The Bride Spy Read Online Free PDF

stuck, she stopped suddenly, kicked at the ground in frustration, and then sank down on the snow.
    Wrapping her arms tightly around her knees, she burst into tears. She was tired, she was cold, and she didn’t know where the hel she was.

CHAPTER THREE

    Christopher reached her a few minutes later and knelt down in the snow beside her as he handed her his handkerchief.
    “Ta,” she whispered and then blew her nose.
    “Hannah, you’re safe here. No one wil harm you.”
    “The problem is that I don’t know where ‘here’ is. I was in Chicago looking at a painting of you and that’s al I remember. How is it possible that I got to Maryland this quickly, and how is it that you’re al dressed in such odd clothing?”
    He sat back on his heels and laid his hands on his thighs.
    “Odd clothing?”
    “Yes! You’re dressed like someone out of a Dickens novel.”
    Christopher chuckled quietly. “Ladies don’t general y dress as men, so perhaps it’s more accurate to say you are dressed oddly.”

    “I’m not dressed as a man!” Hannah insisted. “These are the very latest in Lucky jeans.”
    “Obviously not so lucky, since you ended up in my barn with a head injury.”
    “Oh, you’re a comedian, I see,” she retorted. “And I don’t have a head injury.”
    Christopher stood and held his hand out to her. “Hannah, come back to the house, please. There is nothing that you can do in the middle of a winter night. I wil assist you in the morning, I promise.”
    “Fine.” She stood and brushed her hands over her bottom.
    “Shoot!”
    “What’s amiss?”
    Hannah shivered, the cold sinking into her jeans, and let out a quiet groan. “My bum’s al wet.”
    He took her hand and placed it in his arm. “I’m sorry?”
    “I sat in the snow, and now my bottom’s wet.” His body stiffened, and she glanced up at him in confusion. He smiled, so she dismissed his reaction. “How did you know I would try to climb off the roof?”
    “It’s my job to think ahead of my opponent,” he said evasively.
    Her head whipped up. “I’m your opponent now?”
    “Perhaps not.” Chuckling, he turned his face to her.
    “Nevertheless, you are not someone to be underestimated.
    Is that an accurate assessment?”
    “Hmm…so, the whole ‘damsel in distress’ bit wouldn’t fly?”
    He began to lead her toward the house. “I highly doubt anyone would look at you as a damsel in distress, despite your size.”
    “My size?”
    Christopher smiled. “You’re tiny.”
    “I’m not that tiny!” She stood as tal as she could without going up on her toes. “Perhaps you view me that way because you’re a giant.”
    “A giant, you say?”
    “Yes, a ferocious one who preys on the tiny.” She made a clawing motion with her hands and he laughed.
    “I would rather be seen as the giant who saves the tiny.”
    She giggled. “Am I to be saved then?”

    He stopped and turned her toward him. Laying his hands gently on her shoulders, he stared down at her. She could see the earnestness in his gaze. “If you are ever in trouble, I wil save you.”
    A shiver of awareness sidled up her spine, and it made her nervous. Not of him, necessarily, but of the attraction to him.
    Butterflies began to host a party in her stomach—no, not butterflies--elephants.
    Great! Elephants are dancing on my intestines.

    She pul ed away and went for a sarcastic tone. “You’l be my knight in shining armor? Truly?”
    “You doubt my sincerity?” he asked in mock surprise.
    She placed her hand on her chest. “Absolutely not. Of course, if you’re going to rescue me from foibles, real or make-believe, perhaps you should have a superhero name.”
    He raised an eyebrow. “A new name?”
    “Yes. One that wil accurately describe your new role.”
    “Hm.” He gave a slight nod. “I wasn’t aware I would receive a new name and a new role.”

    “I wouldn’t have it any other way.” She tapped her pursed lips with her finger and then grinned.