Promises Read Online Free PDF Page A

the woods.   He had to get away.   He had to find Barbara and protect her.   Somehow he’d been given a second chance.   He couldn’t fail Jase again.  
    Gunfire erupted behind him, bringing him to his knees.   He’d been hit, but not bad.   Forcing himself back to his feet, he trudged deeper into the woods, fighting wave after wave of dizziness.   He struggled to keep his eyes open and leaned back against a tree.   The echo of gunfire abruptly stopped.   Someone must have interrupted them.
    More than anything, he wanted to sink down to the ground and let his life’s blood spill out onto the forest floor, but Jase’s face appeared in front of him, urging him on, reminding him of his job, of his promise to keep Barbara safe.  
    He seemed so real.   Reaching out to touch his friend, he succumbed to the darkness shrinking in around him.  
    “That’s in South Carolina, by the way.”   The shapely little woman’s voice cut through the stream of memories.  
    Why did he get the feeling he was missing something here?   He hadn’t asked to be her houseguest.   She could have left him on the ground where she’d found him or better still called the authorities.   “You want to tell me why you brought me here?”
    “Brought you here?”   She crossed her arms firmly.   “I did not bring you here.”  
    So he was an uninvited guest, but that still didn’t explain how he got there.   Then again, she could be lying.   She could be working for Steele, but then if she were, he’d probably be dead.
    “You were here when I got home, soaking wet and out cold on my living room floor,” she continued.
    He looked down at the beast now standing protectively by her side.   Her snippy tone had apparently alerted Monstro to go into protect mode.  
    Great.   Just what I need.   An attractive, disgruntled female with a killer dog .  
    He pinched the bridge of his nose.   Why were things never easy?   He should’ve listened to his mother and become a chef instead of a Federal agent.  
    Oh, but noooo .   He just had to chase bad guys.   He just had to have the insane thrill of living on the edge.  
    Well, love it or hate it, he still had a job to do.   A very important job.   He needed to get out of this quaint little cabin and get back on the road, far away from beauty and the beast.  
    “In that case, lady, I’ll be out of here as soon as I have my clothes,” he said.
    She dropped her arms, her expression softening.   “You can’t leave.   You’re dehydrated and recovering from shock.   It’ll probably be a couple of days before you can walk without help, much less get anywhere in this storm.”  
    What was with the woman?   One minute she hated his guts, the next she was all sweetness and light.   “I’m a fast healer.”  
    The miniature blonde bombshell cast him a steely glare.   “You can’t leave until you’re leg is better.”
    He set the glass of water on the bedside table and pulled back the covers.   Jase’s sister was still out there somewhere, and he had to find her before Ballard did, before it was too late.   And he wasn’t about to let anyone, not even a beautiful, albeit contrary woman and her big ugly dog stop him.
    He’d barely gotten one foot on the floor before her hands were on his shoulders, pressing him firmly back into bed.  
    “Why do men have to be so damned stubborn?” she grumbled.
    “Look, lady, it’s been fun, but I can’t stay.”   He spoke through clenched teeth, hurting like hell and furious with himself for being so weak.   He didn’t stand a chance against her and her dog, not to mention Steele’s men.
    “Oh, shut-up and lie down.   You’ll pull your stitches and start bleeding again.”  
    She gently lifted the leg he’d managed to get over the side of the bed, the one feeling like a lit torch lay against it, and slipped it under the covers.  
    “I can’t stay here,” he said roughly.   He couldn’t risk getting an