Shadows of the Past Read Online Free PDF

little girl, “but I would appreciate the ride to my Jeep.”
    “I’m off duty, unless something comes up and I’m called back. Just give me a minute to change.”
    “All right.” She managed a tiny smile before he left the room.
    Her phone buzzed again, and she remembered her text messages. Crap . She pulled her phone out and saw several from Jamie and Fallon.
    With a sigh, she texted them both back and told them she was coming but was delayed.
    Her phone rang almost immediately, and she answered Fallon ’s call. “Hi. Sorry. I’ll be there soon.”
    “Why is your car abandoned on the side of the damned road?” Fallon was ticked, and rightfully so.
    “Uh, one of the policemen had a bad day,” she muttered sheepishly. “He brought me down to the station because I was going eighty in a forty.” Feeling stupid, she sighed. “I just wasn’t thinking, and before you start, I wasn’t rude to him.”
    “Stop, I know who you’re talking about,” Fallon sneered. “Simons caught his wife cheating. He probably saw your purple hair and thought you might be related to the little skeezeball. You look nothing like that little shit, though.”
    “Oh, okay.” Amethyst shook her head. It wasn’t a surprise that some people didn’t like anyone different. “Sheriff Hunter is taking me back to my car.”
    “And escorting you to the bar,” he said mildly.
    Her eyes narrowed, and she pursed her lips. She didn’t need him taking her anywhere. “That’s totally unnecessary.”
    “May I?” He held his hand out for the phone, and she gave it to him with a scowl. His mouth twisted into a grin. He told Fallon, “I’ll bring her to the bar as well. I’ll make sure she gets to your place if she leaves before you do. I’ll even help her bring her things up to her apartment.”
    He paused and nodded, but amusement danced in his eyes . That made her wonder.
    His smile was warm. “Don’t worry. I just want to make sure Simons’ welcome to town hasn’t rattled her too badly. She is extremely nervous.”
    There was only kindness and protectiveness in his gaze and tone. The jerk , but then she realized that wasn’t fair. Why should he want someone like her? Crap, Fallon had probably already warned him. Not to mention that she was just a baby in comparison to the big delicious sheriff.
    His deep, warm voice snapped her out of her thoughts. “We’ll be there soon.”
    He handed the phone back to her before locking his firearm in the desk.
    Amethyst finally let her eyes graze over his big body. He was scrumptious in his boot cut jeans that hugged those long powerful thighs. His worn t-shirt molded over his very impressive abs, sculpted chest and she couldn’t forget his big bulgy arms. Hayden didn’t look like a steroid junky, but he was powerfully built, with each muscle well defined.
    She just wanted to trace every ridge with her tongue. No, no I don’t , or so she told herself.
    Devouring his appearance was a bad idea and she knew it. He was not on her menu. Heck, she was fasting, and he was like an eight course meal with something spectacularly sweet and tempting for dessert.
    Right, she needed to get off the phone and to get going. “See you soon, Fallon.” She couldn’t keep the irritation out of her tone, so she hung up before Fallon could reply.
    “Come on. I’ll let you sit in the front seat, no cuffs involved.” He winked, and there was just a hint of something dark and salacious in his gaze.
    She swallowed her first snarky remark and followed him to a giant SUV. “Does it need to be so big?” She knew she blushed when she glanced back at him. It didn’t just go for the truck.
    His wolfish grin left her feeling all shivery . “Here.” He opened the door, picked her up, much too easily, and sat her inside.
    “You didn’t need to do that.” Her voice squeaked .
    She could feel his chuckle dance over her like an invitation. “You look nervous, and I don’t want to keep Fallon waiting. I’m