Snowball's Chance by Cherry Adair Read Free Book Online

Kendall once Joe whisked her away from the Camerons’ ranch. Damn it, he wished to hell they could leave now.
    â€œI’m willing to risk it, if you are,” Kendall offered as if she were reading his mind. It was a disconcerting habit she had.
    â€œToo dangerous.” Joe brushed aside a strand of hair caught in her lashes, then let his fingers linger on the warmth of her cheek for just a second.
    It was a mistake. Because he didn’t want to lightly touch this woman with victory scars on her body and fear in her eyes. He wanted to take her to bed and love her all night long. He wanted to wake up beside her in the morning and see her with sunlight on her face.
    To paraphrase old Will Shakespeare, Joe thought facetiously, he was melting in his own fire. Too bad. He’d have to burn alone. Because the last thing this woman needed right now was his horny self. “I’m going to take a shower.”
    Cold.

4
    J oe told her to pick a room, any room. Kendall chose the last bedroom at the end of the hall. It was beautifully decorated in cream and terra-cotta, and even had its own fragrant Christmas tree in the corner near the fireplace. Not that she cared about the decor at this point. The room was big and had a luxurious en suite bathroom. It also had an interleading door into an adjoining room.
    Three exits should they need one. Forget they. She needed multiple ways out. The ordeal with Treadwell had taught her that—just as he’d taught her the true meaning of terror.
    Joe locked the bedroom door, then went around checking windows. “All secure. Stay here while I shower. I won’t be long.”
    Kendall was tempted—more than a little—to ask if she could shower with him or just sit on the floor so she wouldn’t be alone. But that would be turning her power over to Treadwell on a silver platter and she refused to do that. She’d worked too hard, come too far to do that again. Instead she asked, “Would you mind if I used your phone?”
    He handed it to her, warning her that the charge was getting low and not to talk too long, then went into the bathroom, leaving the door slightly ajar.
    She gave a bemused shake of her head as the shower turned on. She imagined him dragging that thick cream-colored sweater over his head, she imagined him dropping his jeans. God help her, she imagined Joe Zorn buck-naked under the spray. All of which gave her a hot flash.
    Her emotions were all over the place. She needed to focus and get her brain in gear. She quickly dialed Becky’s home number.
    â€œCall him your early Christmas present,” Becky told her as soon as Kendall let her know Joe was with her. His cell phone was crackly, and Becky’s voice faded in and out every time Kendall moved her head. “I’ve been … ing to call you since … cops called this … rning at the crack of,” Becky continued. “I even booked a flight out there to come and … ind you myself. Damn it. You scared the crap out of me w … dn’t reach … ou.”
    Kendall wasn’t feeling too sanguine herself. Both her body and brain were on sensory overload. She walked over to the window to see if the reception was any better. Worse. She crossed the room to sit on the slipper chair at the dressing table.
    â€œDetect … Abrahams r … mended the Agency wh … lled … ell Tre … escaped,” Rebecca told her. The cell phone was trying to die. Kendall turned her head slightly for better reception. “The manhunt—” Becky’s voice was clearer. “—Roadblocks yadda, yadda, yadda are all over the news here. Despite the weather up your way, he’s getting past all these damn people hunting for him.
    â€œEvery time that monster ditches a car and highjacks another one, he kills someone. The press has been Johnny-on-the-spot with the lurid details. I hate to scare you even more, sweetie, but you do know at last