Bea by Peggy Webb Read Free Book Online

bite after only two weeks of playing catch in the pasture at twilight. And finally, Lurlene.
    “Russ?” Bea said. He didn’t seem to hear her. She put her hand on his cheek. “Russ? Are you all right?”
    He mentally shook himself. Because he was still holding her hand against his face, and because he didn’t want her to get the wrong idea—or any ideas at all—he put on a performance. Bending at the waist like a British fop, he planted an exaggerated kiss in her palm. Then he gave her a broad wink.
    “The thought of harm coming to even one hair on your head fills me with woe. Let one drop of blood ooze from your lily white skin, and I tremble with fear.”
    “I deserve every bit of your undying devotion.”
    He straightened up and grinned at her.
    “You do?”
    “Certainly I do. I’m paying for it.”
    He started laughing, and she joined him.
    “What did I tell you?” he said. “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf.”
    “I’m the one who said that.”
    “At least you got something right.” Without thinking about his actions or their consequences, he scooped her into his arms and carried her to the truck. She allowed that, too.
    “Tell me if this is going to be a ravishment. I need to powder my nose.”
    “It’s not your nose I’m worried about. It’s your foot.” He plumped her inside the truck and sat down beside her.
    “You’re worried?”
    “If anything happens to you, I won’t get paid.”
    “You’re mercenary right down to the cockles of your cold heart.”
    “Guilty. Now take off that boot.”
    “I thought ravishments usually started with the blouse.”
    She gave him a look that would have melted a suit of armor. It was deliciously sexy and totally uncontrived. He was certain of that. He was equally certain she was unaware of what she had done.
    Suddenly all the repartee between them took on new dimensions. He was amazed to realize that on that deserted mountain road in the tight confines of his pickup truck, the idea of making love to her didn’t seem so absurd.
    He must be losing his mind.
    Without a word, he reached for her leg, and was surprised out of his socks that she didn’t kick him in the face. What other surprises did Bea Adams have in store?
    Russ peeled off her boot and put her foot in his lap. It was slim and small, much smaller than he would have expected for such a tall woman.
    “Why are you doing this, Russ? I’ve done nothing but sling insults your way.”
    “I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you. Life’s more interesting when you’re around.”

Chapter Four
    With her foot resting in his lap, Bea could no longer dismiss Russ as a lazy rambling man. He was witty, intelligent, complex and extraordinarily appealing.
    The appealing part was almost her undoing.
    “It’s just a small cut,” she said. “I don’t think it’s fatal.”
    “The skin is broken and there’s swelling.”
    “It’s only a toe.”
    “A toe is part of the body. Don’t you know infection can spread?”
    The heat of his hands on her leg was spreading all the way to Virginia. Oh, help. If she could get a signal on her iPhone, she’d be sending up distress signals to her friends, right and left. Janet would set her straight, Clemmie would make her feel better and Cat would take her mind off Russ. Of course, Molly and Joanna and Belinda would encourage her to dive right in, to chase this delicious looking man till he caught her.
    “Bea? Did you hear what I said?”
    Dang, he was going to see right through her. She swatted his hand off her leg.
    “I’ll take care of it tomorrow, when I get home.”
    “Bea, if you think this is a ploy to see your legs, you’re wrong.” His face was fierce and his eyes were intensely blue as he leaned closer to her. “I’m not interested in your legs or any other part of your beautiful body. We made a business deal, and this is business. I plan to deliver you to Florence in one piece.” He released her leg and stepped out of the truck. Before he