Bound To Love by Sally Clements Read Free Book Online Page A

in.’
    ‘Look before I leap, yes. I know. But he was in trouble, Skye. You know I can’t just leave someone who’s in trouble. And you know why.’
    Skye’s anger faded. She nodded, and her arms dropped to her sides. ‘I don’t like it, but I understand it.’
    Skye filled a basin with water, pulled a hank off the roll of cotton wool she’d left on the table, and added disinfectant to the water. She picked up Tempest’s aching foot and cradled it in her lap.
    ‘This is going to sting a little.’
    The mother of all understatements.
    Tempest winced, and bit down on her bottom lip. The disinfectant hurt like hell. The kitchen door creaked open, and Jake walked in, shooting rapid-fire words into his mobile.
    ‘The men who snatched us are John Alton and Bill Merton.’ Jake read details from the driving licenses they’d taken on the island. ‘Bill confirmed they work for Paul Grey, my business partner. Make that my ex -business partner.’
    A muscle twitched in his clenched jaw and his fingers formed a fist at his side. He looked strong and dangerous. Tempest was glad she was on his side. God help his enemies.
    ‘Paul is with my mother now. I need to get to her.’ He listened to the detective’s response and didn’t like it, if his body language was any indication. ‘No,’ he continued, adamant. ‘I can’t just stay put.’
    A muscle twitched in the corner of Jake’s jaw. It was clear he was being forced to agree to something. Something that stuck in his craw.
    ‘Fine. Here’s Daniel.’
    Jake thrust the phone at Daniel and started pacing.
    ‘What’s going on?’ Tempest asked.
    ‘He says it’s too dangerous. Right now, Paul doesn’t know we’ve escaped. But if I turn up at my mother’s, I’ll tip them off. Things could get ugly.’
    Daniel finished the call and sat down at the table.
    ‘Philip is sending a team to pick the goons up from the island. Two undercover guys will stake out your mother’s apartment. He’ll report back as soon as he has anything.’
    Skye had finished smearing antiseptic cream onto Tempest’s cut feet. She bandaged them and eased on a pair of soft bedsocks, then emptied away the bowlful of blood-tinged water.
    She turned to Jake, sympathy in her eyes. ‘Do you want a quick shower, Jake? I’ve a casserole heating.’
    ‘I’ll get you some clean clothes.’ Daniel offered.
    ‘Great, thanks,’ Jake said, and followed Daniel out of the room.
    ‘I need to get something from the cottage.’ Tempest struggled to her feet, but her sister shook her head determinedly.
    ‘I’ll go get it. Your feet are a mess, and it’s cold and dark out there.’ Skye pulled on her Wellington boots, snagged a torch from the dresser and pushed the door open. ‘What is it you want?’
    ‘The maple box.’
    ****
    Jake stepped under the powerful jets of hot water and closed his eyes, leaning against the shower wall for support. It had been a hellish couple of days. His body relaxed under the water’s onslaught, but his mind worried over the details.
    Tempest .
    She was such an impulsive wildcat, diving in to help him, not once but twice. Could she be involved somehow? He didn’t want to believe it, but doubt ate away at him. He squeezed a handful of lemon scented shampoo from the bottle on the shower rack, and rubbed it through his hair, then leant back to let the water flow down his chest.
    When he’d come back into the kitchen and seen her sitting with her sister bathing her feet in the warm water, a rush of concern had taken his breath away. An echo of the time he first held her body steady and gazed into those blue eyes at the museum.
    They were the most extraordinary eyes he’d ever seen. Blue like the flowers which sprung up everywhere in his mother’s rooftop garden. What did she call them? Cupid’s Dart? His mouth twisted. Cupid might very well have winged him, but it wasn’t a direct hit. He barely knew Tempest and she was altogether too feisty for his tastes, the woman