Running Back to You (The Running Series, #1) Read Online Free PDF

be
rescued and I refuse to become that girl who throws herself at a man in need of
his help, like I’m tied to the train tracks and only he can rescue me in time. 
    “Wait, let me help you.”  His voice is strong, deep, and hypnotizing.
    With as much poise as I can muster, I stand up straight and tall, tossing
my chocolate brown ponytail off my shoulder in an act of defiance and
achievement. “No, no, I’m fine!  Really.  See?  Perfectly fine.”
    He looks amused by my showiness.  “You’re fine?  Nope.  Not buying it. 
Go ahead, try to walk.”  He stands with his hands on his hips and a smirk on
his face.  Those dimples make another appearance. 
    Maddy quickens to my side.  I grab her leash and lift my left injured
foot, no problem.  I place it gingerly on the sand and am completely satisfied
with my progress.  Now, the real challenge, in order to lift my right foot, I
have to put my weight on the injured foot.  I take a deep breath and shift my
weight, but before I can even get my foot off the ground, the ankle gives and I
find myself face-planted in the sand again!  Ughh!
    Immediately, he’s at my side shaking his head, chiding me like a child. 
“Now will you let me help?” he asks.
    “Looks like I don’t have much of a choice.  I’m kind of stuck here making
a fool of myself.”  I want to crawl up into a ball and close my eyes.  Maybe if
I do, he’ll be gone when I open them again.  Maybe I’m in so much pain, I’m
just hallucinating.
    “Here, let me help you up.”  He walks over and kneels beside me in the
sand.  Now I can see his eyes clearly and they twinkle in the morning
sunlight.  They are a beautiful shade of blue that match the surf and sky. 
This is no hallucination.  Gently, he removes bits of sand from my hair.  When
he reaches over to brush the sand from my face and his skin makes contact with
mine, I jump ever so slightly. 
    He looks confused all of a sudden.  His brows are knitted and he tilts
his head as if he’s trying to make sense of something.
    “I should probably introduce myself.  My name is Evan.  I think we met
briefly yesterday, I’m not sure if you remember me, but I think your dog
does.”  Maddy is eagerly trying to work her nose under his arm so he would be
forced to pet her.  Yup, Maddy remembers him.  Wait ... he remembers meeting me? 
Not what I expected to hear him say.
    “My name is Juliette, but you can call me Jette.  Thanks for coming to my
rescue, Evan.” 
    “How about you let me bring you up to the house and we can get some ice
on that ankle?  It’s important to ice it right away to avoid swelling.  I’ve
got ice packs in the freezer.”  He motions to the huge beach house right in
front of us.  I wonder if he’s the owner, a renter, or a contractor. 
Unfortunately, he’s wearing a pair of cargo shorts and a t-shirt, which reveal
nothing. 
    Now, I don’t watch a lot of television cop shows, but I’ve seen enough
that I know better than to allow a strange man bring me to his house.  That
house is huge and who knows if there are any neighbors close enough to hear me
scream.  He doesn’t look like a serial killer, but none of them ever do.  He
senses my trepidation and offers, “You can sit right on the deck in plain
sight.  I promise I won’t throw you into a well or anything.”
    I give a silent nod of acquiescence and before I can change my mind, he
lifts me into his arms and starts walking to the beach house.  He lifts me like
I’m as light as air and instinctively I wrap my arms around his neck.  I can’t
help but inhale his scent.  It’s a heady mix of body wash and testosterone.  A
slight shiver overtakes my body.
    “Are you okay?  Does it hurt a lot?” he asks with great concern.  Despite
his size, he’s remarkably gentle and charming.
    “No, it’s not too bad.  I’m just slightly mortified.”  I am truly feeling
humiliated.
    “Do I smell peppermint?”  He asks as he carries me