The Dangerous Gift Read Online Free PDF

get out of here. Can’t say I blame you. Funerals aren’t my gig, either.” An unfamiliar deep, soft voice halted her self-flagellation and jolted Jennie back to reality.
    Jennie opened her eyes and sat straighter in her chair. She smoothed the skirt of her lace dress down her thighs. Under his gaze, it seemed too short. “Attendance is mandatory. A mark of respect. It’s expected,” she replied automatically.
    The man with the deep voice took her reply as an invitation to sit down. Handsome in an urbane way, his artfully arranged floppy blond hair complemented his aquiline nose and hard mouth. Jennie couldn’t see his eyes, because he hadn’t looked directly at her. Her confused mind registered that he couldn’t match Jared’s rugged, muscular beauty, but he still scored high in the eye-candy department. Still smarting from her disagreement with Jared, she smiled.
    “Hi, I’m Jennie. I don’t think we’ve met before.”
    “Ryder James from the Pegasus Ranch. Jared’s neighbour.”
    Realization dawned. Jared wasn’t lying about his relationship with Darleen. Jennie sighed and smiled as she sought confirmation of her suspicions. “I caught a glimpse of your wife a little while ago in Jared’s office. Shouldn’t you be with her rather than flirting with me?”
    Ryder shook his head and laughed. “I don’t have a wife. If you mean Darleen, she’s my twin sister. It’s no surprise she caught up with Jared. Those two are inseparable.”
    The innuendo behind Ryder’s remark hit home and made the blood drain from Jennie’s face. She was the fool again. Jared had lied to her after all. Perhaps he’d kept his true feelings for Darleen secret because they were mutual? “I didn’t stay to find out.”
    Ryder’s gaze swept over her. “Wise move. Let’s take a walk and put the color back in your cheeks.”
    Jennie allowed him to pull her from her seat. “I could do with a change of scenery.”
    They’d made it halfway down the porch steps before Jared’s voice interrupted them. “I thought you wanted this.”
    Jennie ignored him. She didn’t owe him an explanation. Jared expected her to wait whilst he fetched her water, not leave the wake and him with his attractive neighbour. Jennie wanted to get back at Jared for his kiss with Darleen. She stumbled on the steps and tumbled down them, her defiant exit ruined.
    “Hell. Jen, are you okay?” Jared rushed towards her. Quicker, Ryder scooped her huddled form into his arms and stood in a single seamless movement. She prayed her stomach wouldn’t revolt and cover her rescuer in cognac.
    Jared’s concerned expression mitigated the pain from her rapidly swelling ankle. He must care. “This way, take her to the office. It’s quieter there.”
    Following Jared, Ryder bent his head, his lips inches from hers. “You took a nasty tumble.”
    Jennie breathed in his clean, fresh, masculine scent and the hint of expensive cologne. She waited for her battered body to react. It didn’t, not a spark of arousal. No one affected her like Jared did, no matter how attractive the package. “I’m fine, except for acute embarrassment at my clumsiness.”
    “Shouldn’t worry, no one will think you’re clumsy. Drunk, maybe.” Jennie’s head snapped up in alarm as Ryder’s words resonated. “Joking, Jennie. You’re so easy to wind up.”
    “Very funny.” Jennie blushed as Ryder laid her on the welcome softness of the old leather couch in Jared’s office.
    “Looks like you’ll need ice for that swollen ankle.” Ryder stepped back from the couch.
    “The utility room, in the small freezer.” Jared’s brusque voice made it more of an order than a request.
    “Right, I’m on it.” Ryder sent an angry look Jared’s way before turning to leave.
    “Thanks, Ryder.” Jennie stared at Jared, shocked by his rudeness.
    Alone, Jared knelt at the side of the couch. She winced as he manipulated her damaged ankle. “I don’t think you’ve broken it. I didn’t