Husband by the Hour Read Online Free PDF Page B

and ignored him. Cheap talk from someone used to buying whatever he wanted. Actually, she didn't know that about Nick; she was only assuming. But it was probably true.
    Instead of taking the broad hint, he once again put his hand on top of hers and squeezed gently. The comfort meant a lot to her, even though she didn't want to tell him. It would be too much like giving in. She was convinced that if she gave in – even a little – she would suffer for the rest of her life. So she held back. Resisted. Didn't say anything. She didn't trust Nick. She wasn't even sure she liked him.
    But when he nudged her, she turned her hand over and let him lace his fingers through hers.

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    Chapter 3
    « ^ »
    N ick checked the rearview mirror. There was no one behind them but truckers and no one was going the speed limit. He touched a button on the cruise control panel, then glanced at Hannah. She was leaning against the passenger door, her head resting on the window. She'd been asleep for most of the morning.
    He slipped a tape of classical music into the cassette player and kept the sound low. She didn't stir. He was glad. She obviously needed her rest. The shadows under her eyes weren't all from her hangover. No doubt the stress and worry about meeting her birth mother for the first time had kept her up nights.
    Her color was better now, her breathing steady. Of course, her color wasn't quite as high as it had been when he'd kissed her.
    He grinned at the memory. Kissing Hannah Pace was something he should have done a long time ago. Not only for the pleasure it had given him, but because it had left her speechless.
    Oh, he'd thought about it. He couldn't be around Hannah for more than five minutes without thinking about kissing her and touching her. She was the kind of woman who lent herself to wicked thoughts – at least in his mind.
    He'd wondered if she would resist the kiss and the heat it generated. Passion could be disconcerting if one was used to constantly being in control. He suspected Hannah prided herself on being in control. But she hadn't resisted or pretended not to respond. Even if he hadn't felt the clinging sweetness of her mouth, her fire-filled eyes and uneven breathing had given her away. Yup, kissing Hannah had been a great idea. He'd imagined it would be terrific, and the real thing had been better than any fantasy. He couldn't wait to do it a second time.
    He checked on her again, but she was silent and still asleep. Was she dreaming? Was she worrying about what was going to happen? Did she regret her confession?
    Hannah had been married. He thought he'd figured her out, but that piece of information had stunned him. Married. He swore under his breath. Why hadn't he known?
    "Why does it matter?" he asked himself softly, then decided he didn't want to know the answer.
    Married. To whom? Not a cop. She wouldn't have been able to keep that quiet. He would have heard about it – some kind of hint would have surfaced in the past year. He knew all about gossip at a police station. Everyone knew everyone else's business.
    Who would Hannah have married and then divorced? A successful businessman with shady dealings? He grimaced. Hannah wasn't the type to get involved with a criminal. That's one of the things he liked best about her – her principles. Of course, those high standards meant she wasn't likely to give him the time of day.
    He thought about the assignment he'd been working on. All the hours being alone, the danger, the tension. It was about to end. Just a few more days, maybe a couple of weeks.
    He wondered what Hannah would say if he told her the truth. Would she like him more? Respect him? It didn't matter. Until the assignment was over, until the bad guys were in jail, he wasn't telling anyone anything. He wasn't going to risk all that time and effort. He wanted those guys caught.
    So Hannah would continue to think he was a criminal and he would let her. Probably best for both of them.
    An airline pilot