Tempted in the Night Read Online Free PDF Page A

work through the tangles in her hair, John focused his attention on the area through which they were driving. On one side of the road were open fields, and on the other were trees so thick and tall, it was hard to see what lay beyond them. Somewhere in those trees was a driveway, and John slowed the car so he wouldn't miss it.
    In the past year, John had been to Admiral Winslow's mansion only once—and he'd been expected. This time, however, he didn't want to give anyone a chance to prepare for his visit. The time for secrets was well past.
    Taking the turnoff, John drove up the long driveway. The trees on either side thinned, and it was possible to make out the large two-story mansion up ahead. The setting sun shone like a bright orange ball, backlighting the home so that the front was cast into dark shadows broken only by the warm glow coming through the front windows.
    Even before he pulled to a stop and shut off the engine, the door opened and two men, one with dark hair, the other with blond, stepped outside.
    If John hadn't already known that Mac Knight and Dirk Adams were once Navy SEALs , it would have been an easy guess. Both were in peak physical condition and carried themselves with the air of quiet confidence and controlled power only years of stringent military training can give a man.
    "Hey, John. What's up?" Dirk came forward to shake John's hand as he stepped from the car.
    "Dirk. Mac. Hope I'm not catching you at a bad time." John walked around the car to open the passenger door, pausing once along the way to shake Mac's outstretched hand. "Let's go," he said quietly to Jessica.
    "No, we're good," Mac assured him, his gaze drifting to the car door.
    "Is the admiral home?" John asked Mac while wondering what was taking his passenger so long to get out of the car. He glanced at her and saw the stubborn set of her jaw. She clearly had no intention of getting out, so he leaned inside, putting his face close to hers. "Get out of the damn car, now," he growled softly. "If you don't, I promise that I will haul you out."
    Just a few more minutes, he told himself, leashing in his temper. If he was right about her being related to the admiral, then it was only a matter of minutes before he was free of her. He saw her gaze shift to the mansion and, behind the defiance, flashed a spark of something else. Fear? Uncertainty? John tried to be sympathetic. "This isn't another mental institution."
    Her gaze cut to him. "And I should trust you because … ?"
    His sympathy evaporated. "I can always take you back if that's what you prefer."
    "John, this is a surprise." Admiral Winslow's loud voice interrupted from the doorway of the mansion.
    "Hello, Admiral. I brought someone to meet you. Jessica, say hello to Admiral Charles Winslow."
    John saw the minute the name registered with her. "Charles?" She gave John a curious look and then slid out of the car, ignoring his proffered hand as she moved past him.
    "Jessica?" The admiral sounded both pleased and surprised. "We were expecting you two nights ago. I tried calling Gerard when you didn't arrive, but he wasn't home." He hurried forward, glancing at John as he enfolded Jessica in his arms. "We've been worried."
    "I take it you
do
know her?" John asked, watching them.
    "Yes; she's my cousin's daughter from England ," the admiral replied before turning to Jessica. "Are you all right? You look a mess. What's going on here?"
    Standing tucked against the admiral's side, she glared at John. "I would have been here sooner, but for the last two days, I've been locked in a hospital for the criminally insane—compliments of Detective Boehler ."
    "What?" The admiral sounded aghast and three sets of protective male eyes turned on John.
    He reluctantly gave her credit for twisting the story in such a way that he came out the bad guy. "I think you should tell them the rest of it."
    She opened her eyes a little wider, all innocence and sweetness. "Oh, you mean the part about how you threw me