Deadly Ties Read Online Free PDF Page B

catching her by the throat and holding her out of reach. “Never, ever let your opponent get his hands around your throat,” he told the class. “If he’s taller, he’ll probably have a longer reach. Combine the two, and he’ll just lift you off the ground, and you’ll be done.”
“Unless you do this.” Lisa jumped up and wrapped her legs around his waist.
He automatically caught her.
Solid. With a square jaw and light stubble that so appealed. Always tender and gentle with her. That tenderness set Mark apart from other men because it took effort on his part. He was large, strong inside and out.
She blinked hard and held his steady gaze. How in the world had she missed the full-force magnetism in his eyes for so long? Magnetism and mirth. Potent combination . Unsure what to do, she pecked a kiss to his cheek. Not because she wanted to, but because she had to or she’d kiss his lips, and that would be a huge mistake.
You’re acting like a love-starved crazy woman, Lisa Marie Harper .
Love starved, maybe. But not crazy. She just didn’t expect being this close to him would affect her this way. It was a sensual assault. No part of her was unaware of any part of him. That’s what’s crazy.
He mumbled softly so only she could hear, his breath warm on her face, mirth still in his eyes. “You can do better. I know you can.”
Assault. Assault. Assault. Only one way to counter this kind of attack. She wrinkled her nose at him. “Absolutely, I can. But will I? That’s the question.”
Before he could respond, she addressed the class. “I, um, don’t recommend kissing your opponent under ordinary circumstances, but it might surprise him enough that he lets you go.”
Mark dropped her right on her bottom. “Like that?”
Stunned, Lisa tilted her head back and saw the twinkle in his eye had spread to his mouth. “Yes.” She clasped his extended hand, rose to her feet, and rubbed her smarting bottom. “Like that.”
Kelly and Melanie started giggling. “Pretty entertaining watching you two.” Mel swayed side to side.
“But this is also serious business.” Mark glanced at Lisa. “The point is for you to use whatever tactics or weapons are at your disposal. The unexpected can be the one thing that saves your life.”
“Mark is exactly right.” Lisa put her hands on her hips. “You have to always think. Always assess. Never pause for a moment. The bottom line is to do whatever it takes to protect yourself.”
“I’ll still be here next January trying to learn this stuff.” Mel dragged her hands through her hair. “If I’m lucky … and I’m not or I wouldn’t be here.”
“Be determined, Mel. The important thing is you will learn it. You all will.” Lisa waved. “Same time next week. Remember to practice every day—and, oh, don’t forget the party tonight at Three Gables. You’re all coming, right?”
Kelly Walker tapped Lisa on the upper arm. “Everyone in the entire village will be there.” The amusement drained from her face. “Well, except for he-who-shall-remain-nameless.”
Dutch. “We can but hope.” If there were a way to mess up the celebration of Lisa’s getting her medical license, Dutch would do it. Since the day her mother had married him, he always messed up anything that made Lisa happy, and gauging from his attitude and past exploits, he always would.
Chatting, the women returned Mark’s killer smile and filed out of the studio. The blond man, wearing tight jeans, a white shirt, and sunglasses, who’d come in with Mark, stood at the bleachers, then walked over to join Lisa and Mark.
“Lisa, this is Joe, a friend from my military days.” Mark lifted a hand. “Joe, Lisa Harper, a doctor here at the center.”
No last name. No information about him. Clearly he was one of Mark’s spy friends. Not that Mark ever had admitted being a spy, but everyone close to him had just sort of figured it out on their own when Benjamin Brandt, who owned Crossroads, hired Mark as the chief