Love is Murder by Sandra Brown Read Free Book Online

maintain it and flung her arms around him. “Yes, yes—yes, I’ll marry you, Ryan Taylor. Anytime, anywhere.”
    “I think we have an audience.”
    “Good.”
    He swept her into his arms. The phantom pain was gone, and he saw Moose out in the meadow, laughing as he turned, his back to the lodge, and walked through the undisturbed snow.
    One day Grit would tell Marissa about his friend Michael “Moose” Ferrerra and the good life he’d lived.
    One day he’d tell their children.
    He smiled and saluted as Moose disappeared over the mountains and into the blue Vermont sky.
    * * * * *

POISONED
    Beverly Barton
    What a great hook! How could you read the first sentence and not continue. ~SB
    I’ve been poisoned!
    There could be no other explanation for what had happened to her. The recurring nausea, the horrific abdominal cramping, the blurred vision, the dizziness and mental confusion were a result of poison. It had been a deliberate, premeditated murder attempt. She had lived in fear for such a long time, watching her back, playing it safe, afraid to trust.
    Apparently her drink had been doctored. Why hadn’t she been more careful? Had she been a fool to trust Jed Merrill?
    “Olivia? Olivia…”
    His voice came from far away, as if echoing through a long tunnel. Where was he? How close? Could she escape before he found her?
    I have to keep moving. Must get away. I can’t let him catch me.
    Darkness surrounded her. She couldn’t see where she was, let alone where she was going. But she couldn’t stop long enough to get her bearings. If she slowed down, he would catch her. He was close. She could hear his approaching footsteps. She could almost feel his hot breath on her neck.
    Suddenly flashes of light zipped past her. Car headlights maybe? They had been moving fast, revealing nothing, not giving her a clue about her location.
    For the life of her, she couldn’t remember leaving her apartment, had no idea how she’d gotten here, wherever the hell here was.
    Winded and exhausted, Olivia paused long enough to suck in some deep breaths. Easing backward, hoping to hide in the murky shadows, she encountered a solid wall behind her, firm and yet giving, as if the surface was padded. She couldn’t stay here for long, just another minute at most. If she lingered, he would catch up with her. What would he do to her? Shoot her? Strangle her? Break her neck with those big, powerful hands that had only recently caressed every inch of her body?
    Damn you, Jed Merrill. Damn your black-hearted soul. I trusted you. I believed you really cared.
    Why was he following her? He had already poisoned her, hadn’t he? She was probably dying. If she couldn’t find a way to get to a hospital soon, someone would find her dead body lying in the ditch. Maybe that was why he was coming after her, in order to dispose of her body once she was dead. He could toss her in the river or in the landfill or bury her somewhere out in the woods.
    “Olivia, can you hear me?”
    Oh, God…oh, God. Jed was talking to her, his voice distinct, close, as if he was standing right beside her. With trembling fingers, she felt all around her, floating her hands in front of her and then on either side. Nothing. No Jed. No one. Just black emptiness.
    And then he closed his hand around hers. For a split second, she didn’t move, didn’t breathe, and couldn’t make her body obey her mind’s commands.
    “No,” she cried as she jerked her hand free of his gentle hold.
    “Olivia, honey, don’t fight me,” he told her, his baritone voice Bourbon smooth and dripping with Southern charm.
    Without hesitation, she turned and ran. Her legs felt as if she had heavy weights around her ankles. Tired. Listless. Her lungs aching. Her heartbeat wild. Tears trickled down her cheeks, dripped off her nose, and moistened her parched lips. She had to stop again, just for a few minutes, to catch her breath, to regroup, to figure out where she was and how to get to the nearest