Deadly Beginnings by Jaycee Clark Read Free Book Online Page B

you.”
    His eyes bore into hers. “I don’t want to leave you here, alone, far from everyone.”
    She licked her lips, her heart racing.
    She’d been a good girl all her life.
    All her life.
    For the first time, other than wishing her parents were alive, or wanting med school, she wanted something with everything in her. Wanted to be daring. And stupid. And rash.
    She started to ask him to stay, but he spoke first. “Come with, Kaitie. Come back with me so I know you’re safe.” He glanced above them. “And I know the roof won’t collapse on top of you.”
    Kaitlyn smiled, bit her lip and finally nodded. “Okay, Jock. I’ll come with you.”
    His grin lit his eyes. “Grab your things. Let’s go. Your place is cold.”
    She did as he asked and threw her things into her knapsack, not that she’d brought very much.
    “That’s it?” he asked, glancing around.
    “Well, and my purse.” And a book she’d bought at a bookstore.
    He tilted his head and looked at the knapsack, an old canvas one that had belonged to her father.
    “You, Kaitlyn . . .” His voice trailed off and he frowned.
    “O’Reilly.”
    “You, Kaitlyn O’Reilly, are not like any other woman I’ve ever met.”
    “I bet.” She slung her purse over her shoulder and followed him out the door and back to his car. Once there he helped her in. As he climbed in, he didn’t immediately start the car. He turned to her.
    “I don’t want you to feel like you have to come,” he said softly. “That wasn’t what I meant. I just don’t like the idea of you here alone. What if he—I can’t just—Damn.”
    Kaitlyn licked her lips. “I don’t . . . Well, it’s been a lovely day and I’m sure you have lots of things to do and I don’t want to impose—”
    He leaned over, his hand going behind her head to nudge her forward. “You are not imposing. I asked you to come with me.” He kissed her again.
    When they both came up for air, she thought that maybe she’d only have this one weekend. One weekend for something bright and beautiful.
    One weekend to feel special.
    To feel cherished.
    She pulled her bottom lip in and nibbled on it. Looking at him from beneath her lashes, she said, “Thank you. I don’t really want to be alone.”
    His eyes darkened, narrowed, then he nodded once and kissed her forehead.
    As they drove back down the curving road, he said, “I should warn you, Kaitie lass. I always get what I want. And right now, what I want most is you, but you just came out of a bad relationship and—”
    “We haven’t . . .” she blurted.
    “Haven’t?”
    Kaitlyn swallowed. “That is, we haven’t. Landon didn’t want . . . That is.” She took a deep breath. “Never mind.”
    She felt his eyes rake over her. “Ah. Haven’t. I knew the man was an idiot, I just didn’t have a clue how much of one he was. Well, no, it’s good he didn’t . . . you haven’t . . . Hell, never mind.”
    She was nervous, but maybe he was just a bit as well? Was she ready for this? With him?
    He was so careful with her.
    But she had always been a good girl and—
    “You can stay in the guest room. Or . . . wherever you want,” he told her as they rolled to a stop. “I’m a bastard for even mentioning it.”
    Taking a deep breath, she said, “No. No, you’re not. I want one bright, shining weekend.”
    Silence filled the car.
    She dared a look at him from under her lashes. He was staring at her. Kaitlyn couldn’t help it, she grinned. The bands around her chest eased as he grinned back and tapped her chin with his finger.
    “Bright, shining weekend? I’m pretty sure we won’t have a single problem with that, Kaitie. If it’s what you want, I’ll make sure you get it.”
    The wind had picked up along with the clouds. As they exited the car, Jock grabbed all the bags, her supplies, her knapsack, even her purse, plus a small sack of groceries they’d picked up for him.
    “Give me something,” she told him.
    He looked at her, ran his