Reckless Passion Read Online Free PDF Page B

woman's mind, Hank," Yale quipped, pushing Dara gently back toward the table. “Do what you think she wants and help her out of a situation, and the first thing she does is lose her temper!'
    “The temptation to knock both your heads together is rapidly become irresistible," Dara informed them grandly, taking her seat. "You might be able to defend me against drunken fools, but who's going to defend you against me?"
    "She's got a point," Yale conceded, grinning at Hank.
    "That she does," Hank agreed admiringly. "A good point like that deserves another beer. I'm buying!"
    Dara reflected much later that they might all still have managed to get out of the tavern without a fight if the frustrated drunk hadn't decided to take out his anger on the pinball machine.
    At least, she assumed that was what initiated the disaster. There was a loud, shattering sound from the direction of the game machines shortly after the arrival of the beers Hank had ordered.
    "What in the world...!" Dara swung around to stare in the direction everyone else was staring, but it was impossible to see exactly what was happening. The group of men standing around the machines seemed to turn into a brawling riot before her very eyes.
    "It would appear this enchanting evening is about to come to a close." Yale groaned, getting lithely to his feet as chaos erupted. The band played on, oblivious to the shouts and yells and bodies spilling onto the dance floor.
    "Yale!" she squeaked, once more seeking the sanctuary of his smoothly muscled strength. "What's going on?"
    "Guess," he invited succinctly, turning toward the door and shoving her unceremoniously in front of him. "'Bye, Hank. Nice meeting you. Have a good trip down to Sac...."
    "Reckon I will at that," Hank agreed cheerfully, grabbing his jacket and loping after them as he tossed a vaguely regretful glance back over his shoulder at the rapidly expanding fight.
    The sounds of breaking glass and male war calls were all around Dara as Yale hustled her through the mob. She gasped as the path which had appeared momentarily clear toward the door was suddenly littered with brawling men.
    "This way," Yale ordered, pulling her off course in an attempt to circle the melee.
    "What the hell you think you're doin ', pal?" Hank's voice demanded behind them.
    Dara felt Yale hesitate and then turn to see what had happened to Hank. She swiveled with him, and both were in time to watch their table partner deflect a swinging beer bottle with his jacket-wrapped arm. An instant later he was planting a huge, square fist into the face of the man who had swung the bottle.
    Before he could recover his balance, though, another man surged out of the mob, swinging a bottle. It was the drunken cowboy who had insisted on dancing with her, Dara realized dazedly.
    She thought he was going to bring the bottle down on Hank's balding head, but before that could happen, Yale had left her side to intercept.
    Hands across her mouth in the traditional pose of feminine shock, Dara gazed, stunned, as Yale stopped the drunk with an arcing fist. The drunken cowboy sank to the floor, blissfully unconscious.
    "Hey, thanks, Ransom. That's one I owe ya ." Hank beamed.
    "Come on, both of you. Let's get out of here," Yale ordered, forcing his way once more toward the door.
    From somewhere in the distance the wail of a police siren sounded.
    "Some spoilsport must have called the cops," Hank muttered as the three of them made the door and staggered out into the parking lot. "Yup, here they come. Where you guys parked?"
    "A couple of blocks away," Yale growled, grasping Dara's wrist and yanking her in the proper direction.
    "You'll never make it, and they'll be lookin ' for everyone they can get their hands on... Come on. My truck's out back!"
    "Hank!" Dara exclaimed as she caught sight of a dark splotch on his hand. "What happened? You've been cut!"
    "That bottle raked across my knuckles. Don't worry, I'll be all right."
    " Driving's going to be tough,"