Sleight Of Hand by Kate Kelly Read Free Book Online Page A

go off by yourself after what just happened. We're sticking
together for now on."
    Heaven help her. She'd started out thinking
she could slip in and out of town without Chance knowing, and now
here she was, practically chained to his side.
    Her hand fisted into the folds of his leather
jacket as the solid weight of his muscular thigh leaned into the
curve of her hip. Her body softened and molded itself to accept his
weight as though they had clung this way together a hundred times
before.
    "Am I too much for you?"
    She snapped her head up. "What?"
    His eyes crinkled at the edges, and although
it was too dark to see, she was pretty sure there was a twinkle in
them.
    "No, I, ah...I can handle it." She tried to
pull away just enough to give herself breathing space, but the
weight of his arm across her shoulders kept her snugged up against
him.
    "Are you sure? 'Cause you know, babe, we
don't have to rush." His voice had dropped to a raspy drawl.
    She searched for something smart and savvy to
whip back at him, but couldn't think above the hammering of her
heart.
    Okay, she simmered, fighting for balance. As
much as she hated admitting defeat, obviously, her seduction scheme
wasn't going to work. All he had to do was look at her, or lean on
her, and she turned to mush. They'd have to work together, she
decided as they took their first cautious step forward--until they
found her father.

    Chance winced as he put more weight on his
foot. Wasn't this sweet? He hated, absolutely detested, relying on
anyone. He always worked alone, except for the year with O'Sullivan
when he'd tried to get his life back on track. Look how great that
experiment had worked out.
    Which proved he must be certifiable, because
he had the unsettled feeling--hell, he could feel it like a dead
weight in his gut--Sarah was going to lead him into deeper trouble
than her father already had. Yet, he couldn't let her go. Not until
he knew who those men had tried to run down, him or Sarah. He'd
brought her into this; now she was his responsibility.
    Keeping her close to him was the only way to
protect her, but it was also the most dangerous. She slipped under
his defences. She got to him on so many levels, his brain couldn't
seem to function beyond a caveman mentality.
    He firmed his jaw against the pain in his
ankle and hobbled faster toward the lane that led to their cabin.
As they stepped off the main street into the private lane, Sarah's
labored breathing penetrated through his thoughts. He stopped and
rested both arms on her shoulders, making certain he stood between
her and the open street.
    "Let's take a break."
    Without a word, Sarah stood quietly patient.
He glanced down at her serious face, noting the furrow between her
eyes.
    "What are you thinking about?"
    "What?" She squinted up at him. "Oh, about
that car and the people in it. The headlights blinded me. I wish I
had seen what kind of car it was."
    "It was a dark blue sedan. I didn't catch the
make, but I'd know it if I saw it again. There were two men sitting
in the front. I don't think there was anyone in the back, but they
could have been bending over."
    The furrow between her eyes deepened. "How
could you have possibly seen all that?"
    "When a car tries to run over me, I notice.
Come on. I'll feel better once we're not such an easy target." He
dropped his arms and limped toward the cabin. A second later, a
heartfelt sigh escaped him as Sarah slipped under his arm and put
hers around his waist. Man, she felt good beside him.
    "They know who we are," she said.
    "I'd say that's a safe bet."
    "My father would never harm me." Her voice
trembled.
    "Of course not. I told you he probably had a
partner. Looks like he has more than one." Under the guise of
leaning on her, he tucked her more firmly under his arm. If he'd
known he would be dealing with a gang of thieves, he'd never have
involved her in any of this.
    "There's an outside chance your father is
being held against his will."
    "You think so? We should