Do Not Disturb by Christie Ridgway Read Free Book Online Page A

her shoulders to push her toward the wooden sign that depicted the “Tranquility House Tenets.”
    Perhaps she couldn’t believe her eyes, because she spoke the painted words out loud. “‘Please respect nature’s noise. No radios. No TVs. No phones.’” Her head whipped around to stare at him as she read out the last rule. “‘No talking ’?”
    He only smiled in response.
    It was either her surprise or his smile that kept her quiet until he got her into her cottage. That’s when the fun really started. After showing her in, then shoving her stuff over the threshold, he stepped inside and shut the door behind him.
    He watched as her gaze roamed over the unadorned white walls, the simple woodburning stove, the stack of wood beside it, the narrow bed made up with white sheets and a gray wool blanket. One pillow.
    Several silent moments went by. Finally, she looked at him, her expression full of hope. “The magazine will pay for a room upgrade,” she tried.
    He shook his head.
    â€œThis is all there is?”
    He nodded.
    â€œNo salon services?.”
    He shook his head again.
    â€œAnd I…and I can’t say anything to anyone?”
    She looked so dejected it was hard to keep a straight face. “Not in the common building or on the grounds of the retreat. But you’re free to speak in the confines of your own cabin.”
    â€œRetreat.” She rolled the word in her mouth as if she’d never heard it before. “This isn’t a resort, it’s a retreat .”
    He tried not to laugh. “Right. Definitely not a resort.”
    She narrowed her eyes. “Hey, you’re enjoying this.”
    Immensely. It meant that all his worries were for nothing. No doubt the spartan atmosphere would send her hightailing it for home, tomorrow probably, or at the very least she’d hie herself to some resort that would keep her at a safe distance from his family and from him.
    Still, he made an effort to wipe the smugness from his face. “Don’t worry, all is not lost,” he said, crossing to the tiny closet to pull open its door.
    From the top shelf he snagged something, handing itto her as if it were a special prize. “Your extra pillow, Ms. Buchanan,” he said solemnly. “Accept this as your official welcome to Tranquility House. And please don’t hesitate to call on me if I can assist with any of your other needs.”
    Her eyes narrowed on him again. There was something on her face; speculation, maybe. Or maybe it was sex, because suddenly he replayed what he’d just said— call on me if I can assist with any of your other needs .
    Damn. Though it was surprising the hell out of him after all this time, the one with needs was him. His blood moved heavily toward his groin while his brain went off on its own, fantasizing an image of her on the bed, that angel hair spread across the first pillow, the second shoved beneath her naked hips. He saw his mouth trailing from the pulse at her throat down to—
    â€œYou know, there’s something about you…” Speculation filled her voice.
    Yes, it was definitely speculation, not sex, and it chilled his blood and slowed his heartbeat and probably saved him to see another day.
    â€œI’ll be going now,” he said, quelling the worry that she’d recognize him by reminding himself he was about to get rid of her. “Though there’s just a few more things…”
    â€œTomorrow’s menu?”
    Poor kid was still thinking resort. “Meals are served in the community building. It’s the largest one and you should have no trouble finding it. But I’m afraid Judd handles all the culinary details, so I don’t know what’s being served.”
    She sighed, her expression glum. “Okay. I can take it as it comes.”
    He cleared his throat. “Well, speaking of, uh, taking…Tranquility House has an ironclad