Nothing to Fear by Karen Rose Read Free Book Online

core of it. She climbed down, frowning at him when she reached the ground, even though David always made her want to grin. It was part of his charm. “You didn’t have to look up my skirt.”
    David beamed a beatific smile. “We’ll just have to disagree. Now let me have a look.”
    She watched him start up the ladder, grateful he’d come by even as insufferable as he was. She could fix all manner of small things, but a roof was a bit more of a challenge than she was willing to tackle at the moment. “Well?”
    “You’ve got some slippage. I’ll get some roofing tar and shingles and put it back to rights.” He started back down. “I’ll come back tomorrow afternoon.” He gave her a hard stare when his feet hit the ground. “You’ve got circles under your eyes. What’s wrong?”
    Dana grimaced. “If you notice, you’re not supposed to mention it. It’s not polite.”
    His sideways grin nearly disarmed her. “Since when have I ever been polite? I’m the one who looks up girls’ skirts.” He sobered, dropping his gaze to the toe of his work boot before glancing up from the corner of his eye. “You and Evie have a fight?”
    Dana blew out a sigh. “You talked to her?”
    “Didn’t have to. I asked where you were and she just pointed without saying a word, like the Grim Reaper. What happened?”
    Dana made herself smile. “Evie thinks I’m not doing enough to ensure client success.”
    David’s face darkened. “In whose universe? If anything you do too much.” He considered her for a long minute, his jaw tightening. “You’re wondering if she’s right, so you fussed and obsessed until climbing a ladder in a skirt and open-toed sandals sounded like a good idea.”
    He knew her well. “Maybe just a little.”
    “Well, she’s wrong. You do more than enough. You do too much.”
    The forced smile eased into a natural one at the vehemence of his defense. “Thank you. I needed to hear that. Let’s go inside, get some iced tea. It’s too damn hot out here.”
    David didn’t move, just stood blocking her path. “I’m serious, Dana. I think you do too much and it worries me.” He glanced from side to side and lowered his voice. “I know what you do is necessary, vital. But that won’t help you if you get caught.”
    She stepped around him, not willing to have this conversation today. Again. “I don’t plan to get caught.” He caught her upper arm and gently squeezed until she looked up at him over her shoulder. His gray eyes were serious, bordering on grim.
    “Nobody plans to get caught. Promise me you’ll stop going to the bus station in the middle of the night.”
    “I can’t promise that, David. You know that.”
    “You mean you won’t.”
    She quirked her mouth in a half smile. “A little of column A, a little of column B?”
    He didn’t smile back. “It’s not funny, Dana. It’s dangerous there at night. If you won’t promise me, at least call me so that I can go with you.”
    “No. You’re a hell of a guy, David, but these women are running from men. They wouldn’t trust me if I brought a man with me. Even you. Now how about that tea?”
    With a frustrated shake of his head, he gave it up, following her into the kitchen. He closed the door behind them, wincing when the deadbolt screeched. “I’ll fix that for you when I come to do the roof.”
    “Thanks. It made an awful racket when I came in last night.”
    David narrowed his eyes as she poured their tea. “When you were coming back from the bus station in the middle of the night?”
    “I was home before midnight.” With Jane Smith with the odd-colored eyes and facial bruises and her son Erik with the nasty burn on his cheek and refusal to meet anyone’s eyes. When Dana had applied ointment to the burn, the boy had kept his eyes clenched shut, not responding to a single question or offer of food. He’d been terrified, even though his mother had kept her hand on his back the entire time. She’d seen Jane only