The Last White Knight by Tami Hoag Read Free Book Online Page A

it a night. Where do you want me to bed down?”
    The question hit Lynn square in the chest, jolting the breath from her. She looked at him with a careful poker face, hoping to heaven she’d heard him wrong. “In your own little bed across town, or wherever it is you live,” she said evenly.
    Erik shook his head. “Uh-uh. You could have been hurt tonight. I’m not going anywhere.”
    Lynn gaped at him, incredulous. “Well, you’re not staying here!”
    “Guess again, counselor.” He planted himself in the doorway to the living room, feet spread, back against the door frame, looking for all the world like the original immovable object.
    “You can’t stay here with me,” Lynn argued vehemently. “My God, what if the press got hold of that?”
    “Someone attacked this house tonight and may very well have meant to attack you personally. What kind of man would I be if I just said ‘so long’ and went home?”
    “The kind who has a healthy respect for gossipmongers.”
    “I don’t have any respect for gossipmongers. I’m staying here to protect you. It’s perfectly innocent.”
    “Famous last words,” Lynn muttered, pacing the hall, her sneakers squeaking on the hardwood floor, her right hand rubbing anxiously at her forehead. “ ‘It was perfectly innocent.’ That’s what Gary Hart said. One day he’s running for president, the next he’s sitting in an office somewhere making paper-clip chains.”
    Erik stepped out to block her path, taking hold of her shoulders. He looked her in the eyes, his expression curiously sweet. “Why don’t you let me worry about my reputation?”
    Lynn gave a bark of laughter. “Because you obviously won’t do it! You came here to help us. I won’t be the ruination of your public image.”
    That won her a chuckle that made her want to kick him in the shin. She tried to pull out of his grasp, but he held her in place with ridiculous ease.
    “An hour ago you accused me of using my offer of help as a ruse to get you into my bed!” he exclaimed, blue eyes glittering with humor. “Now you’re worried about ruining me?”
    She scowled at him. “So I was wrong. So sue me. You’re a stand-up guy. Now go home.”
    “Nope. I’m not letting you stay here alone. You can go back to the other house and I’ll keep watch here or you can stay here with me.”
    “I’ll call Lillian,” Lynn said, having no intention of following through. The initial burst of fear had long since burned off. She didn’t feel endangered, and neither did she feel incapable of staying alone. The rock hurler had made his point and gone home. She doubted he would be back tonight.
    “Does Lillian have a husband who can come with her?”
    “No. He died four or five years ago.”
    “Then you can call Lillian and the three of us will stay here together. I’m not leaving women here unprotected.”
    A sigh slipped from between Lynn’s lips as she regarded the man before her. She supposed she could have lied to him and told him Lillian had a husband, but she doubted it would have done her any good. For one thing, she was out of practice. Lies didn’t trip that easily from her tongue anymore. For another, the stubborn set of that granite jaw told her Erik wouldn’t leave until he was satisfied as to her safety. The idea touched her in a place she hadn’t allowed anyone near in a long, long time.
    “Oh, for crying out loud,” she complained, looking everywhere but at Erik. “All the rotten, unscrupulouspoliticians in the world and I have to get the one who thinks he’s Lancelot.”
    Erik chuckled to himself. The lady didn’t like being thwarted. She was too stubborn and too brave for her own good. Her eyes glittered with suppressed anger. Her soft, pretty mouth turned down in a slight exaggeration of its natural pout. She had the temper of a hellcat. It was a wonder she hadn’t jumped out the kitchen window, run the culprit to the ground, and pounded the snot out of him. He had little doubt