A Demon in Waiting (Crimson Romance) Read Online Free Page A

them when he passed behind her in the store. There was something to be said for a pair of fitted jeans and a clingy shirt. If the girls at the compound had dressed like that, he probably would have been turned out long before he was. The way a woman’s waist tapered and her body flared at the hips …
    My god.
    He adjusted the crotch of his jeans when she turned her gaze to the car passing them on the left.
    “It’s true,” she said when she looked front once again. “I think I screwed up my metabolism. I used to be distance runner until I blew out my knee. Had sickeningly low body fat. I look back on the pictures now and wonder how I was able to hold my head on my neck. Then I went to college, started smoking and engaging in other bad habits, and my weight fluctuated a lot. I took up swimming and slimmed down a lot again, but couldn’t sustain it. Now, I get most of my exercise biking to work. Squeeze in a run when I can manage it.”
    “You look great.”
    She grinned. “Flattery will get you everywhere.”
    That’s what I’m hoping.
    “I’m Ariel, by the way.”
    Ariel
. Perfect name for a woman with a sweet voice and the face of an angel, he thought. He held out a hand for her to shake briefly. “You can call me Hitch.”
    Her grin widened. “Why do I get the feeling you spend a lot of time begging rides, Hitch?”
    He rolled down his window and let his hand catch the wind just outside. He didn’t respond.

Chapter Three
    Ariel thought she’d drive a couple hours and stop for the night, but the company was good and conversation so stimulating, she hadn’t wanted it to end — to put Hitch out. However, her bladder made her see reason, and somewhere near Albuquerque she finally had to stop. She picked a mid-range hotel that promised cable and had a restaurant on the ground floor, knowing that once she checked in, she wouldn’t want to leave again until morning.
    Hitch waited beside her car as she locked up then walked her to the lobby. “Thanks for the lift, Ariel,” he said, those bright blue eyes twinkling from the parking lot lights as he heaved his knapsack onto his shoulders.
    She had that feeling in her gut again. The one that said
go back and fetch
, and she stood there, studying him while shifting her weight from foot to foot and willing her bladder to play nice. She didn’t want to be done with him yet, and knew it was unreasonable. He was a hitchhiker. If she had good common sense, she’d let him go on his way and she’d check into a room, lock her door, and deadbolt it.
    “Why don’t you let me buy you dinner? As a thank-you.”
    He raised both brows. “You thank
me
? For what?”
    “For keeping me company. Awake. This road trip stuff really wears on a girl’s sanity, and I’ve still got two days to go.”
    “That’s kind of you, but you should let me buy
you
dinner.” He cocked a crooked grin onto one cheek. “And a tank of gas.”
    “No way. My new company is reimbursing me, so don’t think you’re putting me out.”
    “If you insist.”
    “I do.”
    They stood there lingering for another moment and Ariel squeaked. “Uh. Why don’t you wait for me in the restaurant? Order me an iced tea? I’ll meet you there after I check in.”
    He nodded and strode in. Ariel wasted a moment she really couldn’t spare watching the movement of his ass beneath his loose jeans. Then she got hold of herself and made a beeline for the bathroom with her rolling suitcase.
    A bit later, bladder empty and room key in hand, she found Hitch in a booth, nursing a glass of water as he stared at the television mounted over the bar. He smiled as she sat and pulled his menu closer. “You’re going to have to help me out. I can’t say I have much experience with restaurants.”
    “Oh!” She nestled her suitcase in the little alcove next to the booth and pulled out the seat across from Hitch. “I don’t tend to be all that adventurous when it comes to restaurants. Everything always sounds so