The Eligible Suspect Read Online Free PDF Page A

ignored Korbin’s appreciation of the close-fitting material, a floral-patterned white thermal top and matching tights.
    He was in wet jeans.
    “Would you like me to dry those?” she asked.
    “Sure.”
    She looked up at him watching her. “I’ll show you to the guest room.” Turning, she led him into the living room, seeing how he missed no detail. Upstairs, they passed her loft and went down a hallway.
    At the first door, across from a full bathroom, she stopped and flipped on the light switch. Lamps on each side of the bed illuminated tan walls and the cushiony white comforter with soft green throw pillows. Sheer drapes hung parted over two windows on each side and a dark square iron decoration in a sun-like shape hung above the bed.
    When he nodded his thanks with one more sweep of his gaze over her thermal underwear, she closed the door and went to her master bedroom, this one bigger. Although the walls were the same color, a painting of a mountain meadow in fall hung above a king-size bed covered in reds and yellows, and there was a balcony where she planned to do a lot of reading in the summer. Going into her oversize walk-in closet, she changed into some spandex pants and a flannel shirt. Leaving her room, she passed his still-closed door and went back downstairs to wait for him, unable to explain her sense of foreboding.
    In her large kitchen, she went to the phone stand and looked up her neighbor’s number. There was no cell service up here.
    Holding the phone to her ear, she walked into the living room while the phone rang a few times. Then Hurley answered.
    “It’s Savanna.”
    “Are you okay?” he asked.
    “Yeah.” At least, she hoped so. She glanced up to the railing that exposed the loft and hallway and the still-closed guest room door.
    “It’s snowing pretty good out there,” he said.
    “Yes. A man got stuck on my road. He told me that he was on his way to that cabin across from your lodge. Have you heard anything about that?”
    “No. Chavis keeps to himself. I’ve only met him a few times. Why? Are you worried?”
    “No.” She relaxed a little. Korbin had said the man’s name was Chavis.
    “How did he end up at your place?”
    “He took a wrong turn and got stuck on my road. I didn’t have it plowed.”
    “I bet you aren’t happy about that.”
    Hurley knew her well enough to know she liked her isolation. Most people who lived up here did. They weren’t city folks.
    “I’ll manage.” She looked out the gabled window. Heavy snow falling under outdoor lights didn’t have the comfort value it had before she spotted the truck on her road.
    “You sure you’re okay? Robert and I can ride over on snowmobiles. You can stay the night here.”
    “No.” Savanna felt trapped in other people’s houses, and she’d especially feel that way now. “I’ll be all right.”
    “If you’re sure...”
    “I’m sure. He’s harmless enough.”
    “All right, then. I’ll call Mike and have him out there first thing tomorrow morning to plow your road.”
    “You’re too good to me.”
    “I’m a phone call away, Savanna.”
    She smiled. “I know. Thanks, Hurley.” He was about ten years older than her and married to a sweet woman who cooked with the skill of an executive chef.
    Hanging up the phone, she put the handset down on a side table next to the sofa. Straightening, she turned and her body jolted. Korbin stood there. She hadn’t heard him come down the stairs.
    He’d changed into a long-sleeved soft-gray henley and distressed denim jeans. His feet were bare. Back up at his face, she was drawn into his ghost-gray eyes. Messy, thick black hair was cut to about an inch and a half, and stubble peppered his jaw. He had an unnerving way about him. More than his size, an eerie mystery shrouded him.
    “Feel better now that you’ve checked up on me?” he asked.
    Was he insulted? No. She saw that he was teasing her.
    “I promise I won’t bite,” he said.
    “Okay, but I might.”