LITMIR.BIZ

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her off his property already. She considered his grudging command a positive step. Slipping out of her car, she managed to hold her dress up, drop her keys into her purse, and close the door. Sam made no gentlemanly moves toward her, but then, he was badly beaten up.

      She loved his old two-story house. It had a poured front porch complete with an overhang and wooden swing. The shrubbery was original and thick and outdated, but it made a nice contrast against the red brick. Enormous oaks lined the street and during the day, squirrels scurried everywhere.

      At his father’s death, he’d inherited a large sum of money. She didn’t doubt that Sam could have afforded a posh, upscale home in an exclusive neighborhood. She was glad he hadn’t moved.

      When she reached Sam’s side, he took her arm in an implacable grip and started her in a trot toward the front door. Some elderly neighbors in the house to the right hailed him, forcing him to stop.

      “Evening Sam.”

      Sam groaned, slowly turned and waved at the two people visible by their front porch light. “Booth, Hesper. What are you doing up this late?”

      Ariel giggled. It was only eleven thirty.

      “The dog had business to take care of. Her old bladder just gives her fits.”

      Ariel’s giggle got caught in her throat. She looked in the yard and saw the most hideous creature she’d ever clapped eyes on. An obese bulldog squatted by a bush, turned to sniff, and then lumbered back to her owners, who praised her as if she’d created gold.

      “Who’s your lady-friend?” Hesper asked with a nosiness reserved for the old or very young.

      Sam leaned in close to Ariel’s ear. His hot breath teased her when he growled, “Stay here.” Then he moved away to the neighbor’s porch railing. They spoke quietly so Ariel couldn’t hear what was said.

      Seconds later, both elders looked over at her with awe and horror. Ariel frowned. Just what had Sam told them? He returned, took her arm again and said, “Let’s go.”

      “What did you say to them, Sam Watson?”

      “Keep your voice down. This is a quiet neighborhood.”

      His walkway could use a good sweeping, she decided as her toes kicked through scattered leaves. Even the porch was littered with leaves and acorns.

      As if he knew her thoughts, he said, “A recent storm blew crap everywhere. I’ll get to it when I can.” Using a key, he unlocked the front door and held it open for her.

      She stepped into the inky darkness, then felt his hands close gently but firmly on her upper arms. With bated breath, she waited for a kiss, but got bodily moved out of his way instead, so he could turn off an alarm. “Wait here.”

      Left alone, Ariel tried to get her eyes to adjust to the darkness. When the lights blinked on, she squinted. “Why don’t you have a wall switch by the front door?”

      “The light’s out and I haven’t had a chance to change it yet. I’ve been working overtime on the bar muggings. Let’s go to the kitchen. I have a feeling it might be the safest room.”

      “Why?” She trailed behind him.

      He gave her a long look. “No place to get laid.”

      Refusing to let him derail her, Ariel grinned at his sarcastic wit. “There’s always the countertop. Or the table. Maybe even the floor—”

      His rough palm covered her mouth. “That’s enough out of you.” She mumbled against his palm and he lifted his hand. “What?”

      “Tell me what you said to your neighbors.”

      His mouth curved in a sinful smile. “Sure. I told them you were a prostitute who’d ratted out her pimp, and I had to keep you close so he didn’t kill you.”

      “Oh.” He expected her to be insulted, so she asked instead, “Have you ever been with a prostitute?”

      “No.” He didn’t bother to hide his indignation at all. “Now behave for a minute so I can think.”

      While his back was turned, Ariel pulled out a chair, sat down and lifted her skirt to examine her scraped, bruised knees. They hurt, but Sam was in much worse shape than she so she tried not to complain.

      “Now about this…what the hell?” He’d turned with a scowl on his face, only to pull up with a different type of anger. “You said you weren’t hurt,” he accused.

      “Just a little. Nothing serious.”

      Muttering under his breath, Sam whipped off several paper towels, folded them, and doused them beneath cold water. He came to her and knelt down. “Hold still.”

      Despite his order, she jumped when the icy towel touched her raw scrapes. “Sorry.”

      “Damn.” He dabbed at both knees, removing small bits of dried blood, gravel, and dirt.

      Before Ariel could figure out what he intended, he flipped her skirt up higher. “Sam!”

      When she tried to shove her skirt back down, he caught both her hands in one of his and held them up and against her breasts, almost shoving her out of her chair. “Shush. I want to see if you’re hurt anywhere else.”

      She had to brace her feet apart to keep from toppling over. “This is outrageous!”

      Blue eyes lit like the hottest flame, he glanced up at her. “You sitting on my face was outrageous. This is just concern.”

      Ariel gulped.

      “Now be quiet.”

      Mortified, her mouth snapped shut. She had sat on his face. At the time, she’d been so worried about protecting him she hadn’t paid much attention.

      He found one large bluish bruise on her thigh. “How’d this happen?”

      Ariel peered down at the mark. With both their heads bent, her blond curls brushed up against his silky black hair. “I don’t know. Maybe when I jumped on that guy’s back and we all crashed into the stairs.”

      “Anything else?”

      Since he was on his knees in front of her, more caring than insulting, she showed him her elbow. It was raw and stung every time she flexed her arm. His mouth flattened in displeasure. “I ought to turn you over my knee for that damn stunt. Look at you. You’re a mess.”

      So much for caring.

      “Let me get some ice; then I’ll fetch my first aid kit.”

      “I don’t need you to doctor me.”

      He had his back to her, digging in his freezer. “Tough. My house, my rules, so I’m doing it anyway.” Within minutes, he had ice crushed inside a damp dish towel and he pressed the freezing compress to her thigh. Ariel almost came out of her seat. The cold prickled so badly she tried to shove it away.

      “Leave it,” he ordered, keeping it firmly in place until she subsided. He took her hand and put it over the compress so that she had to hold it. His commanding gaze bore into hers. “I want to see it there when I get back, you understand?”

      “Yes sir.”

      His eyes narrowed. “A show of respect from you at this late date is beyond suspect, so stow it.” Then softly, with exasperation, “I’ll be right back. Sit tight.”

      Ariel leaned out of her seat to watch him trot from the kitchen, into the hall, and up the short flight of stairs to his bathroom. Once he was out of sight, she lifted the ice away and fell back in her chair.

      None of this was what she’d expected. Not that she’d known what to expect, but worry over a few paltry bruises…She heard him returning and quickly replaced the ice pack, wincing at the bitter cold.

      He eyed her when he reentered, his expression stern. “I hope you learned a few things tonight.”

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