Heartbreak Cove (Sanctuary Island) (RE8) Read Online Free PDF

side, Sheriff.”
    Andie felt her instincts kick into high gear. What was it about this man that roused her suspicions as quickly as he aroused the rest of her?
    *   *   *
    Sam held his breath as Sheriff Andie Shepard’s ocean blue eyes sharpened. Why the hell couldn’t he stop himself from taunting her? The last thing he needed was the law poking around, asking questions and giving him—and his mare—suspicious glances.
    Even if the law on Sanctuary Island came in a tall, slim, lightly freckled, redheaded package. And even if the universe saw fit to test Sam’s resolve to keep to himself by outlining every subtle line and curve of the sheriff’s body in mud-streaked khaki.
    It wasn’t his fault. There was no way he could stop himself from reaching out and pulling a piece of straw from the chestnut braid lying over her shoulder. The satiny rub of her dark red hair across his callused fingertips made everything low in Sam’s body tighten in a rush. “Why, Sheriff. You took a roll in the hay and didn’t invite me? I’m crushed. Who’s the special guy?”
    He loved how fierce she looked when she frowned. “A roll in the … oh. His name is Pippin, actually.”
    But somehow, she was even sexier when she smiled. The dimple that winked to life in her right cheek was almost enough to distract Sam from how much he suddenly wanted to hunt down this Pippin and knock out his front teeth.
    “What the hell kind of name is that? Sounds like an orphan kid in a Dickens novel.”
    Andie smothered a laugh. “I’d be careful talking like that, if I were you!”
    “I think I can take some loser named Pippin,” Sam huffed, flexing his shoulders.
    “I don’t know,” Andie said, eyeing Sam’s arms and chest doubtfully. “Pippin is a pretty hefty guy with a lot of pent-up rage.”
    It didn’t matter how competent he knew Andie was, or that she could likely take care of herself. Sam’s protective instincts rushed to the fore. “Has he threatened you?”
    The low, dangerous tone of his voice set poor Queenie on edge. Andie’s eyes widened as the horse spooked sideways and Sam cursed himself silently. Turning all his focus back to the mare, he let all traces of aggression flow out of him and into the weathered boards of the pier.
    “I’m sorry,” Andie said quietly. “That’s really not something to joke about. No one has threatened me. Pippin is a bulldog, his owner is one of my most frequent callers.”
    Sam stared straight ahead at his own hands gentling the skittish horse. “Okay, now I feel like an idiot.”
    “Don’t, please. I shouldn’t have teased you. I just didn’t realize your rescue service extended to humans.”
    When he chanced a glance over his shoulder, the small, guilty smile that quirked her lips went a long way toward making Sam feel better.
    His heart squeezed strangely when he and Andie locked stares. All he wanted to do was stretch out his fingers and skim the warm silk of her skin, to trace the outline of her ribcage down to the lean curve of her waist. But he couldn’t, even if the breathless moment of crackling electricity arcing between them said she might not mind.
    He didn’t need to draw any more attention to himself and Queenie than he already had. If Sam were smart, he’d be pushing her away, not reaching out to pull her closer.
    On the other hand, no one had ever accused Sam Brennan of being smart.
    “I’m glad to see you again,” he said, hearing the rasp of hunger in his own voice.
    Drifting closer, almost as if against her will, Andie looked up at him. “Me, too.”
    It sounded like a confession dragged out of her after hours of interrogation. Sam couldn’t blame her for not wanting to be attracted to him. He knew it was a bad idea for both of them—but as he lifted his hand from Queenie’s neck to take Andie’s chilled fingers in his, he couldn’t care.
    Tugging her gently closer, Sam raised their joined hands until the backs of Andie’s knuckles skimmed along