Passion Key (A Romance & Suspense Series) by Dani Amore Read Free Book Online

My God, she was gorgeous, he thought.
    He turned away from her just as she started to say something.
    “I really have to go after this glass,” she said. “But I could sit here forever.”
    “Sometimes I do hang out here for long periods of time,” he said. “Probably longer than I should.”
    He nursed his glass of wine, not wanting to finish it too quickly.
    “So what brought you to Passion Key?” he finally asked.
    Archer saw a brief shadow pass across Justine’s face and he wondered why she reacted so strongly to the question.
    “I owned a business back in Chicago, was made an offer I couldn’t refuse so I didn’t,” she explained.  “And then a friend sent the listing for the resort to me, I came down and bought it on the spot.”
    She lifted her glass of wine and drained it, then got to her feet.
    She really doesn’t like to talk about herself , Archer noted.
    “Anyway, thank you again for helping me,” Justine said. “I think I was more scared than injured but you put me at ease.  It was really kind of you,” she said.
    He followed her back inside, and couldn’t help but stare at her body as she walked.
    Archer desperately wanted to figure out a way to delay her leaving but he was out of ideas until she stopped and glanced down at his sketchpad.
    “Oh, you draw?” she said.
    He stood next to her, his left arm brushing against her.
    “It’s probably more planning than anything,” he said.
    “You make furniture, too?”
    “It’s more of a hobby than anything,” he said.
    Was it his imagination or did she move her arm against his?
    She turned and looked up directly at him.
    “You’re just full of surprises, aren’t you?” she said, smiling.
    And then he kissed her.
    Her lips were sweet with wine and she pulled back from him, her eyes wide with surprise.
    “I’m sorry,” he said. “I don’t–”
    “I have to go,” she said. There was no anger in her voice, just a firm resolve.
    She shut the door quietly behind her.

 
     
     
     
     
    14.
     
    Justine walked as fast as she could go without actually breaking into a run.  Her face felt hot as she hurried toward home, her body warm with embarrassment. No, check that , she thought. Not embarrassment.
    Desire.
    She slowed as she got to the resort’s courtyard. Her breathing returned to normal and she walked past the front desk, directly to her condo and let herself in.
    Justine shut the door and leaned back against it.  She didn’t know if it was the two glasses of wine that were making her head spin, or the incredible memory of how good Archer Thorpe’s lips felt on hers.
    My God, the man could kiss.
    Her knees felt weak and her body warmed at the memory.  She’d wanted to make love to him right then and there, but luckily a clear head had prevailed and she’d gotten out of there before making yet another mistake with a man.
    Justine pushed away from the door, went into her kitchen and got a glass of water.  She drank it quickly, peeled off her Capri pants and looked at her sting.  It was already fading and she felt no ill effects.
    A cell phone rang in her bedroom, and she recognized it as the phone the FBI gave her.  They were the only ones who knew the number.
    She picked it up and answered.
    “Hello?”
    “Justine, it’s Agent Runyan.”
    Her stomach flopped over.
    “What’s wrong?”
    “Nothing is wrong, we just wanted to check in and make sure everything is okay with you.”
    Her words most definitely did not ring true to Justine.
    “It would be a lot better if Daniel wasn’t running around a free man. Have you caught him?”
    “Not yet, but we’re working on it.”
    “No leads? Nothing?”
    She heard her sigh, then say, “I’m afraid not. But we don’t think you have anything to worry about.”
    “That’s not real comforting,” Justine said.  She had a right to be angry.  They had promised they would protect her and now look at the situation.  She was totally vulnerable.  “Plus, I tend to worry