Awaken to Danger by Catherine Mann Read Free Book Online Page A

insisted tissues were more sanitary than a cloth holding
    germs. And was this stuffy nose cosmic justice for lying to her mom about having a cold last week?
    She tugged the door open. Rather than "concerned Mama," she found "pissed-off hunky flyboy." Her
    fingers fisted around the handkerchief, tucking her thumb to hide the telltale corner peeking out.
    Carson gripped the door frame, his sensuous lower lip pulling tight. "You're okay."
    "You don't have to sound so mad about it."
    His hand slid from the frame and before she could blink— or head back into her apartment away from
    temptation—he hauled her to his chest. "Jesus, Nikki, you could have died. I damn near had a heart
    attack when command post patched through an inflight call about this."
    Hunky, awesome-smelling flyboy, who'd raced straight over after a flight just for her. Muscle, leather and
    all that concern made for a heady sensory combination, especially when she was already susceptible to
    this man. Her body obviously wasn't near as smart as her mind.
    But her will was stronger. She edged her shoulders free, stepping back without meeting his eyes. "I
    landed in the pool." What was she doing staring at her bare feet beside his boots? She forced her gaze up
    to meet his full on, no flinching.
    His hand gravitated to her damp hair. "How long ago did it happen if your hair's wet?"
    She held still under his touch, the heat of his fingers steaming her skin from a simple brush of his knuckles
    across her cheek. Better to let him think the water was from her impromptu swim than mention she was
    naked in the tub sixty seconds ago. "Why did they call you?"
    His hand fell away. "Your mother phoned my secretary at the squadron to track me down. She wanted
    me to check on you since her doctor has her on bed rest."
    "Figures." Where was Chris when she needed him? "You'd think I was still in college."
    "I think you're lucky to have a family who cares. Was she a little intrusive? Maybe. But I don't see her
    here hovering."
    "You're right. I am lucky, and I don't mean to sound like a brat."
    She might not want a relationship with him anymore, but her ego still nudged her to be careful. They were
    inching toward dangerous—tempting—territory every time they spoke.
    He strode past. She grabbed the door frame to support her suddenly shaky knees.
    She watched him saunter into her apartment, a place he'd never stepped inside before. Seven months ago
    she'd been finishing up at UNC. Their one night together had been at his place, a beach community
    bungalow he'd bought from another military family when they'd moved.
    She wondered what he thought of her bargain-basement Pier 1 knockoffs and the scattered plants she'd
    grafted from her mother's garden in an attempt to fill corners she couldn't afford to decorate.
    Why was she thinking about appearances now when she'd never cared about material things before? If
    Carson Hunt— obviously from wealth—was only impressed by a price tag, then she was well rid of him.
    He stopped short in front of her class's latest history project. "What the hell is this?"
    She laughed and damn it felt good, almost as good as the rush because he'd noticed her most prized
    possession in the whole place. Her students had crafted the towering project which made it worth gold to
    her. Nikki walked deeper into the apartment, surreptitiously hiding the used handkerchief under a throw
    pillow until she could wash it.
    Nikki tugged a tissue from the end table on her way to the six-foot-high papier-mâché creation she'd
    brought home from school strapped into the back of her Ford Ranger. "It's a sarcophagus."
    "Ohhh-kay." Hands hooked in the pockets of his leather flight jacket, he studied the psychedelic coffin
    propped against the island counter separating the small kitchen from the rest of the dining area. "While I
    don't claim to be an interior design expert, why do you have one in your dining room?"
    She ambled closer, determined not to bemoan the fact