Hazard Play Read Online Free PDF

the heck did that happen?  “I can tell.” She drew a breath and prayed for strength.
    He squeezed her hand. “You’re just what the doctor ordered.”
    God, even his words moved her. Tess stiffened and snatched her hand away. “Last time I looked, you had two hands of your own. You don’t need mine. That might affect impressionable young girls, but I’m not one of them.” Hah! Try an almost thirty impressionable woman.
    “What makes you think I'd be interested in a girl? I want a woman who knows that life can turn on you and bite you in the ass.” His words tumbled out as if he couldn’t help it. “Someone I can rely on not to take off in bad times.” He stopped and took a long pull on his beer.
    It was the first thing he’d said that Tess thought showed his feelings. That wasn’t quite true. He’d seemed genuinely concerned for her pain when he’d spoken in that quiet, husky voice. She’d bet on it. “Is that who you’re hunting for? Someone who didn’t measure up in ‘bad times?’ I’m sorry. It’s hard to be alone, I know that well enough.” Tess searched his face, trying to understand the emotion he was fighting so hard to push back behind a suddenly expressionless gaze. 
    He apparently wasn’t going to give her that chance. His voice hard, he said, “Actually, I’m hunting for a man. I’m a bounty hunter and he jumped bail. It’s my job to bring him back.” When he turned to look at Tess, all vestiges of compassion were erased from his face. 
    Tess couldn’t help it. She stared. “You...hunt men? I thought that went out with sheriffs and posses. You can’t be serious.”
    “Believe it. The pay is good and I don’t have to worry about the niceties of the law that the cops do.” A ruthless smile flickered. “I’m damn good at it, too.”
    Stunned at the abrupt change, she looked at the man sitting beside her. The Bailey she’d been talking with minutes ago had disappeared and become a cruel stranger. “But, you can’t mean that because you’re not a policeman, you can mistreat people. Everyone has rights.”
    “Boy, are you naïve.” His eyes bored into hers. “These ‘people’ are criminals who have left town illegally and cost the bondsmen money. They pay me to bring them back, whatever it takes.” Bailey flexed his scarred hands. “Some of these guys need a little lesson to make them behave. If I were a cop, I couldn’t educate jumpers. Once we have an understanding, they don’t put up much of a fight and we get along fine on the trip back.” 
    His scars were from fights where those huge knuckles had connected with flesh—tearing, bruising and breaking the skin. It sickened her. Ashamed she’d imagined Bailey’s hands on her body caressing her, she stammered, “You’re saying you beat them into submission. Are you proud of what you do?” She shuddered.
    “Great. A bleeding heart. Because of jurors like you, murderers and rapists are out on the streets.” His words battered her like blows.
    What had started out as a pleasant interlude had morphed into a hateful tirade. The tender man who’d soothed her was a brutal mercenary with no compassion for others. “Well, since I don’t want to get your shirt stained with my bleeding heart, I'll leave.” She got off the barstool and turned.
    An iron hand gripped her arm. “Not yet. We haven’t talked about the bike.”
    She yanked her arm free and wheeled around. This guy could easily make her rethink her views on violence. She’d forgotten all about the bike.  “Well, I’m not holding it hostage and I won’t beat it up while it’s in my truck. Why didn’t you get it when you were out in the parking lot?”
    “The main fork is bent. I can’t wheel it all the way to the shop. Do you know where Rob’s Cycles is on Madison?”
    “Of course. Everyone does.”
    “Meet me there tomorrow morning at eight o'clock.” Bailey threw some money on the bar and stood.
    He towered over her. Tess nodded and