim said softly, reaching again for her.
    She jerked away, the blanket falling from her shoulders to land on the floor.
    Palms out, she shook her hands. “You two catch up or whatever guys do. Bond, build a fire, get drunk. I don’t care. I’ve got to take a shower. I’ve got to get this off. I have to take a shower.”Her khaki pants were rusted from the thighs down. It looked like blood. Dried, caked blood. Aiden straightened. “What happened? Are you okay?” He took two steps toward her and halted at the raw emotion in her eyes.
    “Oh yeah, I’m just peachy.” She smiled, thin and humorless. Then she shook her head and said in a softer voice, “It’s not mine.” Again she shook her head. “It’s not mine.”
    He watched her fist her hands at her sides, swallow. She looked to Tim. “The Jameson’s is in the living room in the armoire.” She motioned towards Aiden. “Or whatever his poison is.
    I’ll be back. I need some coffee.”
    He moved aside as she walked past him and up the stairwell.
    Aiden watched her go, then turned and asked Tim, “What is going on? I feel like I just woke up in the Twilight Zone.”
    Tim shook his