Fire Angel Read Online Free PDF Page A

full lips. What struck her most about him were his eyes, familiar eyes that she couldn’t place, deep blue like Moraine Lake, the popular glacier-fed lake in the Rockies, the kind of eyes in which a person could drown.
    â€œHi,” she said surprised by the catch in her voice. “Alexis Michaels; I have a reservation. I’m a little late.” She winced — three hours was more than a little late.
    He stared at her a few moments as if he’d lost the ability to speak. She tilted her head, giving him a quizzical look.
    â€œSorry,” he stammered. “We’ve been expecting you; not to worry, your reservation was guaranteed.” His voice, once he’d found it, was as smooth as fine whiskey.
    â€œWelcome to Paradise. Everything is ready; if I could just have your credit card?” He had an incredible smile. His eyes crinkled at the corners involving his whole face in the gesture of warmth and welcome. Why was it that a man’s wrinkles were sexy, character building, while a woman’s just made her look old and frumpy?
Crow’s feet — isn’t that what they’re called? Another example of the inequality of the sexes,
she thought.
They never advertise wrinkle cream for men!
    Alexis handed over her agency credit card, signed the paper authorizing the expense, and pocketed the large brass key he had given her.
    â€œGenerally, we can’t use the electronic locks on the cabin doors at this time of year; there’s too much moisture from the ice and snow.”
    â€œThat’s okay.” She smiled. “I don’t know how long I’ll be here, and if the weather changes … ”
    He offered to help with her luggage, but she thanked him, and said she could manage. She usually traveled light; besides, she didn’t plan on taking everything out of the car tonight. Her duffel bag, camera, and computer would do; the rest she’d unload in the morning.
    She inquired about the hours for the restaurant attached to the motor inn.
    â€œWe stop serving dinner at nine, but snacks are available until eleven,” he said. “We open for breakfast at six.”
    She nodded, thanked him again, and went out to the car. Having that piece of eye candy around to admire and drool over might help her deal with the stress that she was sure would surface while she was here; in fact, just seeing him made her feel better. The headache she had anticipated thanks to the horrendous drive seemed to have disappeared, and she felt more relaxed than she had all day.
Who says candy isn’t good for you?
Maybe once she had dinner, she might look up her so-called partner.
    She pulled the key out of her pocket and checked the number.
    â€œGreat,” she sighed. As luck would have it, her assigned cabin was the one furthest from the motor inn itself. It looked ominous outlined as it was against the trees, with the low fog hovering above the stone walkway — a setting straight out of a gothic novel.
    The only light visible was the multicolored glow from the neon sign. Swallowing a mouthful of discomfort, she got into the car and drove across the parking lot until she was as close as she could get to her door. She grabbed her stuff from the back seat, and locked the vehicle. The headlights would stay on for sixty seconds, giving her ample time to get the key in the lock, open the door, and turn on the light.
    She walked up the fieldstone sidewalk to the cabin door. She wasn’t sure whether the iron grillwork over the cabin’s windows made her feel safe or imprisoned. The vision of being trapped in a burning cabin came vividly to mind. She couldn’t help but wonder if they were trying to keep someone in or something out.
    Alexis unlocked the door, pushed it open with her hip, flipped the two switches, and smiled. Now this was more like it! A soothing yellow glow bathed the exterior of the cabin and soft white light revealed a beautiful interior. Unlike most