The Bodyguard's Return by Carla Cassidy Read Free Book Online

rising. “Meredith told me you’d been doing quite well in New York.”
    I ran back home like a dog with my tail tucked between my legs. I screwed up with a relationship that turned more than ugly. The thoughts flew through his head, bringing with him the sense of failure that had ridden his shoulders since he’d made the decision to return home.
    “I missed my family. When you’re used to being surrounded by people who care about you, a place like New York City can be pretty lonely.”
    She eyed him wryly. “I doubt if a man like you had too many lonely nights.”
    “There’s a difference between being alone and being lonely.” He gestured toward the door, uncomfortable with the personal turn of the conversation.
    “Must be nice to have a loving family,” she said as she gathered her papers, then joined him at the front door.
    “You aren’t close with your family?” he asked. She stood close enough to him that he could again smell her scent, a heady fragrance that put all his nerves on alert.
    “It’s just me and my parents,” she replied. “I don’t think my mother ever recovered from the shock of not birthing a perfect blond, beautiful miniature of herself, and my father was mostly absent while I was growing up. He had to work long hours to keep my mother in baubles and bling.”
    She turned out the light, locked the door and they stepped out of the building. Night had completely fallen, but the illumination from a full moon cascaded down, painting her features in a soft, becoming light.
    “I can’t thank you enough for meeting me here tonight and listening to me.”
    “Don’t thank me yet,” he warned. “You haven’t convinced me that there’s anything ominous going on.”
    She nodded, her curls dancing with the gesture. “How are Jessie and Judd?”
    Joshua thought of the two dogs he’d brought home from Charlie’s place. “Initially they were confused and seemed depressed, but they’re beginning to settle in just fine. Smokey wasn’t thrilled that I’d brought them home.”
    She laughed, a low throaty sound. “Is that man ever happy about anything?”
    He grinned. “Smokey’s bark is definitely louder than his bite. After my mother’s death I’m not sure my father could have coped with six small children without Smokey’s help.”
    “How did that happen? I mean, where did he come from?”
    “Smokey worked as a foreman on the ranch until a terrible fall from a horse crushed his leg and left him with permanent damage. He’d just about healed from his wounds when my mother was murdered. Smokey stepped into the house as if he were born to the job.”
    “I’d love to interview him for my column. Actually, I’d love to interview you, you know, something about the return of the prodigal son.”
    “No way, I’m not interested in being interviewed. And good luck with Smokey,” he added drily. At that moment a loud bang resounded and almost simultaneously the picture window just to the right of them exploded.
    Without thought, acting only on instinct, Joshua dove toward Savannah and tackled her to the ground.

Chapter 4
    S avannah hit the pavement hard, the back of her head connecting with the concrete with a dull whack that momentarily created whirling stars in her brain. Joshua’s body covered hers as shards of glass rained down around them.
    For a moment she was frozen, unable to think. The back of her head throbbed from the blow. She opened her eyes and winced. “What happened?” she asked as the initial shock began to wear off.
    “Shh.” He shushed her sharply. She could swear she felt his heart pounding against her chest, but then wasn’t sure if it was his or her own beating so frantically.
    In the moonlight she could see his features, tautand dangerous-looking as he gazed at the darkness across the street.
    What was he looking for? What had just happened? A dog barked in the distance, the only sound in the otherwise silent night. “What’s going on? Do you see