Living on the Edge by Susan Mallery Read Free Book Online

first, but growing. It filled the room, pressing in on him, stealing air, heating breath.
    Awareness.
    Of her. The scent of her skin, the way she moved. In the blink of an eye she went from someone he had to protect to a woman.
    Dammit all to hell, he thought grimly. This was not allowed. He didn’t get involved with clients. Not ever.
    â€œI got you some clothes,” he said and retraced his steps to the kitchen.
    He heard her follow. When she’d cleared the control room, he hit the remote to reset the security system, then stopped by the package.
    â€œOne of my men came by with it,” he told her.
    She looked confused. “I don’t understand.”
    â€œWhat’s so complicated? I sent one of my guys to your place to get you some things.”
    â€œA man was in my condo?”
    She sounded more surprised than outraged. Tanner pushed the package toward her.
    â€œI doubt he spent a lot of time in your underwear drawer. You’ve been wearing what you have on for days. I thought you’d like something clean.”
    â€œI do. Thank you. I’m just not sure…How did he get in? What if Christopher is watching the building?”
    â€œI’m guessing your ex had someone there. Don’t worry. No one saw Angel.”
    â€œAnd how did he get in?”
    Tanner shrugged. “He has his ways. Go on—” he pointed to her room “—take a shower, change your clothes. Then we’ll eat. I have a lot of questions I need to ask you about your ex-husband.”
    â€œSure. Okay.” She picked up the package, then smiled. “Thanks.”
    With that, she walked down the hall. Tanner waited until she disappeared before heading into the control room. He watched the small red dot move on the screen. When it eased from the bedroom to the bathroom, he had to force himself to keep his attention on work and not on the thought of a naked woman stepping into the shower.
    Â 
    A three-hour nap and a shower had gone a long way to perking up Madison. The guy Tanner had sent to her house had brought back the basics—jeans, T-shirts, a couple of nightgowns and a few toiletries. She tried not to freak out at the thought of a strange man going through her underwear drawer and reminded herself that after all she’d been through, having a stranger grabbing bras and panties was the least of her problems.
    After washing out the panties and bra she’d been wearing for the past ten days, she dried her hair. As she put away her blow-dryer, she realized she could smell something cooking. The delicious scent of tomato sauce and garlic had her mouth watering and her stomach growling. She felt like a cartoon animal floating alongon the smell as she followed the scent down the hall and into the kitchen.
    Tanner stood at the stove. He turned as she entered and smiled. She wasn’t sure what shocked her more—that he was cooking or the smile itself. Both were unexpected, although the curve of his mouth made her uneasy in ways she couldn’t define.
    â€œNothing fancy,” he told her. “Spaghetti, meat sauce and a salad.”
    Her stomach growled again. She suddenly felt faint with hunger. “At this point I’d eat anything.”
    He jerked his head toward the table. “Then have a seat.”
    The round table had already been set with place mats, napkins and flatware. She settled in a chair just as he brought over a large bowl of pasta and another of salad.
    â€œWhat do you want to drink?” he asked. “We have all the basics.”
    â€œJust water,” she answered, as her stomach tightened in anticipation of food.
    â€œDig in,” he told her.
    She decided to take him at his word. She scooped up a large serving of the meat-covered pasta and dumped it on her plate. Salad could wait—right now she wanted something substantial.
    The first bite was heavenly. The perfect blend of spices, the tender yet firm pasta. She couldn’t