Step Into My Parlor Read Online Free PDF Page B

at her own shadow, or had he gotten tied up with a crazy lady? He looked up to see a middle-aged man in a green Windbreaker giving them the once-over.
    "Wait here." Spider climbed out of the black Silverado and sauntered over to the man. "Something wrong, partner?"
    The man grinned and stuck out his hand. "You're Spider Webb, aren't you? Damn, I thought that was you. I'm Ed Ehrlich. The Oilers sure have missed having you in the lineup. Any chance you 'll be back?"
    Spider laughed and shook Ed's hand. "Not much chance." He talked with the man for a couple of minutes, then walked back to the truck and opened Anne 's door. "Nothing to worry about, sugar. He recognized me, not you. He's a football fan."
    He could see relief wash over her and color return to her delicate face. It ticked him off to know that her idiot of a husband had her so spooked that she almost freaked out when somebody just looked at her. She didn't deserve to have to hide out like an escaped convict.
    His gaze dropped to her hands, which were still cl utching the handle of her eel-skin briefcase. She'd been hauling that satchel around with her all day. His eyes narrowed. What did she have in there?
    "How could he have recognized you, sugar? You're a long way from home."
    "Yes, but you don't know my. . . you don't know him. One slip and he ’ ll find me. That robber last night—" she bit her lip "—if he abandoned my car somewhere and it was found, Preston would know I'm in Houston. And my purse. If he took the money and threw the purse away ... my identification ..."
    He took one of her hands in his. It was cold as an icicle. "Darlin,' don't worry about the car being found. I'd bet my last dime it went to a chop shop, got painted black, and is halfway to California by now. And your purse and ID are at the bottom of some dumpster with a ton of coffee grounds, chicken bones, and beer cans on top."
    "Do you really think so?"
    He smiled. "Trust me. I grew up around here, and I know all about the kind of scum that ripped you off last night. I know the way they operate. The scratch that hophead could make off a Jag could keep him high for a long time. He wouldn't pass up a sweet deal like that one."
    Anne's eyes widened. "He was on drugs?"
    "Higher than a kite. Come on. Let's go get you a nightgown." When she hesitated, he reached into the glove compartment, pulled out a pair of mirrored sunglasses, and perched them on her cute little nose. He also pulled out a billed cap endorsing a beer company. He beat the black cap on his thigh a couple of times and stuck it on her head. 'There," he said with a grin, "now even your grandmother wouldn't recognize you."
    She laughed and took the hand he offered to help her out of the truck. He noticed that she seemed more relaxed as they walked toward the store. He also noticed that she lugged the briefcase with her.
    With the help of a clerk, they started toward the lingerie section of the huge store. As they wound their way around gigantic stacks of hair spray and displays of corn chips, Anne remarked, "This is an interesting place. They certainly have everything in the world here, don't they?"
    He grinned down at the slender woman trotting beside him and slowed his stride. "Just about."
    While Anne looked through a stack of nightgowns. Spider plucked a slinky red one from a rack. She'd look sexy as hell in it. W ith the lace cups hugging her breasts and the tiny straps showing off her soft skin. Slit up one side and sheer enough to tease the treasure it covered, it was a gown that begged a man to take it off. Just thinking about her dressed in it made desire curl in his stomach. "How about this one?" he asked, holding it up and fanning out the transparent skirt.
    She gave him a quelling glance over the top of the aviator glasses, which had slipped to the tip of her nose. "How about this one instead?" She shook out a flannel granny gown and held the long white garment up to herself.
    She was married, Spider reminded himself.