Protective Custody Read Online Free PDF Page A

away her chance at happiness. But Megan refused to pretend. Jerome was an empty shell. A good-looking man with no ambition, no brains to speak of, and most important, he wasn’t Will. What she and Will had shared was the real thing. At least it had been for her.
    The creaking of floorboards cut through the silence and had her holding her breath.
    Waiting.
    Listening.
    Trembling, she peeled back the covers and sat up. She stood, mindful of the noisy springs in her antique bed. A grating sound drifted through the air as if someone were dragging a rake along the wooden shingles outside the house. She patted the night table for her cell but didn’t feel it.
    Damn it. She’d left it in her purse. Her hands trembled so badly she wouldn’t be able to hit the buttons.
    She tiptoed out her bedroom door, all her senses sharp. Footsteps crunched in the dry grass outside.
    Oh God. She slapped her hand to her mouth, afraid she’d be discovered. A shadow stalked past the narrow windows flanking the front door. She tried to draw air into her lungs but only managed a single ragged breath.
    It’s him.
    She stifled a terrified cry.
    A quick flash of yellow light skimmed the window. Heart pumping full throttle, she raced to the kitchen phone.
    Speaking softly, she gave the operator her address and begged her to send help right away.
    She gasped at a pounding knock on the front door.
    “Megan, it’s Will.”
    Relief settled over her. She clutched her chest and let him in.
    Will’s hair was damp and tousled, and he looked pale. He shut the door, then scooped her into his arms and held her tight. Exactly what she needed to banish the ghosts. She allowed herself several seconds of his comfort before backing away.
    “What are you doing here?” She folded her arms over her chest.
    “I’ve been watching your house. I couldn’t leave you here alone. You don’t always know what’s best for you.” He squared his shoulders and jutted his chin forward, giving him an authoritative air, smug even. And sexy.
    “You scared the hell out of me. I was terrified that someone was trying to break in—Oh crap. I need to call the cops and tell them never mind.” She hurried to the kitchen and hit Redial.
    “What’s your name, ma’am?” a male officer asked.
    “Megan Jackson.” She leaned against the pantry and took in the six-plus feet of sexy man at the other end of the short hallway. She swallowed the rush of desire.
    “Miss Jackson, that would be the second call you’ve placed to nine-one-one in less than four hours. Now you say everything is okay?”
    She ignored his patronizing tone. “Yes, sir.”
    “Okay. Have a nice night.”
    She hung up the phone and shook her head. “They think I’m crazy.” She strode toward Will and caught his gaze raking over her body.
    “Since you were the only thing that went bump in the night, I think it’s fine for you to go.”
    “Not a chance.” He circled her and entered the living room. “I’ll be right here. A blanket and pillow would be greatly appreciated.” With that, he plopped onto the sofa.
    She narrowed her eyes at him, but the notion of Will staying over sent a wave of excitement through her.
    Can I resist him?
    His pull enticed her like a siren’s song. “I’d insist you leave, but I know you too well.”
    “Yes, you do.” He lifted one eyebrow suggestively.
    They knew each other in the most intimate of ways. Memories assaulted her every sense—the look of molten lust in his green eyes, the feel of his skin, the taste of his mouth, the guttural sound of his carnal release, the scent of their union.
    Raw need swamped her, weakening her knees. She gripped the doorknob tighter to steady herself. Her nipples hardened under his stare. She had to escape his presence, or she might make a fool of herself. “I…I’ll get you a blanket. And a pillow.”
    She tamped down on her libido and walked to the linen closet.
    He is only here to protect me.
    She had to get hold of herself,