A Little Harmless Ride by Melissa Schroeder Read Free Book Online Page B

remember when anyone, even Joe, got up earlier than he did. Eli was accustomed to spending time alone in the mornings.
    “ Yes, everyone’s been great. So far. It’s been less than twenty-four hours.”
    She laughed, the sound of it drifting back to him and it had his heart doing a little two-step. Damn, the woman was a delight. He had labeled her off limits, which usually worked for him, but there was something about her that broke through those barriers. He wanted to know more about her. He could try and convince himself it was because they were partners or that she had been important to Joe.
    Eli just didn’t believe in lying to himself.
    “ No, I don’t think it would have been a good idea to ride yesterday. I was sort of tired. I met all the hands though.”
    She was quiet and he knew Ham was probably talking. Since she was preoccupied with her father, Eli leaned against the doorjamb and watched her.
    Joe had told him she was a looker the first time he’d been over on the mainland to meet her. Eli had seen the pictures, but now he knew what Joe talked about. She was pretty. He didn’t think there was anyone who would argue with that. But it went beyond good genes. Even with everything she had been through the last few years, she still glowed with happiness.
    “ No, nothing else has happened.”
    Ah, so girlie wasn’t going to tell her father about her Uncle Sam’s appearance. He didn’t blame her, but it was good to know. If Ham called him, which he knew her father would, he wanted to make sure he knew what to reveal.
    “ Ashton called? Why would he call you?”
    Ashton ?
    “ I have no idea why he would call after all these months. I didn’t notice any missed calls yesterday.”
    Another long period of silence.
    “ Well, it’s good the cheating bastard is there and not here. I think Joe has a great collection of guns for me to use.”
    She laughed.
    “ I promise not to shoot him. I’ve got to go. Besides, Eli’s been standing behind me eavesdropping for the last five minutes.”
    She smiled over her shoulder at him. “Haven’t ya, cowboy?”
    For a second—okay maybe two—his brain stuttered to a stop. Her sweet southern voice rolled over the words. He wanted to walk to her and kiss that sassy smile off her lips. Instead, he tipped his head then walked over to the coffee pot.
    “ I’m not being mean to Eli. And that’s a fine how do you do that you’re worried about his feelings.”
    She laughed again.
    “ Sure. Talk to you later, love you.”
    She hung up.
    “ So, get an earful, Elias?” she asked, her tone teasing, even flirtatious.
    “ Sure. Especially picked up on the whole not telling your father about Sam, too.”
    She sighed. “Nothing’s changed and he’s already worried about me. If something else happens, I’ll let him know.”
    Eli knew she was telling the truth. She might have hidden yesterday’s altercation with her uncle, but she would tell him eventually.
    “ Do you tell your father everything? You seem really close.”
    She shrugged as she poured herself some more coffee. “I guess so.”
    “ Including your membership to BDSM clubs?”
    He hadn’t mentioned anything about it since the other day nor had she. She leaned a hip against the counter and studied him over her coffee cup.
    “ No. I’m sure he has some kind of idea of my…tastes. It’s not something a Daddy wants to discuss with his little girl.”
    “ And Ashton?”
    Her smile faded. “No one in particular.”
    “ If you’re avoiding someone and he followed you here, I need to know.”
    She gave him a strange look. “You think he would follow me here? Believe me, that’s not going to happen.”
    “ I’m assuming this is the ex. Joe wanted to hunt him down and castrate him.”
    She chuckled. “God, I miss Uncle Joe.”
    She said nothing else. He knew he was showing his hand but he couldn’t keep from asking, “Well?”
    She blinked those big blue eyes at him. “Well, what?”
    He had a feeling