Escaping Love by Debra Smith Read Free Book Online

mind.”
    Everything was the same. Jesse still detested meat , and Clara still tried to get her to eat it.
    “Don’t worry, I stopped at the store in Casper and grabbed what I needed. Lord knows, your definition of a vegetable is different than mine.”
    “Thank goodness.” Alex’s face turned a pretty pink. “I mean that I’ve been craving some fresh fruit and veggies.”
    Clint started to laugh but faked a cough in a pathetic attempt to cover it up.
    “See, Momma, I’m not the only one that likes a little variety.”
    “What? I serve potatoes at every meal. It’s a vegetable.”
    Jesse shook her head and regarded Clint. “Come help me get the groceries out of the car.”
    His shifter hearing picked up a slight rumble in the direction of the little hell cat. She was growling—how fascinating.
    “Sure darlin’, I’d be happy to help.”
    The rumble grew a little louder as he threw his arm around Jesse’s shoulders and led her through the door to the front of the house and her waiting pickup.
    Once out of the view of the kitchen windows, she pushed his arm off her and punched him in the chest.
    “ Ow, that hurt.”
    She shook out he r hand and glared at him. “You’re just plain mean. She likes you.”
    He lifted his shoulder . “Naw, couldn’t be.”
    “Yeah, okay. Men are idiots. Quit grinning like a baboon and grab the two bags from the back seat.”
    “Man, city life sure has made you bossy.”
    She scowled at him then flashed him her famous grin.” Don’t you forget it.”
    Opening the rear door of the car he pulled out the groceries , manhandling the overfull bags.
    “So, what kind of trouble are you in this time?” She grinned mischievously.
    “Trouble? I’m not in any kind of trouble.”
    She snorted. “Sure, the only time you come home is when you’ve got trouble nipping at your heels like a pack of coyotes.”
    Coyotes no, but jackals? That hit a little closer to home. But he wasn’t about to tell her that. Before he could muster an argument, she continued. “Last time you came home, you had to get away from that clingy brunette…Cindy. Yep, that was her name. Little spitfire, that one. Didn’t she shoot you?”
    “No , she didn’t shoot me. She shot in the general direction of my person.”
    “How do you sleep at night?”
    “Very well, thanks for inquiring?”
    Laughter bubbled out of her. He had a sneaking suspicion it was directed at him, not with him.
    “So since you are not in trouble I can hang around and get to know that fellow you brought with you. What’s his name anyway?”
    “It’s Kane and no , you can’t,” he growled. “He’s bad news.”
    “Can’t be that bad if you brought him here.”
    “I didn’t have choice. I had to get away from—”
    “I thought you said you weren’t in trouble. Sounds like trouble to me. Don’t you growl at me, Clint. You’ve been doing since we were kids, and it isn’t any more appealing now that we’re grown.”
    “Sorry.”
    “So tell me about the pretty little city girl in the house.”
    “Not much to tell.” He hated not being able to share everything with her, but because she w as human he had no other choice but to lie. It sat sour in his stomach like rotten meat.
    “I’m looking after her till Gryph and Jenny get home from their honeymoon.”
    She paused for a moment and gave him a slight nod.
    “Let’s get these inside.”
    “Sure, but there’s one thing I need you to do for me. I want you to go stay at your cabin.”
    “W-what cabin?”
    “Don’t play coy with me. I know you have your own place. Why haven’t you told us about it yet?”
    “I didn’t want Momma to get upset. She almost had a heart attack when I left for school. Could you imagine what would happen if I told her I was moving out for good?”
    “She’s stronger than you think.”
    “Yeah, well I don’t want her life in my hands. And if you say anything before I’m ready then I will tell her whose naughty magazines were found