Uneasy Alliance by Unknown Read Free Book Online Page A

"There usually is a catch to the most interesting 'deals,' " she
    said sarcastically.
    "I'm glad you're businesswoman enough to understand that."
    "What are you about to imply now, Torr? That I'm going to have to
    sleep with you in order to continue to enjoy the pleasure of your
    company?"
    Again he shook his head in a slow, sure negative. "The only string I'm
    putting on this relationship, Abby, is that I want to be sure I'm the only
    man in your world. If there's someone else who thinks he has a claim on
    you, I want you to tell him goodbye. And I want you to get rid of him
    before you sleep with me."
    Abby wrenched herself free, flung open the car door and leapt lightly
    out onto the sidewalk. "You certainly do know how to ruin a lovely
    evening!"
    He was beside her before she found the key to the lobby door and she
    knew she wouldn't get rid of him until he had seen her upstairs to her
    apartment. They rode the elevator in silence. Her chin lifted forbiddingly
    as she swept down the hall.
    "Abby—"
    "Listen to me, Torr," she gritted. "I've been taking care of matters,
    perfect and otherwise, in my world for quite some time. I don't need
    anyone to look after me and I'm not about to make any 'deals' to get
    protection I don't require. Furthermore, just for your information, I would
    never give any man who demanded them exclusive rights over me. Men
    who feel they have to ask for them rarely believe a woman who makes such
    promises, anyway. Men like that are incapable of trust. They are
    possessive and quite willing to make life unbearable for a woman."
    "If you've finished with the lecture, Abby," Torr began grimly as she
    found her apartment key, "I'd like a chance to talk this problem over in a
    civilized fashion."
    "There won't be time. You're going to say goodnight here at my door,
    remember?"
    He reached out to catch her wrist as she turned the key in the lock and
    pushed open the door. When she would have stepped inside to safety he
    pulled her up short.
    Quite unexpectedly Abby's right foot slipped out from under her. The
    delicate high heel had skidded awkwardly on a scrap of paper lying on the
    hardwood floor and the additional impetus of Torr's forceful grasp
    combined to send her tumbling heavily against him.
    "Oh!" Her surprise was muffled against the fabric of his jacket as she
    instinctively clutched for support. Automatically Torr's arms closed
    around Abby, steadying her but not releasing her.
    "What the…?" He glanced down at her feet in frowning concern.
    "You have no business manhandling me like this!" Rigidly Abby found
    her balance and tried to push herself away from him.
    "I didn't cause you to lose your balance. You must have slipped on that
    envelope."
    "What envelope?" She pushed aside a pale tendril of hair that had
    escaped the loosely arranged topknot and fallen into her eyes. Then she
    stared at Torr as he released her to lean down and pick up the white
    object on the floor. Wordlessly he straightened and handed it to her.
    "I must have dropped it earlier," she mumbled, brows attempting to
    knit across the top of her nose.
    "It's addressed to you and it looks as if it was slipped under your door,"
    Torr pointed out.
    He was right, of course. She didn't recognize the envelope and had
    certainly not dropped one addressed to herself earlier before leaving the
    apartment. Her name and address were neatly typed on the outside.
    Quickly Abby tore it open, wondering which of her neighbors had left a
    message for her.
    "It's probably from Mrs. Wilkins down the hall wanting me to water her
    plants while she goes off to see her new grandson." Abby lifted out the stiff
    piece of paper that was inside the envelope. As she saw what she held, she
    nearly dropped it.
    Stunned to a level of momentary numbness, Abby stared at the color
    photograph in her hand. No, it couldn't be! It wasn't possible. Her mind
    felt curiously blank.
    "What is it, Abby?" Torr moved to glance over her shoulder.
    His interest in