Down by Contact - A Seattle Lumberjacks Romance Read Online Free PDF

“But if you didn’t tell him then who’s
following me?”
    “Someone’s following you?” Despite his vow
to remain distant, his stomach knotted at the thought she might
possibly be in danger.
    Kelsie swallowed and wrung her hands,
looking everywhere but at his face. She stared at his midsection so
long he clasped his hands to his thighs to stop from fidgeting.
    “Kel, is something wrong?”
    She raised her head. “Don’t they pay you
enough money to buy decent clothes?”
    He bristled and looked down at his wrinkled
pair of sweats and worn cross-trainers. “They’re comfortable.”
    “You’re a professional athlete. Get it. Professional . You should dress like one, not like a homeless
person who’s been sleeping under a bridge.”
    “How I dress is none of your damn business.”
How the hell did this become about him?
    “Thank God for huge favors. I could use a
few right now.”
    “Well, then, I’ll do you another favor. I’m
outta here.”
    She grabbed his arm and hung on. “Zach.” She
searched his eyes. “Did you call someone back home and tell them
you saw me? Like my ex-husband?” For a moment, panic crossed her
face, and the sheer terror in her eyes stopped him in his
tracks.
    “That prick? Are you kidding? I didn’t tell
anyone from home anything about you. I try my best to forget
about that place.” He’d done enough in his life to apologize for
without being bitched at for something he didn’t do. Then it hit
him. “Your ex-husband?”
    “Yes. My ex -husband.” She lifted her
chin, her eyes bright with defiance and stood straight and tall,
like the Kelsie he remembered.
    “I can’t blame the guy. You had to be a
bitch to live with.”
    “Whatever.” She blasted him with her
I’m-better-than-you-and-you-know-it glower. She hadn’t changed a
bit. Then her lower lip trembled, like a woman about to—
    Cry? Oh, crap, not again. He’d fall
right into whatever current web her black-widow heart weaved,
trapping him like a wayward fly. “You’re mistaken about me.”
    “Am I?” Despite her brave words, her voice
quivered slightly.
    “Hell, yes. You’re mistaken to think you
mean enough to me that I even gave you a second thought after a few
nights ago.”
    “Oh.” She deflated like a tire with a nail
in it.
    That pissed him off because he felt guilty
for hurting her, like he should give a dang. “I didn’t tell a
fucking soul.”
    “You didn’t?” Her face paled, visible even
in the dim light.
    “No, I didn’t.” He lowered his voice and ran
his fingers through his unruly hair, pushing it out of his eyes.
“I’d tell you if I did.”
    “I assumed—”
    “You assumed too much. You’re still
impressed with your own importance, aren’t you? Why don’t you quit
playing your games and go back to your sheltered life?”
    Much to his shock, strong-willed Kelsie’s
face crumpled. Tears flowed down her cheeks like beer from a
freshly tapped keg. She pressed her hands against her eyes and
sobbed. Her shoulders shook. She hiccupped several times, gulping
in huge gasps of air as she sobbed like a toddler who’d just taken
a header off her high chair.
    Zach’s feet took root in the pavement and
refused to move. His tongue back-flipped to the roof of his mouth
and stuck there, rendering him incapable of speech. His heart
reached out to her, even as he fought to shove it back into place.
Damn it almighty, he felt sorry for her. She’d manipulated him
again, despite all the cruel things she’d done to him over the
years. One word from her, and he’d lay his emotions down in front
of her and gladly offer himself as her personal doormat.
    Only she didn’t say the words. She grabbed
her car keys and sprinted to her compact car as if the very devil
dogged her heels, a compact car that appeared to be piled high with
boxes.
    Shell-shocked and speechless, Zach stood in
the middle of the parking lot and watched her back out of her
parking spot. Kelsie, the consummate mean girl in