Uneasy Alliance by Unknown Read Free Book Online Page B

the photograph broke the short, shattering spell that had
    gripped her. "Just a photo I loaned Mrs. Wilkins the other day. She
    wanted to see some pictures of my last vacation." In another second or
    two, Abby knew, she would be descending into outright babble. She had to
    get rid of Torr immediately. She needed time to think, time to assimilate
    the full implications of the shocking photograph. Hastily she shoved the
    picture back into the envelope and whirled to face him.
    He was studying her with the cool, assessing gaze that she had grown
    accustomed to during their classes in flower arranging. There were times
    when she had found the intensity of that gaze almost amusing. Tonight it
    was terrifying.
    "Good night, Torr. Thank you for a very interesting evening."
    He watched her a moment longer and she nearly panicked as she
    realized she couldn't predict exactly what he would do next. She wanted
    him out of the apartment at all costs, but what on earth could she do if he
    opted to stay?
    "I'll pick you up around one o'clock tomorrow," he finally said.
    "Yes, yes, one will be fine. I'll be ready," she answered him far too
    quickly.
    When he reached for her she shrank back nervously, a protest on her
    lips.
    "My good-night kiss, remember?" he prompted very softly.
    She didn't argue. It seemed the fastest way to get rid of him. Obediently
    Abby turned her face up for his kiss, her fingers hovering against his
    shoulders. If he was surprised by her meek behavior, Torr did not
    comment on it. Instead he folded her close until she felt overwhelmed by
    the heat and strength of him and then he fastened his mouth on hers.
    For a traumatic moment Abby was almost overpowered by a dangerous
    longing to simply surrender to the virile strength that surrounded her. The
    temptation was wholly unexpected and beyond anything she could have
    imagined. His kiss fused her to him, promising passion and protection,
    and she moaned softly far back in her throat as she realized the danger
    and the desire that threatened to take control.
    He held her deeply in thrall for several long seconds and then,
    reluctantly, Torr released her. The knowledge that she had been on the
    edge of belonging to him, even if only for the space of one kiss, flared
    through his awareness, arousing him and urging him to pull her back into
    his arms.
    But there was too much uncertainty in the air, too many unexplained
    factors between them yet. He was not a boy, Torr told himself grimly. He
    could wait. Rushing things now might well ruin everything.
    "Good night, Abby. I'll see you tomorrow. I found our evening together
    interesting , too." With a wry smile he let himself quietly out the door and
    heard the lock being slipped into place behind him.
    The memory of her silvered blue eyes stayed with him as he climbed
    into the BMW and started home. Abby had wonderfully expressive eyes, he
    reflected coolly. At various times during the evening he had seen laughter
    and warmth and even excitement mirrored in the silvery pools.
    But when he'd shut the door of her apartment behind himself the
    expression in her eyes hadn't been anything close to laughter or warmth or
    excitement. Instead, her gaze had been filled with a new and
    unfathomable tension. She was probably even now taking one of her
    vitamin tonics for the problem.
    Torr's face settled into its customary hard lines as he drove through the
    city streets. What had that business with the photograph been about, he
    asked himself. It had been a picture of Abby and someone else—a man, he
    felt certain, although the second figure hadn't been as focused. And the
    setting had been title parking lot of a large motel.
    Motel? Or a resort? The resort that had been pictured in the brochure
    lying on her kitchen counter the night before?
    What game was Abby playing and how long would he give her before
    yanking her out of the action?
    The question kept him awake long into the night.

THREE
    « ^ »
    The phone rang in Abby's