Bound by Danger by Terry Spear Read Free Book Online Page B

Then, Deidre knew Charlie had unfinished business with her as he pulled out of the parking lot again. Why did Deidre worry so about him?
    Dave and she walked up the stairs to her apartment. Instantly, her usual reserve kicked in.
    He kissed her, holding her shoulders in a firm grip, pressing her to her door. His margarita-sweetened lips tasted like a bit of heaven, and she kissed him back. His hands shifted from her shoulders to her breasts. She smiled and quickly pulled his hands away.
    His mouth curved up a little. “Goodnight,” she said softly, not wanting to spoil the magic of the evening.
    She unlocked her door, and he stood waiting.
    “Listen,” he finally said, “a friend of mine has a boat, and I wondered if you’d like to spend the day with me at Lake Belton tomorrow.”
    “Later in the afternoon?”
    He nodded.
    “With Charlie?”
    “And his girlfriend, if you’d like.”
    She hadn’t wanted to spend another second in the company of Marilyn. “All right. Since it’s close to three in the morning, how about three in the afternoon—”
    “Good deal. But if Charlie and Marilyn don’t want to join us—”
    Deidre smiled. “Sure.”
    He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek quickly before she shut the door. “Pleasant dreams.”
    His key twisted in his own lock. “Yes!” he said with enthusiasm, making her chuckle as she closed her door.
    ***
    Dave hadn’t needed to visit Las Vegas to hit the jackpot. Deidre looked to be just the kind of woman he’d love to have on his team for the long haul. Was he nuts? Certainly. He knew so little about her, and yet he wanted to know everything…what fragrance perfumed her skin, what was her favorite color, hell, what made her angry and how could he make her happy again? He’d never been with a woman who stirred his loins like she did with just a flutter of her eyelashes and the seductive smile that tugged at her lips. Her shyness as she said goodnight totally amused him, making him want her that much more. In his wildest dreams, he couldn’t have found such an intriguing companion.
    But how would she view him once she found out why he really acted as her shadow? She didn’t like reporters, but when she knew how he and his team investigated her brother, would she be happy about that? No. Somehow he had to ensure he didn’t lose her in the process of unraveling the mystery with her brother.
    He loosened his tie, then yanked it off. His clothes still clung lightly to his damp skin from the workout he’d had with his dance partner. For the most part, he’d gotten away with his overzealous behavior, but he’d caught Marilyn’s eye a couple of times. She had that all-knowing look on her face like he’d taken his mission too far. He knew he had, only he kept telling himself his actions helped the operation. Besides, hadn’t Marilyn gone a little overboard with Charlie?
    Dave planned on having a word with her about her behavior with Deidre. Marilyn’s sparring with Deidre didn’t help their case one bit.
    Climbing into the shower, he pulled the lever to the cold setting to cool his heated blood. His thoughts shifted to his next plan…the lake and playing in the water with Deidre…alone this time.
    ***
    Deidre had been alone for so long. Having her brother move in temporarily, only to leave so soon with Miss-Whoever-She-Really-Was, disappointed Deidre. She’d really wanted to find out what he’d been doing all this time. She slipped into a short black satin chemise emblazoned with bright pink and yellow blossoms. She rarely wore the spaghetti-strapped nightie, as the skinny straps slipped off her shoulders in the middle of the night, exposing a breast or two. Being the light sleeper she was, anything would wake her, even something so inconsequential as the strap slipping.
    But tonight she wanted to feel the silkiness against her skin as she thought of Dave’s body working next to hers in their intimate dance. She pulled on a pair of black satin