Loaded by Cher Carson Read Free Book Online Page A

most people had these conversations
when they were starting a new relationship, so it made sense that he would ask,
but for someone who’d always lived a life shrouded in darkness and secrecy,
Rachel wasn’t comfortable sharing. There was so much Tucker would never, could
never, know about her, and she knew that made a future with him impossible.
    “We’ll take it slow.” He
grinned. “I’m not going anywhere, are you?”
    Rachel knew she would have to
leave town eventually, when Glen finally tracked her down. She had rented the
vacant storefront space with the small amount of savings she’d tucked away when
she was massaging clients at a chiropractor’s clinic a block from the apartment
she shared with her ex. She snuck away for a few hours in the afternoon when he
was at work or getting drunk at the local pool hall. He didn’t even know she’d
earned her massage therapy accreditation. He’d never have approved. Glen didn’t
want her to work. Hell, he didn’t even want her to leave the house unless he was
by her side to keep an eye on her or, more importantly, to instigate a fight
with any man who might be stupid enough to look at her too long.
    “I don’t know, Tucker.” She
flattened her palms against his chest and she could feel the steady beat of his
heart. “I can’t promise I’ll be in town all that long. Right now I’m just kind
of playing it by ear.”
    He frowned. “But you started
a new business. I thought that implied you were ready to put down roots. Am I
wrong?”
    She hadn’t been able to apply
for a job because that would require a social security number. She couldn’t
afford to leave a trail. Dixie offered to give her a job, but she knew if Glen found
out about her cousin, the bar would be the first place he’d look for her. She
didn’t want to put Dixie in harm’s way.
    “The landlord is leasing the
unit to me on a month to month basis. The space has been vacant for a while
apparently, so he gave me a good deal. He didn’t even charge me first and last
month’s rent.”
    “Yeah, Charlie Foley’s a good
guy.” Tucker smirked. “He also happens to be loaded since he sold his ranch to
some big developer, so he sure as hell doesn’t need the money.”
    “Huh, I didn’t know that.”
She sighed. “Anyways, I told him I’d give it a few months, see what happens. He
said he was fine with that.”
    Tucker frowned. “Doesn’t
really sound like enough time to get a business off the ground. I thought these
things usually take a year or more before they become profitable.”
    If only she had time on her
side. “I’m doing my best to get the word out; hopefully I’ll start turning a
profit soon.” She’d already run out of money. Her mother’s pension checks covered
the rent on their two bedroom apartment, but if she didn’t start making some
money soon, she’d have to resort to plan B, which meant they’d have to use her
mother’s meager savings to leave Brant County. She’d already fallen in love
with the place and the people. She didn’t want to leave the first place she’d
ever felt at home. Having her own dance studio had always been her dream. Too
bad a woman couldn’t afford the luxury of dreams when her life was at stake.  
    He brought her hand to his
lips. “I’ll have to see what I can do to help you with that.” He winked at her.
“It so happens that I have a bit of clout in this town.”
    “You don’t have to do that.”
She raised her chin. “I’d rather succeed or fail on my own.”
    He stroked her cheek as he
looked into her eyes. “If it means the difference between you staying and
leaving, you can bet I’m going to do everything in my power to give you reason
to stay.” He leaned in to kiss her. “I want to explore this thing between us,
don’t you?”
    She did, more than she’d
wanted anything in a long time, but Tucker wasn’t some ordinary guy. He was a man
whose allegiance was to the law, and that meant he would never be able