Silver Mine by Vivian Arend Read Free Book Online

“Damn, you’re happy about this.”
    Oops . She hid her delight a little harder. “No, of course not.”
    “You are so.”
    “Am not.”
    Evan lunged forward and grabbed her by the wrist, dragging her toward him and flipping her under his body. He settled in nicely, his weight trapping her in place. “You. Are. Trouble. With a capital T.”
    “Takes one to know one…”
    Evan lowered his head and kissed her neck. “Mischief is your middle name. I’m still not exactly sure why you were so keen on us becoming lovers, but I will say the last few weeks have certainly been interesting.”
    A shiver shook her. “I’ve kind of enjoyed myself as well.”
    He tucked his nose against her throat and took a deep, deep breath.
    Caroline slapped his bare shoulder. “Stop that. No matter how hard you sniff me, it’s not going to change the facts. I’m not your mate.”
    He shook his head sorrowfully. “Too damn bad, because you, my darling, are a pistol.”
    She rocked her hips under him. “You, sir, have a pistol. Care to show me your ammunition?”
    He rolled them again, placing her on top. “All this talk of guns. It’s just not right for a Canadian girl. You’re supposed to be a pacifist. A peacemaker.”
    She wiggled until she straddled his hips. “I like a good fight as much as the next girl.”
    “You like to fight far more than the next girl.”
    “Which is why, right now, I’m the perfect partner for you. Temporary partner.”
    Evan cupped her face gently. “I do like you, Caroline Bradley. Now, come and wake me up properly with your own dirty, peacekeeping self.”
    She stripped off her top and enjoyed the lust that rose in his eyes. The concerns of hotel organization during the upcoming bear territory talks could wait.
    “I thought you’d never ask…”
     
     
    The buzzer on the other side of the door went off for about three seconds before switching to a high-pitched squeal that stopped abruptly. Chase already had his finger off the button, but not far enough to avoid the snap of an electrical shock.
    “Shit.” He backed away from the glass door and wiggled his fingers to relieve the pain. “Dammit.”
    He was still cussing lightly when the glass door opened half an inch then jerked to a stop before he could see into the clinic.
    “You got the place booby-trapped?” he grumbled. “I was told you were the place to visit, but if you’re electrocuting patients, I’ll wait until the next time I’m in town.”
    The door wiggled, gaining another inch clearance. “I don’t know why anyone told you to come here. The clinic’s not open. I’m still getting all the bugs out of the system.”
    Something crashed as the woman spoke, but even the distraction couldn’t stop him from recognizing that voice.
    Oh no. Shelley.
    Chase was three seconds away from hightailing it without seeing anyone. Because seeing her wasn’t a good idea.
    “Just a second. I think I’ve got it.” Shelley wiggled the door and he was caught. The door swung wide open, and they were back to being trapped in a time warp—staring at each other.
    Her hair was a mess. Bits of plaster and wood decorated the unruly tangle. There was a streak of paint across her cheek and nose, her T-shirt also dabbled with spots. A thin T-shirt, so well-worn he imagined it would be soft under his fingers. It was certainly thin enough he could tell she wasn’t wearing a bra, and her nipples were—
    She snapped upright, and he jerked his gaze back to her face.
    “The clinic’s not open yet,” she repeated.
    If this weren’t important, he would have so walked away. But inside, that place where his wolf and cat selves were prone to take over at times? They’d made it clear they wanted this. “I have to see a…doctor. Before I go bush again.”
    Her cheeks brightened. “Oh. Right.”
    She swallowed hard but moved out of the way. He stepped in over the remains of a pallet filled with tile, set exactly where it shouldn’t have been for