Hands On by Debbi Rawlins Read Free Book Online

exchanged looks. Wrong. The private quarters were of far more interest. Excitement began to simmer inside Cassie. This was a real case. Big enough that it had attracted the attention of the government. And she’d landed right smack-dab in the middle of the action.
    Dalton was right. Why jump to conclusions about this place? Why let a topless woman derail her?
    Mary Jane came up alongside Cassie and hooked an arm through hers, and then hooked her other arm around Dalton’s. She flashed a grin at both of them. “Are we ready?”
    â€œLead on,” Dalton said, and winked at Cassie.
    It was a very intimate wink, a kind of shared joke, giving Cassie a funny feeling.
    â€œYou’re gonna love it here. I promise. We have hottubs and saunas and an Olympic-size pool.” Mary Jane chattered all the way up the stairs and into the beautiful hardwood foyer. “All your meals will be healthy and nutritious and prepared on the premises.”
    Dalton grunted and disengaged himself from Mary Jane. “We better not be talking sprouts and wheat germ.”
    Mary Jane laughed and lightly jabbed him with her elbow. “You’re so funny.” And then she pranced on ahead of them.
    Dalton frowned at Cassie. “Was that a yes or a no?”
    She shrugged.
    â€œI eat meat. I like meat.”
    â€œHealthy doesn’t mean fanatic.” She smiled and followed Mary Jane, but tossed over her shoulder, “Don’t jump to conclusions.”
    He muttered something she couldn’t hear. Didn’t want to hear. Instead, she listened to Mary Jane point out the parlor where everyone gathered before dinner.
    â€œCocktails are usually served around six.” She glanced at her Mickey Mouse watch. “Which is in about fifteen minutes. Perfect. You can meet everyone then.”
    â€œYou mean real cocktails?” Dalton asked with narrowed-eyed suspicion. “Not like carrot juice or anything like that?”
    Mary Jane giggled and glanced at Cassie. “He’s so funny.”
    Cassie couldn’t help laughing herself. She didn’t dare look at the expression on Dalton’s face, or she’dreally lose it. Her nerves were taut, her emotions running high and she knew herself. She was likely to break out into hysterics.
    â€œOver here is the dining room where you’ll have your meals, or sometimes we eat on the patio. We’ll even send you room service if there’s, you know, something special going on you’d rather not interrupt.”
    â€œGreat.” Cassie forced a smile, and refused to look at Dalton. “Can we see our room now?”
    He came up alongside her and captured her hand. “Anxious, honey?”
    She rolled her eyes, and realized Mary Jane saw her. “Dalton has been sleeping on the couch for the past week. I’d like to maintain that arrangement.”
    Mary Jane shook her finger. “Now, now. That’s why we’re all here. To smooth out our differences.”
    Cassie pursed her lips in thought, and then said, “Tell me, Mary Jane. Have you ever been married?”
    The woman laughed. “You’re funny, too. Now, we’re going upstairs. Follow me.”
    Dalton put his lips close to Cassie’s ear. “I guess we’re both just hilarious.”
    His warm breath tickled the sensitive skin on the side of her neck and she shivered. He gripped her hand tighter. She hadn’t realized he still held it.
    She pulled away, just as Mary Jane stopped midway up the stairs and turned around. “You’ll have to hurry if you want to make the cocktail hour and meet the others.”
    Cassie moved ahead of Dalton. “They’ll be wearing clothes, I trust.”
    Mary Jane smiled. “I promise,” she said, and resumed climbing the stairs.
    Her shorts were so short they left nothing to the imagination. In fact, Cassie caught glimpses of a naked cheek, which meant Mary Jane was wearing no underwear or a