Relative Strangers by Kathy Lynn Emerson Read Free Book Online Page A

line of fire. When you went down, the kid took off in a panic. Tandy says by the time he turned himself in about an hour ago, he was certain he’d be sent away to prison for life. He’d convinced himself you were dead.”
    “Since I’m not, what happens to the boy?”
    “Unless you press charges, nothing beyond what his parents decide to do to him. Tandy says he’s already punished himself pretty effectively. Kid’s apparently got a helluva imagination. He told Tandy that he was afraid you’d come back from the dead to haunt him if he didn’t confess.”
    He expected a laugh. At least a smile. Instead, Corrie looked vaguely troubled. He hoped she wasn’t contemplating prosecution. Yes, she might have been more seriously injured, but the boy hadn’t intended to harm her.
    “I know the family,” he said. “My guess is that he’ll be grounded for a month or two.”
    Was she even listening to him? She had a peculiar expression on her face, as if she was trying to sort something out in her mind and having no luck at all.
    “Corrie?” Without thinking, he reached for her.
    The moment his hand came in contact with her arm, Lucas knew he’d made a big mistake. Desire thrummed through his veins, disrupting every normal, rational thought process. A moment later, Corrie was in his arms, her lips just a hairbreadth from his own.
    “This is a really bad idea,” he whispered.
    “Yes,” she agreed. But she didn’t try to pull away. She even swayed toward him as his mouth descended.
    She tasted of the apple she’d been eating before he arrived. Sweet and tart all at once. Lucas fought back a groan of pleasure and lifted his head. She stared back at him, dazed, as he gathered her closer still, intending to make their second kiss last much, much longer.
    Rachel’s voice and her insistent pounding on the door brought his good sense crashing back. “Hey, Corrie!” she called. “Are you ready already?”
    Corrie stepped out of Lucas’s embrace. Her fingers drifted up to touch her lips, an innocently erotic gesture that sent renewed desire shafting through him.
    “A really bad idea,” she murmured. She looked shell-shocked.
    Lucas wanted to deny his own words, to insist they were moving in the right direction with that kiss. Instead he apologized. “Sorry, Corrie. I was out of line.”
    The emotion that flashed across her flushed face might have been embarrassment . . . or disappointment. He couldn’t tell, and there was no time to ask. It was enough of a challenge to recover his composure before she threw open the door to admit her friend.
    “Well, hello there, handsome.” Rachel looked so delighted to have found them together that he felt himself wince before he could get a professional smile in place.
    “Good evening, Rachel. I just came up to see if I could escort you two ladies down to dinner. I’ve got a special table reserved for you.”
    * * * *
    He was smooth, Corrie thought a short time later. She’d give him that. Her own heart was still beating a little too fast as an aftereffect of that kiss. Brief as it had been, it had left her wanting more, but as Lucas guided them through the crowded dining room, he looked as unruffled as ever. She didn’t know whether to hope it was all an act or not.
    No doubt wanting her and Lucas to seize the opportunity to take up where they’d left off when she’d interrupted them, Rachel veered off before they reached their table, pretending to be curious about something she’d spotted outside one of the windows. Corrie started to follow her friend, certain it would not be wise to be alone with Lucas again, not even in a crowded room.
    “You needn’t fuss,” she told him. “Any table is fine.”
    “You can dismiss me in a minute,” he said, his grip on her elbow tightening. “First tell me what you intend to do about the boy.”
    She was surprised he had to ask. “Nothing. He didn’t mean to hurt me.’’
    Lucas gave a nod of approval and released her.