Line of Fire Read Online Free PDF Page B

of the same terror she had as a child.
    But then years of bucking her father’s rigid rules flowed over her and instinctive defiance kicked in. Rule number one popped into her head. Never show fear. Not to Daddy. And certainly not to Tarzan the Ape Man. She dug in her feet and stuck out her chin as Tex approached.
    He walked right up to her and didn’t stop until his chest was practically touching hers. His nose wasn’t more than a foot away from hers and his diamond-hard gaze bore into her.
    Lord, he was big. And strong-looking. And mad-looking.
    Her father would have bellowed like a bull, but Tex’s quiet voice fell menacingly flat upon her ear. “Let’s get one thing straight, Jane. I’m the trained Special Forces officer. You are the untrained civilian. Until I hand you back over to the U.S. government safe and sound, I’m in charge of this operation. Got it?”
    She glared back at him. Electricity crackled and popped in the air around them. The energy pouring off of him all but knocked her over.
    This was no prissy toy-boy she could push around. A thrill of something spicy and dangerous raced down her spine.
    Her gaze dropped to his mouth. His lips were generous, sensuous in shape. He’d be a great kisser. She could feel it. An errant impulse struck her to reach up and snatch the kiss hanging like a threat between them.
    “Well?” he demanded.
    “Well what?” she asked breathlessly.
    He rolled his eyes. “Oh, for God’s sake. Don’t try those seductive female tricks on me. We’re climbing that hill if I have to drag you up it by the hair. Now, are you going to come along nicely or do I have to play hardball?”
    The bubble of sensual anticipation in her stomach deflated, leaving behind an unpleasant emptiness. So much for great kissing. She glared furiously at him. “Has anybody ever told you you’re a sadistic jerk?”
    He grinned wolfishly. “All the time, Miss Stanton. All the time.”

Chapter 3
    T ex tore his gaze away from the mesmerizing blaze of green leaping in her eyes. His hands itched to grab her shoulders and drag her up against him. He could all but taste the kiss she obviously wanted. Damned if he didn’t want to give her a whole lot more than just a kiss.
    How could a woman who was so stubborn and so troublesome make him so hot so fast? He liked his women down-to-earth and sweet. Low maintenance. This virago looked like she’d just as soon tear his head off. And she’d already firmly established herself as a royal pain in the butt.
    An exercise, indeed. What nonsense. Uncle Sam would never waste good training dollars trying to impress a spoiled brat like her. Guilt pricked him for pushing her so hard, but he’d had no choice. Somebody’d gone to a lot of trouble to kidnap her, and getting her out of this jungle was going to take all the tricks in his bag, including moving unexpectedly fast.
    Once they scaled this last ridge, they’d stop and take a rest. But he wasn’t about to tell her that after her tantrum. No way was he letting her think she ran this show. She had to understand that staying alive meant taking orders from him.
    He gave her his best pissed off glare. “Look, lady. I’m out here busting my butt trying to keep you safe. I don’t need any flack out of you about climbing hills or anything else.”
    She scowled up at him defiantly, her green eyes snapping and her rounded chest heaving. It figured. The woman he was stuck rescuing would have to have a body made for sin and wear clothes that were tight in all the right places.
    He growled, “Quit looking at me like I’m going grab you and kiss some sense into you.”
    She blinked, startled. Her eyes widened and her pupils dilated. Her breathing accelerated even more.
    Damn. His hands reached out of their own volition and wrapped around her upper arms. He watched in shock as he pulled her near. He registered vaguely that she didn’t resist him at all. She was warm and supple against him. All woman. Damn.
    He