Running for Her Life by Beverly Long Read Free Book Online Page B

conversation with Donny before the day ended.
    “Excuse me,” Tara said. “I need to find Janet.”
    She walked back toward the crowd and he waited several minutes before following. He found the women easily enough and wasn’t surprised to see that Nicholi had managed to get his chair next to Janet’s.
    Tara had flopped down in the grass next to Nicholi’s lawn chair, her legs stretched out in front of her, crossed at the ankles. Sand still clung to her tanned legs and bare feet. Her toenails were painted a bright red, and while he’d never considered himself to have a foot fetish, there was something incredibly sexy about her ten toes.
    She leaned back on her arms, her head thrown back, her face raised to catch the sun. Jake pulled the collar of his shirt away from his throat and swallowed hard.
    She was a perfect match to bright sunshine and blue skies. To sweet, juicy watermelon and ice-cold lemonade.
    “How was the volleyball?” Nicholi asked.
    “Exhausting. But I think I worked off your cheesy potatoes, Janet. Thank goodness Alice wasn’t here with her cherry pie. Both would have done me in.”
    Nicholi put up a hand to shade his eyes from the bright sun. “I can’t remember a year that Alice and Henry missed the town picnic.”
    Tara nodded. “I know. They left early yesterday to go see their son. Bill’s getting married soon, you know.”
    Janet made some kind of grunting noise. “I wonder if Alice will finally be satisfied. She’s been pushing that boy to get married for years. Lord knows she worked hard enough to match up the two of you.”
    Now that was interesting. Jake moved a step closer.
    “Afternoon, Chief,” Nicholi said.
    Tara’s eyes flew open and she jerked upright so fast that Jake thought she might have popped a vertebrae. But she was prevented from saying anything by the sudden arrival of Andy.
    “Come on, Tara,” the young man said. “It’s time for the sack races. I need a partner.”
    She moaned. “Volleyball almost killed me.”
    “You’ve been saving potato sacks for months. You’re the closest thing we have to a corporate sponsor.”
    The idea of her putting that sexy bare leg up against some other man’s was unexpectedly revolting. Jake took another step forward. “I was hoping Tara would be my partner.”

Chapter Five
    “I couldn’t,” she said immediately. “Really.” She stood up and took a step back. “I promised Andy.”
    Andy looked disappointed but held up his hands, clearly not wanting to piss off his new boss. “No problem, Chief. I’ll find another partner. But when we beat the pants off the two of you, I’m hoping I don’t get poisoned or fired.”
    Tara chewed on the corner of her upper lip. Then she took a breath and met his eyes. “Let’s go,” she said.
    Without another word, she walked over to the starting line and held out a hand for a sack. He moved behind her but didn’t speak. In the background, the Bluemond band played on. It appeared the kids were determined to provide a full afternoon’s worth of entertainment. This was the third time he’d heard the same song. They’d shed their uniform jackets, their only concession to the heat.
    She handed him the sack and he put one leg in. “If I die of a heart attack, promise me that you won’t tell anyone that I died with one leg in a potato sack.”
    She shrugged. “You could die covered with yolk. The egg-tossing contest is next.”
    He rolled his eyes and barely managed to keep them from rolling back in his head when she stuck her long bare leg into the sack. Even through the fabric of his pants, he swore he could feel the softness of her skin. Her hip brushed against his, bone against bone.
    “Ready?” she asked, her voice sharp.
    “As ever,” he said. He’d gotten himself into this situation, now he just needed to see it through. He inched his leg away, making space between them.
    The whistle sounded, they hopped, almost fell, righted themselves, hopped again, and by the time