To Protect the Heart of a Brazen Woman [Brazen Sisters 6] (Siren Publishing Classic) by Rita Sawyer Read Free Book Online Page B

you.”
    “If you’re with me who’s going to track this woman down?”
    “There’s already people on it. My job is to watch over you until they call and say they’ve got her.”
    Bobbie didn’t respond. She glanced over her shoulder at the path. Jake wondered if she was thinking about running. She had to know she wouldn’t get far. He knew from the second he got the message about the threats that nothing about getting Bobbie to agree to being under his control would come easily. She came from a family of strong-willed women, and she could give them all a run for their money.
    The only thing he could do was expose her as a threat to her family. “Bobbie, I don’t want to push you, but we don’t have much time. I understand how close you are to your sisters and that you won’t want to put them at risk, especially with two of them being pregnant.”
    “I’m thinking.” She sighed as she walked over and sat on one of the big rocks protruding out of the ground.
    Just when he started to think he might have to handcuff her and drag her off, she stood up and asked, “Where are you planning on taking me?”
    “My cabin.” Jake figured it would be the best place for them to hide out.
    “Jake, that thing is nothing more than a shack. You do realize that with us both out of sight the whole town is going to be talking.”
    He knew it was wrong, but he hoped it would wipe out any talk of him and Kerri that was still lingering around town.
    “They’ve been talking for years, but it’s actually something I’m counting on.”
    “We’ll need to fill my sisters in on what’s going on.”
    “I plan on it. They need to be prepared, because I think Patrice will talk to one or two of them trying to find out where you are.”
    “Damn it. If you think she’ll approach them, then why the hell do I have to leave?”
    “Because they’re of no use to her. If she comes it’ll be for you.”
    “But won’t she try to use them to get to me?”
    “No. You may be her target, but only because it’ll get to me. Patrice is not a criminal mastermind. One of the reasons we were able to catch her in the first place was because she refused to deviate from her plans.”
    “What did she do?”
    “She embezzled four million dollars from an accounting firm where she worked. They still haven’t found the money yet.”
    “So we’re probably not in any real danger.”
    “I didn’t say that. She shot the cop who shot her boyfriend when we arrested her.”
    She gasped. “I would have led off with ‘she could be armed and dangerous.’”
    “Yeah, well, I wouldn’t have run off and made the sheriff chase me down.”
    “I wasn’t running from the sheriff, I was running from…”
    “From what? Say it.” He grabbed her wrist and pulled her up against him.
    “You.” She put her free hand on his chest, but she didn’t push him away as he’d anticipated. “I was running from you, Jake.”
    He let go of her hand and slid his arms around her waist, keeping her from escaping. “Why? You know you have no reason to be afraid of me, ever.”
    She nodded, her gaze never leaving his. “And I believe you when you say there’s nothing between you and Kerri.”
    “Finally.” He started to lower his head and she pulled back a touch, so he stopped.
    She looked down at her hands on his shirt. “That doesn’t mean there can be anything between us.”
    Jake had made too many mistakes, but to let her go on believing that would be the worst. He raised his hand and gently tucked the lock of hair on her cheek behind her ear. She didn’t move as he ran his fingers along her jaw to her chin. He tipped her face up and lowered his head, pressing his lips to hers.
    She sighed and he felt her lean into him. Jake touched her bottom lip with his tongue and she willingly opened for him. Her hands slid up to his shoulders and she clung to him as he ravaged her mouth. It wasn’t a gentle kiss, and she gave as good as she got. Her breasts were