Worth the Risk by Anne Lange Read Free Book Online

suspected that was the night she conceived Tanner’s child.
     
    * * *
     
     
    Molly jerked awake. Startled, she darted glances around the tent, her ears perked, listening for something out of place. In a tent, the silence of the hour amplified all other sounds. She heard a few of her friends shift positions in their sleep, emitting muffled grumbles as they resettled. Ears straining, she waited. She’d been asleep for a while. The snap and pop of dying embers and the occasional shifting of a broken log were the only noises outside the tent.
    The soft hiss of a pulled zipper stole through the night. She tensed. Her breathing stilled as she tried to determine the direction it came from. Somebody shuffled quietly through the campsite, footsteps moving away from the tents, and then nothing for a few minutes. She waited until they returned, coming from the direction of the trees. Probably one of the guys.
    The crush of grass underfoot got louder as the steps drew near. They paused when they reached her side of the tent. Tanner. Molly held her breath, waiting for him to move on. When he didn’t, she considered that perhaps she was mistaken, but then his knees cracked as he bent down.
    “Molly?” His call was a whisper. “Are you awake?”
    She dared not move, not breathe. Her lungs began to burn. When he received no response, he stood, hesitating for a moment before retreating to his own tent.
    She released her breath when she heard him draw the zipper closed behind him. She listened to him settling down again. Relieved, she turned on her side and closed her eyes, willing sleep to return.
    When sleep claimed her hours later, she didn’t have the pleasure of dreaming about shopping for shoes or handbags or even going back to that night on the beach. She returned to the event that changed everything, the day her hopes and dreams shattered like a broken mirror.
     

Chapter Six
     
     
    Tanner stepped away from the tent, stretched his arms over his head, and yawned. His joints cracking couldn’t drown out the sound of birds singing and squirrels chattering as they argued over territory. The occasional cloud dotting the otherwise blue sky promised a beautiful spring day. The clanging of pots and the aroma of bacon drifted on the warm breeze. Campers were up and starting their day.
    He grabbed a shower at the communal restrooms before the rest of the campground woke up. When he returned, he found Molly awake, absorbed in preparing breakfast. He walked up behind her. “Good morning.”
    She jumped. “Oh, sorry. Morning. I didn’t hear you.” Keeping her eyes downcast, she kept her back to him.
    Going on instinct, he reached around and grasped her chin in his hand. With gentle force, he turned her toward him. The skin around her bloodshot eyes appeared puffy, strained, and pale. She’d been crying. Her eyes widened the tiniest bit before her gaze dropped to the ground.
    His eyes narrowed. “What’s wrong?”
    “Nothing. I’m fine, thanks. I didn’t sleep well, and I…I need a shower to wake up.”
    More like she needed an opportunity to escape. “I’ll take care of breakfast. You go have a shower while it’s not too busy yet.”
    “Thanks. I’d appreciate that.” She backed away from him and leaped to grab her stuff, which she’d already assembled on the picnic table. She rushed off, moving as though demons from hell were on her tail. No demons. Just him.
    She tossed a quick glance back over her shoulder and slowed her pace. Judging by the panic etched on her delicate features, she wanted to run. He stood, watchful until she disappeared around the bend. Damn it.
    He walked over to stow his gear in the tent. Brad lay on his stomach, his face ground into his pillow, oblivious to Tanner going in and out of the tent. He returned to the kitchen tent to finish breakfast preparations.
    Sleep had been elusive, and not because Brad snored like a diesel engine. He hadn’t been able to stop thinking about Molly. About