Safe In His Arms (Manhunt) by Rita Herron Read Free Book Online

who got in his way.
    What if he hurt Alex?
    Alex exhaled, a battle warring in his eyes as if he wanted to comfort her but knew he shouldn’t.  But he pulled her up against him anyway and wrapped his arms around her. At first, her body went rigid.
    She couldn’t lean on him now.
    Once Geoff was caught, he’d leave, and she’d be on her own again.
    She couldn’t afford to lose her heart to another man.
    The last time she had, it had ended in disaster and pain.
    But Alex murmured nonsensical words of comfort, and in spite of her fierce effort at self-control, her body betrayed her by trembling.
    “He’s not going to hurt you this time, Mia,” Alex whispered against her ear. “I swear, I’ll kill him before I let him touch you.”
    Unable to resist, she gave into his tender caress and closed her eyes. Alex felt so warm and gentle, big and strong, yet his fingers stroked her back in a soothing gesture that made her slowly begin to relax.  His heart was beating steadily, his chest rising in slow breaths, the scent of raw man and his aftershave wafting around her.
    Geoff was gentle at first. Before you discovered the monster beneath the surface.
    She hated the fear that shot through her at the memory.  At the knowledge that even though she wanted to trust Alex, that she didn’t trust herself, her own judgment.
    She’d been so wrong before.
    The image of the ultrasound that she kept hidden in her dresser drawer taunted her. God, she hated Geoff.
    But she’d wanted that baby.
    And he’d taken it away from her just as he’d stolen her pride…
    So she slowly pulled away. “I’m sorry, Sgt. Townsend.”
    He traced a finger along her jaw. “Alex,” he corrected her.
    She looked into his eyes. His mouth was only a fraction of an inch from hers. His lips curved, promising to soothe her pain.
    But she couldn’t accept his comfort, so she didn’t respond. Saying his name while she could still feel his warm body and hear his promises would be dangerous to her heart.
    And she had to protect her heart because falling for Alex would be way too easy.
    And a big mistake. She had enough regrets to last a lifetime.
    She didn’t need another.
     

     
    What the hell was he doing?
    Fear and regret flashed in Mia’s eyes, and Alex wished he hadn’t touched her. But he couldn’t stop himself.
    Something about the woman drew him to her, made him want to fight her battles.
    She was so lovely, and in spite of how she viewed herself, she was strong. That gutsy side of her made him admire her even more.
    “I’m sorry, Mia. I – ”
    “Do you think he’s been inside?” she asked, cutting off his apology.
    Dammit. He should have been thinking about that possibility instead of hauling her up against him. But Mia made his head swirl with emotions that played havoc with his common sense.
    And his ability to focus.
    He had to focus to keep her safe.
    He instantly removed his weapon, motioned for her to remain in the swing then jiggled the doorknob. It was locked. Mia fished out her keys and handed them to him.
    “Is there a back door?”
    She nodded. “Off the kitchen.”
    Of course he could have broken in through a bedroom window. Alex slipped down the porch steps and walked around the side of the house. He checked the windows, but they didn’t look disturbed, then he eased around the back, his gaze scanning the property in case Geoff was waiting to ambush him. The back door was closed, so he tried the knob. Locked.  The lock didn’t appear to have been picked either.
    But he had to be careful. He had no idea what kind of skills Jones had picked up in prison.
    Gun at the ready, he inched to the other side of the cabin, noting two windows. Both closed, glass intact.
    It didn’t mean Jones hadn’t gotten inside though.
    He hurried back to the front porch, relief filling him when he found Mia sitting in the same spot. Her eyes were wide, glued to the hill in the distance as if she might have seen something.
    “Mia?”
    She