Run the Risk Read Online Free PDF Page B

an
hour.”
    This dump had an exterminator? Okay, so he’d never seen any
bugs, it still surprised him. “Thanks for taking care of that.”
    “I probably need a shower, too.”
    “No.” He opened his mouth on her throat, moved his tongue over
her, tasting her skin, licking her, then whispering in her ear, “But you could
have showered with me if you’d—”
    She left his arms so quickly, it took him a second to figure
out what had happened.
    She had that deer caught in the headlights look about her.
    Time to regroup.
    Pretending he hadn’t panicked her, Logan said, “You mentioned
ordering pizza.” He took a step back, giving her some space so she could breathe
easier. “How about I pay, and we can eat here?”
    Indecision kept her on the edge of retreat. “I didn’t mean to
intrude.”
    “You’d be doing me a favor.” When she hesitated, he handed her
his phone. “Go ahead and order it. I’ll get us something to drink in the
meantime.”
    He walked away, hoping she’d settle down and stay with him—but
prepared to go after her if she didn’t.
    Then he heard her soft voice ordering the pizza, loaded, just
as he liked it.
    He got out glasses. “You want a beer or a Coke?”
    She looked at his beer with longing, but said, “A Coke,
please.”
    Another mystery. If she wanted a beer, why not say so? Did she
think it unladylike—or did she worry that alcohol, even a simple beer, would
lower her resistance, maybe allow her to divulge secrets better kept
concealed?
    Logan disliked her brother more by the minute. “Over ice?”
    She nodded.
    “How long for the pizza? I’m starved.”
    “Fifteen minutes or so.” She inched closer. “They’re just
around the corner.”
    “Good to know.”
    “You can also get Thai and Chinese pretty quickly. And hoagies
or chili only takes half an hour.”
    “You do a lot of fast food, too, huh?”
    “During the summer I usually grill dinner. You know that. But
at night, after it gets quiet, sometimes I…” She shrugged.
    “You can’t sleep?”
    “I enjoy the peace,” she corrected. “I don’t have a set
schedule, so when I want to watch an old movie, or catch up on the news, I do. I
think I’m a natural night owl.”
    “So you curl up on the couch with some fast food?” It was a
cute picture. What type of pajamas did she wear? A granny gown? T-shirt and
panties? Somehow he couldn’t picture her in lingerie. “Maybe you can share the
numbers of the local restaurants with me.”
    “All right.” Though she hung back in the kitchen doorway, she
asked, “Can I do anything?”
    Oh, hell yeah. She could do all sorts of things. He gave her a
smile but said, “Don’t worry about it. We’ll just grab some plates and napkins
when it gets here.” He handed her drink to her. “Want to watch TV now, or sit on
the balcony?”
    She looked toward his balcony but again hesitated, so he took
the decision away from her.
    “Let’s see what’s on TV.” Taking her hand, he led her to the
sofa. He sat down and pulled her down beside him, probably closer than she
liked, but not as close as he wanted.
    She sat stiff, silent and wary. After setting her drink on the
coffee table, she clasped her hands together in her lap, pressed her knees and
ankles together, kept her back military straight.
    All because he sat beside her? “Relax.”
    “I am relaxed,” she said too fast.
    After a long look, he grinned at her and shook his head. “I
think I’ll have to teach you how to loosen up.”
    Her eyes flared, especially when he put aside his beer and
reached for her shoulders.
    But he only pressed her back against the couch, and began
kneading her tensed muscles. “C’mon, Sue. Take out the starch. Inhale a big
breath…that’s it. Now let it out nice and slow.”
    She tried, but she was still far too rigid.
    “Don’t worry. We’ll get there eventually.” He settled back
beside her. “That’s a promise, by the way.” Using the remote, he turned on the
set and