Shiver of Fear by Roxanne St. Claire Read Free Book Online Page A

lightning through her blood.
    “It’s a long walk up the coast, Ms. Smith.”
    A cool breeze lifted her hair but did nothing to reduce the heat level of his gaze. “I’m on my way to rent a car.”
    “Now, that’s just a waste of time, money, and gas. I’ve already got one, and I’m going sightseeing. My offer still stands.”
    She hesitated, but not for long. Why shouldn’t she have just one afternoon of enjoyment on this mission?
    Still… she wasn’t sure. She took a step closer. His right hand rested on the window, but that wasn’t the one that mattered.
     The left was on the wheel, and she took a surreptitious dip to see it.
    “Looking for a ring?”
    So much for surreptitious. “Actually, yes, I am. I’m suspicious that way.”
    He held up his bare hand. “Truth in advertising. Divorced and traveling alone, wildly attracted to honey hair and blue eyes,
     and on my way to spend the day sightseeing and have no desire to do that alone. Would you care to come along?”
    This wasn’t the reason she’d traveled across the ocean and traipsed all over Belfast. This wasn’t in keeping with her plan
     to find Sharon, to have that personal meeting with her and warn her about the man watching her house. This wasn’t—
    “If it’s that tough a decision for you, Ms. Smith, I’llback off.” There was nothing but sincerity in his tone, no more flirting, no more seduction. Just consideration and kindness.
    And, God knows, she could use some of that, too.
    “That’s not necessary,” she said, tucking her hair behind her ear and making yet another spontaneous decision. “I’d love to
     go sightseeing with you. And, please, call me Devyn.”
    He grinned like she’d given him a gift, hopping out to walk her around to the opposite side of the car, moving with grace
     despite his six-foot height and nicely built muscles. As he stepped in front of her to open the door, she stole a look at
     his back, lingering on the jeans that hugged his backside and narrow waist.
    She was going sightseeing, all right. And the view was spectacular.
    “So what brings you to Belfast?” he asked when he climbed into the driver’s seat on her right and tugged on his seat belt.
     “Business or pleasure?”
    “Both,” she said. “You?”
    “Same, but mostly pleasure.” He threw her another toe-curling look. “Pleasure today, definitely.”
    “What do you do?”
    “Invest,” he said. “How about you?”
    Of course there’d be questions. Many personal questions. She should have thought of that before she hopped into the car with
     a sexy stranger. “What do you invest in?” she asked instead of answering.
    He maneuvered through a roundabout, surprisingly comfortable with the left-side driving. A competent man, confident and easygoing.
     Joshua had been that way… an easygoing liar.
    “I invest in companies.”
    “Like a venture capitalist?”
    “Something like that, but a little more in the background. Angel investments. You didn’t answer my question,” he reminded
     her. “What’s your business here in Belfast?”
    “It’s personal,” she said, hoping her tone would not invite another question, but his look was expectant. So she added, “I’m
     waiting for a friend from the States who gets back in a few days.”
    “Back from where?”
    Instead of responding, she made a show of opening the brochure she’d been holding in the hotel. “There’s a map on the back
     of this. We’ve got quite a scenic route up the coast.”
    He kept his gaze on her and not the road for a few seconds. “So you’re secretive as well as beautiful.”
    Looking down at the brochure, she let a lock of hair fall and cover her expression. Would she have to ask him outright not
     to probe with personal questions?
    Stopping at a light, he reached over and lifted her hair, brushing her cheek with his knuckles, the contact surprisingly warm.
     Damn near electric.
    “Am I right?” he asked. “You’re secretive?”
    “I’m