Forever Safe (Beacons of Hope) Read Online Free PDF Page A

moment, his gaze was irresistible. Gone was the tough dictator and cocky boss. Instead, a handsome man with devastating eyes was staring at her. The urge to please him rose strong and swift, along with the desire to do what she could to bring a smile to his face.
    The landau came to a gradual stop in the carriage-port in front of the main doors of the hospital. Ahead a tall spire with a cross on the top towered above the chapel, which formed part of the front of the complex.
    She wouldn’t suffer if she took a break from visiting Arch today, would she? After all, even though Arch had been glad to see her, he’d warned against coming too often.
    She bit her bottom lip. “You may be right…”
    He turned to the door, but not before she caught sight of his lips quirked in the beginning of a self-satisfied smile.
    Ah, so he was playing with her emotions to get his way.
    She sat back against the cushioned seat with new admiration for his skill level. When she’d first met him in her father’s office, she’d thought she’d be able to easily sway him. She’d suspected that he’d be attracted to her to some degree and have a hard time telling her no. After all, she rarely had trouble getting men to do whatever she wanted. They were usually eager to please.
    But Mr. Cushman had proven much harder to influence than she’d anticipated. The fact that she was both pretty and rich didn’t seem to matter to him in the least. He hadn’t been awed, tongue-tied, or seeking her approval. Instead, he’d been distant, brusque, and all business-like. Until now…
    Apparently, if his forceful tactics didn’t work to persuade her to heed his commands, then he had a backup plan that involved using his charm—if it could even be labeled as such. What he didn’t realize was that she was equally skilled in the art of manipulation when she wanted to get her way.
    As he began to open the door, she quickly laid a hand on his arm. At her touch, he froze.
    “I’m sure I’ll have nothing to worry about,” she said in a low voice, “since I’ll have someone as big and strong as you right there to keep me safe.”
    His attention shifted to her hand.
    “Unless of course, you don’t think you’re up for the task.”
    His gaze lifted to meet hers again. She was ready with her trademark heart-melting smile and finished off the effect by batting her long eyelashes. She waited for him to blush, go wide-eyed, or even fumble to respond. But he wrapped his other hand over hers and extricated her fingers one at a time. He lifted her hand and gently replaced it in her lap. He patted it as though she were a little child and then opened the door.
    She didn’t give herself the chance to be frustrated over her inability to allure him. Instead, she brushed past him confidently and forcefully. Without waiting for the coachman’s assistance, she descended from the carriage. Unfortunately, her legs tangled in her skirt, and she would have fallen, except that somehow Mr. Cushman was already by her side taking her arm and steadying her.
    “You can’t stop me from seeing Arch.” She yanked free and started toward the door. She expected him to grab her arm, spin her around, and force her back inside the landau.
    Instead he fell into step next to her. “You’re forgetting something.”
    “No, I’m not.”
    “If you say so.” He swung wide the hospital door and waved her through with a flourish. An antiseptic scent mixed with the sourness of vinegar greeted them. “I’m sure you’ll find someone else to eat the sweet rolls.”
    She stopped and silently berated herself for her slow wittedness. She was certainly not making a good impression on her new bodyguard—not that she was trying. But she hadn’t planned on making an utter fool of herself.
    With an air of what she hoped was casualness, she glanced back at her coachman. “Davis, would you be so kind as to carry up the sweet rolls?” She didn’t wait for his response but continued on her