MARKED (Hunter Awakened) by Rascal Hearts Read Free Book Online Page A

wife's
family, but even having a few hours when I almost felt like part of
a family made the rest of it bearable. Still, there were times I
missed having a traditional Thanksgiving meal.
    “Miss Rhines,” Elias interrupted. “Are you
all right? You have been very quiet this morning.”
    An idea popped into my head, and before I
could stop and think about it, the words came out of my mouth. “Do
you have any plans for Thanksgiving?” After a beat, I backpedaled
and explained. “I was just thinking about the holidays and how I
always spend Thanksgiving alone, eating whatever I happen to have
available.” I really hoped I didn't sound whiny. I wasn't trying to
complain, just state a fact.
    “I do not understand.” Elias glanced up at
the rearview mirror, his gaze catching mine for a split second
before he turned his attention back to the road.
    Now that I'd started it, I had to finish. “I
just remember you saying that you didn't have any family, so I was
going to say that, if you didn't have any plans for Thanksgiving,
maybe, you could spend it with me.” The last few words came out in
a rush. Had I really just done that? Had I asked my bodyguard out
on a date?
    Even though I couldn't see his face, I could
sense his surprise. Wherever he'd thought I was going with my
question, I didn't think he'd expected an invitation to a holiday
meal.
    “Miss Rhines,” Elias spoke as he turned into
my driveway. “I am not so sure that would be wise.”
    His tone was professional, but I could hear a
note of wistfulness in the words. He was lonely, I realized
suddenly. I had Harrison, but I didn't think Elias had even that.
The idea of him being alone all of the time made my heart ache.
From the moment I'd first seen him, I'd found Elias physically
attractive, and had felt a connection between us.
    Now, I just wanted to give him a hug. Nothing
sexual about it. Well, okay, maybe a little, but not as much as
you'd think. I'd always had a thing for 'strays,' those people who
were abandoned and alone, especially the ones who tried to hide
just how broken they were. Trust me, I didn't need a psychologist
to tell me the reasons behind 'my type.'
    Elias wasn't going to respond to flirting,
but I did know one thing that would register with him. “Look at it
this way,” I said. “I'm not going to ask Paul to give up
Thanksgiving in Minnesota with his family, which means that if
you're not going to spend the day with me, then I'll just be alone
in that big empty house, with only my alarm system to protect me.”
I had a feeling he could sense the smile playing around my lips,
but he didn't comment on it.
    “I cannot, in good conscience, allow that. I
will be there, but it would be in a professional capacity only,” he
said, his voice carefully neutral.
    “Of course,” I agreed. “But you will have to
eat sometime, right?”

 
    Chapter Seven
     
     
    I ignored the amused expression on Paul's
face as he walked next to me at the grocery store. Even though
Rufus was still in the hospital, Harrison had made sure that both
of my bodyguards had understood the seriousness of the situation.
Translation: I barely peed alone. Going to the supermarket by
myself was out of the question. Usually, Paul just drove me and
stayed in the car unless there were paparazzi around. My normal
approach to security was to be prepared, but to attempt to be as
normal as possible.
    The events of the past week, however, had
made Paul's presence a little more necessary. This store, however,
had been practically empty, so I'd told Paul to wait in the car.
He'd just shaken his head and told me to deal with it. I'd almost
asked him who was paying him, me or Harrison, but I'd just rolled
my eyes and let him follow me. I had enough to do without arguing
with him.
    Thanksgiving was the day after tomorrow, and
I had absolutely no clue what to do. I was a good cook, but I'd
never done this type of meal before. I wanted everything to be
perfect. Tonight's shoot was the