Third Chance by Ann Mayburn, Julie Naughton Read Free Book Online Page A

over his shoulder at her. “That I can see, with her love of glitter.”
    When Ryan led her into the den, Emma noticed right away that the curtains had been pulled back, letting in the sunlight and the view of part of the front drive, along with the park-like expanse of the front lawn. Her heart rate began to speed up and she tried to focus on Ryan instead of the increasing feeling of being watched.
    Ryan took her over to the brown leather couch that faced away from the windows, then gently lay Emma back so she was slouched into the cushions. This allowed her to slip down a bit so only the top of her head was visible to the outside world.
    “I got you something while I was out today.”
    The back of her neck prickled, as if someone were watching her, but she tried to ignore that feeling and focused on Ryan. “What’s that?”
    “A new phone, since you can’t find your old one.”
    He handed her a shiny new phone and she took it with a sigh. It was obviously top of the line and expensive, but Emma knew better than to fight Ryan on it. They’d had a rather heated argument about him spending so much money on her, but he wouldn’t budge, and the more she yelled at him about it, the more she’d felt like an ungrateful brat. That didn’t mean she felt comfortable with him buying her things, but she tried to be gracious about it.
    “Thank you.” She placed a quick kiss on his cheek, then frowned down at the phone. “Too bad I lost all my contacts.”
    “I can look them up for you.”
    “What? How?”
    Ryan shifted next to her, an uncomfortable look tightening his jaw. “I have my ways.”
    Emma couldn’t help but laugh at that. “I’m sure you do. Are your ways legal?”
    “Ish.”
    “Ish?”
    “Well, it is your information, so technically I’m not taking anything that you don’t own.”
    “Would you go to jail if you were caught?”
    “I won’t get caught.”
    “That good, huh?”
    “Yep.” Ryan gave her a charming grin that sent a bolt of warmth through Emma.
    “All right. I really do need those numbers so I would appreciate it if you could get them for me.”
    “No problem, sweetheart.”
    She turned the phone over in her hand, not really seeing it as her mind returned to its normal — or would it be abnormal? — fixation on someone watching her. “Have you talked to the guards yet today?”
    “Not yet. Why?”
    Biting her lower lip, Emma refused to meet Ryan’s eyes. “I just want to make sure that everything is okay.”
    “If it weren’t, I would tell you.” He lifted her chin so she would meet his gaze. “I want truth and honesty between us. I wouldn’t hide something from you that could put your life in danger.”
    Wanting to change the subject, Emma forced a smile. “You hungry?”
    She could see that he wanted to continue their conversation, but he finally nodded. “Starving.”
    “I have beef stew going in the Crock-Pot.” She leaned in and gave him a soft kiss that was all gentle lips and the promise of something more.
    “Mmm, that sounds good. But it’s not what I’m starving for.” Before she could ask him what he was talking about, Ryan lifted the hem of Emma’s pretty white skirt and slowly traced his fingers up her thigh, leaving a delicious tingle in the wake of his touch. “Thought about you all day, couldn’t wait to get home to you. Love coming home to you, Emma. For a long time I haven’t had a home, just a place to crash, but with you here…it finally feels like the best place in the world. Like it’s where I belong.”
    Emma’s nose burned at the absolute sincerity of Ryan’s words, but the arousal building from his touch, the need his gentle caress sparked within her was soon taking over her thoughts. God, he knew how to stroke her just right, paid attention to body, devoted himself to her pleasure. She’d had men worship her before, literally and figuratively, but never with this intensity. He looked at her as if she’d hung the moon and the stars,