Deadly Desperados by Lily Harper Hart Read Free Book Online Page A

know you like to drag these games out – and I generally enjoy it, too – you rise with the sun on a farm.”
    Ally furrowed her brow. “Are you telling me you’re going to be quick on the draw tonight, pardner?”
    “You know they don’t talk like that around here, right? Don’t say anything like that to anyone else. They might not find you as cute as I do … and, just for the record, no man wants to be accused of being quick on the draw.”
    “It sounds to me like you want to fire all your rounds before I even get my gun out,” Ally said, adopting a thick southern drawl.
    “Oh, yeah?” Jake grabbed Ally’s waist, flipping her over so he was on top of her. “I’ll show you how quick I am,” he muttered, sucking her bottom lip into his mouth. “I’m going to torture you all night tonight, Angel. I don’t want to hear one complaint about how tired you are tomorrow morning. Do you understand?”
    “That sounds mighty agreeable to me, pardner,” Ally shot back, screeching as Jake proceeded to tickle her ribs. “You’d best dust your spurs off and get your boots to knocking, because I’ve got big plans for you tonight.”
    “You’d better get in line,” Jake challenged. “You have no idea what I’m about to do to you.”

Six
    Jake woke the next morning to someone banging on the cabin door. He shifted to his side, glancing at the window to find it was still dark. He hopped out of bed, grabbing his boxer shorts from the floor and sliding into them as he moved to the door. Ben waited on the other side.
    “I’m sorry to wake you so early,” Ben said, hopping from one foot to the other. “It’s just … the police are down on the eastern ridge of the property. They found a body on the other side of our fence.”
    Jake’s mind was still muddled from sleep. “I don’t understand. If the body was found on the other side of the fence that means it wasn’t found on your property. Do you know who it is?”
    “No,” Ben said, shaking his head. “They sent a deputy to get me. They want me to go down there and look things over. I figured you’d want to go with me.”
    “I do,” Jake said, dragging his hand through his hair as he tried to collect himself. “I need to throw some clothes on and make sure Ally knows where I’m going. Go and wake James up. He’s going to want to go, too. Just … be careful to knock. They have a tendency to sleep naked and James’ sense of humor regarding other people seeing his wife naked isn’t much to write home about.”
    Ben offered his nephew a half-hearted chuckle. “I don’t blame him. I … are you sure you want me to wake him up?”
    “He’s going to want to see the scene,” Jake answered. “He’s a visual guy. He’ll be fine. Give me ten minutes to get dressed. I’ll meet you out front then.”
    Ben nodded curtly and left the cabin. Jake closed the door, shifting to find Ally sitting up in bed with the sheet clutched to her chest.
    “What’s going on?”
    “Uncle Ben says the police just woke him up,” Jake explained, moving toward Ally. “They found a body next to his fence on the eastern side of the property. He doesn’t know who it is, but he wants me to go with him.”
    “Okay … .” Ally was still confused from heavy slumber. “Give me a second to get dressed.”
    “No, I want you to stay here in bed, Angel,” Jake said, leaning over so he could kiss her forehead. “You can get another hour of sleep. I’ll be back in time to take you to breakfast up at the main house.”
    “I can go with you,” Ally offered.
    “I would feel better if you stayed here and didn’t see the dead body at the crack of dawn,” Jake countered. “Stay here. Stay warm. I’ll see you in a little bit.” Jake kissed her forehead again once she settled back against the pillows. “I like the idea of you being naked and waiting for me.”
    “Okay.” Ally stifled a yawn. “I … .” She was already drifting off.
    “I love you, Angel,” Jake