Saints and Assassins (The Sentinels) by Melinda Hunter Read Free Book Online Page A

started with a pre-law degree.  I decided after two years that it just wasn’t for me, so I switched to business management. I graduated and got a job in real estate through a friend. I’ve been there ever since.” Adam spit this out as if it were a rehearsed speech that he gave on a regular basis.  It was believable , but it just didn’t suit him.
    “How old are you?” It was the first question that came to her mind and she couldn’t believe she just blurted it out.
    “Thirty-two.”
    His age surprised her because she had guessed him not more than twenty-five, not that it mattered. Feeling a bit more brazen, she shifted to her next question.
    “Were you an athlete? I mean you are so, fit.” She tried not to sound like she was obsessed with hi s body, but who couldn’t notice the defined lean muscles ? She finished the glass of wine as she gulped it down.
    “I ran track and I am trained in Taekwondo ,” he admitted.
    “Impressive I must admit.” That explains a lot!
    “What about you, you’re no couch potato.”
    “I work out, I used to run every day but I don’t do t hat anymore.”  She smiled to herself at her most recent round of workouts. Pretending to punch Adam St. James. Eve giggled.
    “What?” he inquired.
    Eve shook her head, realized she was light-headed from the alcohol, and felt her self-restraint star t ing to slip away . Maybe it was time to go.
    As if Adam sensed her state of mind, he rose and picked up the glasses and plates.
    “Well, it’s time to head back to the island I suppose,” he stated .
    She left her seat to go help wash the d ishes.  As she took a step, she realized she was beyond light-headed and reached out to tr y to find something to steady herself against .  Adam turned back around just in time to grasp her right hand inside his left, and place his other arm around her waist.
    He held her th ere as she stared into his eye s and before she realized it , she had followed the line of his nose down to his lips.  They were perfect just like the rest of his body. She leaned forward to touch her lips to his, but before she could, he pulled back. He releas ed her waist but kept hold of her hand.
    “I think we should get going,” he said curtly . Adam turned toward the stairs but surprisingly did not relinquish his grip on her as he pulled her behind him. The waves of the ocean were starting to rock the boat more, making it diffic ult for her to keep her balance, but she managed to reach the top. Taking a seat near Adam, she could watch everything outside the wheelhouse. It looked as if it might storm from the ch arcoal colored clouds that grew closer by the minute.
    As she sat there, she started to feel silly about the last hour.  She was basically drunk and had all but thr own he rself at him. She felt certain he would be appalled with her behavior and s he felt so embarrassed now as her brain caught up with what had just happened.
    Adam started the engine and got them cruising back toward the coast of Maui . He called so meone from his cell phone as he headed the boat inland, and she heard him ask to be met at the dock.
    The wind started blowing and the rain came down hard as they approached the marina. There waited the man just as Adam had requested.  He helped secure the boat and as they departed she noticed that the man had brought the Nissan up as close to the dock as possible. 
    “I don’t know about you, but I’m running,” Adam stated. The spark in his eyes fired her sullen spirit and she could not resist. Fortunately her nausea had left her, a sudden burst of energy filled her, and she wanted to race.
    A smile crossed her face as she bolted into a sprint from her last step off the boat. Even in flip-flops, she sped across the wet dock toward the car. “You coming?” she called back at him .
    Adam muttered something unintelligible under his breath. He hadn’t had a chance to realize she was trying to outrun him and she laughed at the idea.
    She could