Her Forbidden Hero Read Online Free PDF Page A

cleared his throat.
    “What?” She stepped back. “You weren’t the only one I missed.”
    “I see that.” He unlocked and opened her door. “And I approve. One of the reasons we’ve always been such good friends is because you get Betty.”
    She slipped into the seat. “How could you not get Betty?” Marco’s low chuckle made it to her ears as he closed her door. Marco’s grandfather had prided himself on maintaining it in pristine condition, which Marco clearly continued. And, oh, man, it smelled of rich leather just like she remembered. She loved that—how some places just had a scent, one that brought so many memories to mind.
    Marco settled into the driver’s seat and turned the key, bringing that lovely growling engine to life. He eased the car from the spot and crossed the lot to the driveway that ran along the side of Whiskey’s.
    Had he always looked so damn sexy behind the wheel of this car? She dragged a quick gaze over him, taking in the sweep of his lashes and angled jaw that stood out in profile, and then over the thick bunching of his shoulders to his long fingers wrapped around the wheel. And she knew the answer to that question. She’d just never thought to ask it until now.
    The drive to the front of the building took all of thirty seconds, of course, but Alyssa found herself glad for them nonetheless. He braked beside her car, which looked even more pitiful next to Betty. “Thanks,” she said, collecting her purse and reaching for the handle.
    His hand grasped her arm. “You’re sure you’ve got a place to stay? You’re not at your dad’s, right?”
    Her stomach soured at the thought. “Oh, God, no. I have a place.” Or she would have a place, once she checked in.
    “And you’re okay to do that? I’m not trying to, uh, you know…” He clenched his eyes and heaved a breath. “Shit. I just want to make sure you’re all right.”
    Alyssa frowned at the sudden anger that seemed to pour off him, not able for the life of her to understand its source. She also noticed he didn’t offer up his place, and that made her want to give Kim a big kiss for ensuring she’d have enough money to get a room that night. And maybe tomorrow, too, depending on how cheap of a rate she could find. She forced a casual tone. “It’s just until I move into an apartment. I have a little money.”
    How little, he didn’t need to know.
    He narrowed his eyes. “Okay. See you tomorrow?”
    “Yep. G’night.”
    Alyssa climbed out of the car, settled into the driver’s seat of the Corolla, and rolled down the window to wave Marco off, but he refused to go. Giving up, she pulled out. He followed her down Route 40 until she veered into the drive of a random hotel. When she turned into the lot, he blew the horn as he passed behind her.
    No way she could afford this place, but he didn’t need to know that, either. As soon as his taillights disappeared around the corner, she slowly pulled back onto the road.
    Each new stop made her shoulders sag. By the third hotel, she was nervously eyeballing her half-full gas gauge and forcing herself to accept she could only afford one night. For now. Which was fine. She’d figure it out.
    The room she finally got had a hideous floral bedspread and too-dim lighting, but it was clean and air-conditioned, and that was everything Alyssa required at the moment.
    Resilience was the biggest lesson her childhood had taught her. Things always worked out in the end. And, after all, she’d get a paycheck in a week. She didn’t have long before she’d be able to get on her feet—or at least start to.
    …
     
    The explosion was deafening, and then the world lurched and flipped.
    “No, no, no!” Marco gasped awake, his own voice and a deep sense of foreboding yanking him into panicked consciousness. The smell of smoke and charred flesh filling his nose, he fell back against his pillow, damp with sweat. It was the same thing every damn night.
    Jesus.
    He couldn’t decide