Luke (Armed and Dangerous Book 2) by Cheyenne McCray Read Free Book Online Page A

something’s come up. I’ll have to get back to you.” He tried to sidestep her.
    She placed one hand on his bicep and deliberately moved in his way, her perfume as brazen as she was. “Not so fast, handsome.”
    Even though the woman was keeping Luke from going after Trinity, his upbringing and professional instincts kept him from being outright rude. His mama had raised him to always be polite to a lady. Besides, he still needed as much information as he could get from Joyce Butler on the Guerrero operation.
    “Okay.” He nodded and tried to move, but her hand tightened. “What can I do for you?”
    “You at least owe me a dance, cowboy,” she said as she brushed her breasts against his chest.
    “I’d be obliged if you’d save a dance for me later.” He gave her another slight nod and a tight smile. Before Joyce Butler could respond, he took her by the shoulders and gently removed her from his path.
    Well, gently enough.
    Luke barely heard Joyce’s gasp of annoyance above the Christmas music as he walked away.
    In a few strides he made it to the stairs and took them by threes. When he reached the B & B’s front room that served as the lobby, he saw Nevaeh standing in front of the registration desk with a slip of paper in her hand.
    “What the—” she said as her gaze cut to the desk clerk. “This is it? All she left?”
    Luke didn’t stop. He headed straight to the front door and yanked it open.
    December’s chill air rushed in, but outside all he could see were cars parked up and down Old Bisbee’s Main Street. The rain- soaked blacktop reflected red, orange, blue, and green Christmas lights strung down the silent street—but nothing else. Not even a pair of taillights.
    Ah, hell.
    The click of Nevaeh’s heels against the tile and her powdery perfume alerted Luke to her presence, even before she spoke. “I saw you with Trinity. Do you have something to do with her leaving? What’s your name, anyway?”
    “Luke.” He shut the door a little too hard as he clenched his jaw and pivoted to face Nevaeh. “Where’d she go?”
    “Her sister’s.” Nevaeh shook the note at Luke. “I’d told her to go meet you, but I sure never thought you’d scare her off like this. I haven’t seen her in years.”
    Luke snatched the note from Nevaeh’s hand.
    Left for Skylar’s. I’ll call. T.M.
    “Skylar...” His gaze shot up to meet Nevaeh’s frustrated expression as it finally hit him. Where he’d seen Trinity’s eyes before. Eyes that had been hidden behind glasses in pictures taken years ago. Photos he’d seen countless times at the Flying M. Eyes that had captured his attention the first time he’d seen them. Had made him wonder about the girl... the woman.
    Shit.
    “Trinity MacKenna.” He shook his head. Some big bad DEA investigative agent he was. “Skylar’s younger sister. But I thought her name was Madeline.”
    “She uses her middle name now,” Nevaeh said. “Madeline—that one brings back bad memories.”
    “Madeline?” Joyce Butler’s voice sounded loud and sarcastic from behind him. “You mean Meaty MacKenna? Last I heard, she was in England. What would you want with that heifer anyway?” Both Luke and Nevaeh turned to face Joyce Butler. The woman had one hand on her hip as she tossed her dark hair over her shoulder.
    Luke narrowed his eyes, but Nevaeh laid into the woman before he could open his mouth. “I don’t care if your daddy is running for Congress. I wouldn’t give a flying fuck if he was the President of the United States,” Nevaeh said with fury in her voice as she pointed to the front door where Trinity had made her hasty exit. “If you ever talk about my best friend like that again, I’ll kick your ass from here to Texas. You hear me?”
    “That was Madeline MacKenna?” Recognition dawned in Joyce’s eyes, but her tone turned cool as she glanced from Nevaeh to Luke. “The slut in the red dress?”
    “You bitch.” Nevaeh stepped forward, her fist