In the Crossfire (Bloodhaven) Read Online Free PDF Page B

attraction.
    She tossed her gloves onto a side-table. “Hey, cub. You eaten?”
    “Yup. I convinced Liam to stay for dinner.” Naley gestured proudly at the plates on the coffee table. “Made him my special black mustard sandwich.”
    “Oh.” Poor man. He’d probably been itching to escape for hours.
    Naley’s expression suddenly turned anxious. “It’s okay that I let Liam in, right? I know we talked about the whole access code stuff, but it’s just Liam. And we weren’t doing anything. Just dinner and a movie.”
    Isobel glanced at Liam. He simply watched her, silent as stone. She returned her attention to Naley, who looked even more worried now. A line creased in between her tender young brows.
    Isobel donned a comforting smile and patted Naley’s shoulder. “Dinner and a movie, huh? Sounds like the perfect date.”
    She brushed back Naley’s wild, curly hair and bent down to kiss her forehead. Then she paused as she smelled Liam’s scent on the girl. Isobel pushed the afghan down to Naley’s waist and saw she was wearing a T-shirt Isobel didn’t recognize.
    Naley looked guilty. “Liam lent me his clothes.”
    Isobel knew Naley had left her clothes and backpack behind at school, but Naley had her own room here in Isobel’s house. She had books, furniture, and decorative knick-knacks here. She’d even chosen her preferred shade of teal for the walls. And she most definitely had extra sets of clothes for whenever she stayed over. She could’ve changed at any time.
    Naley glanced at Liam, then quickly motioned to Isobel to lean closer. Isobel bent down so that Naley’s mouth was right by her ear.
    “I didn’t wanna let him outta my sight while I changed,” she whispered.
    Isobel relaxed. Good girl. One didn’t just let a newcomer into the house and allow him to roam the place unsupervised. She’d taught her niece better than that.
    “Otherwise he might run away before I could make dinner,” Naley added.
    Isobel choked on a cross between a sigh and a laugh. She darted a look at Liam. She knew he’d heard everything anyway. His expression was priceless, but he quickly composed himself before Naley could notice.
    “You know the rules, cub,” Isobel said, straightening. “No outside visitors to the house without prior approval.” Naley’s face fell. “But since Liam is here anyway, why don’t I program him into the system? That way he can enter his own code whenever you invite him over.”
    Naley brightened. From the corner of her eye, Isobel saw Liam startle.
    “That’ll be great, Aunt Iz.”
    “Good. How was your game today?” She kept track of Naley’s soccer matches, tried to attend whenever her schedule allowed.
    Naley relaxed. “We slaughtered ’em! Their team went down like wounded caribou!”
    Liam blinked at the triumphant crow. Isobel stifled a smile.
    “That’s my girl. Why don’t you go up and change into your PJs? I’ll be up to check on you after I say goodnight to Liam. You can tell me all about your match then.”
    “Oh, but Liam doesn’t have to go—”
    “I’ll be up,” Isobel repeated. “Then we can talk.”
    Naley hesitated, but one look at her aunt told her she couldn’t escape the inevitable. Isobel wanted to know what had happened to make Naley take off like she had today, and Kaya still hadn’t returned her call.
    Naley capitulated. She rose from the sofa, grabbing her things. She bussed Isobel on the cheek, then waved at the tall, silent man standing apart from them.
    “Bye, Liam. Thanks for staying. Maybe you can come over again sometime.”
    Isobel saw the uncertain expression crossing Liam’s face and bit back another smile. He likely regarded social invitations the same way a human regarded a grizzly bear.
    Naley scampered up the stairs. Isobel waited for the duotone beep that indicated her niece had scanned her prints and was safely ensconced in her bedroom, then faced Liam.
    He was studying her bruises. Aside from a tic in the left side of