Storm Watch (Woodland Creek) Read Online Free Page A

chest again. “Don’t hurt me.”
    He eased his hold on her, but stayed where he was, sitting on the edge of the bed. “Calm down,” he ordered gently. “You’re safe, and I’m not going to hurt you.” His talents were more toward violence, and had served him well in both his previous careers, but right now, she needed calm and soothing—not exactly his strong suits.
    She glared at him, shooting green fire from her eyes. “Stop telling me that! I’m not safe! I’ll never be safe! Just go away,” she said raggedly. “Leave me alone and go away.”
    Luke felt her start to shake and tilted her chin up with gentle fingers. Her fear and tears tore at him. She was trying to hide what she was feeling behind anger. Before that’s what he’d wanted—now, he wanted her to think and realize she was safe. He needed her to talk to him, but he also knew that now wasn’t the time. She had to be exhausted. “Don’t cry. We’ll get this sorted out.” He released her and she scrambled across the bed.
    Biting back an oath, Luke got to his feet and crossed the room to the one chair next to the window. “Go back to sleep. I’ll stay until you do.”
    “I don’t want you here!” she snapped. “Just leave me alone!”
    Luke shook his head. “Sorry, no can do. I’ve been paid to keep you safe, remember?” He could have cursed himself when she turned deathly pale. Even in the dimly lit room, it was obvious to his tiger’s eyes.
    With a sigh, he walked back over to her. “I’m not calling him, Storm. I’ll keep you here with me until we get this sorted out. I don’t want you to be afraid of me. I promise I’ll keep you safe.”
    He saw the flare of hope in her eyes that she quickly masked and felt a surge of protectiveness. Whether she was in danger or not no longer mattered. She thought she was.
    “You won’t call?” she asked at last.
    “No,” he promised. “Do you want me to go?”
    She shook her head and moved back to the middle to lie down again. “You can stay if you want.”
    “Then close your eyes and sleep, Storm.” Surprising them both, she did exactly that. Luke leaned back in the comfortable chair and closed his own eyes. It had been a long day. There would be time tomorrow for them to talk and for him to make his calls. It wouldn’t be the first time he had slept in a chair and he wanted to be sure she slept soundly. With a tired sigh, he closed his eyes.
    §§§
    It was still snowing when Storm opened her eyes and looked out the window. She shivered against the cold and pulled the blankets up, cuddling beneath the warm comforter, then suddenly remembered where she was and jackknifed to a sitting position.
    “Morning.”
    Storm stared at him. Even in the morning with sleep rumpled hair and a five o’clock shadow, he was a gorgeous man. His eyes, though, were almost hypnotic. A shade of blue she rarely saw in anyone’s eyes. “You stayed with me all night?”
    Luke stood up and stretched. “Yeah. I’ll make some coffee and breakfast. Take a shower if you want.”
    Storm couldn’t help but look at him. He was tall. Much taller than Raymond. At least 6’4” or so. And big. Not fat—just all muscle. “I don’t have any clothes to put on. I really need to get to my car. Can you take me to it?”
    He shook his head. “Sorry, but no. The roads will be impassable until this storm blows over. There’s no doubt it’s going to be a white Christmas.”
    “Oh,” she whispered.
    “There should be some sweats and things in the drawers. Use whatever you want. We can make do for a day or two. There’s plenty of food and there is a generator if the power goes out. Once the roads begin to clear, we’ll worry about your car.”
    Storm suddenly wished she could read the expression in his eyes. There was a tenderness she hadn’t expected, but also something more. “Thanks.”
    “I’ll be in the kitchen. Come on out when you’re ready.”
    Storm nodded and he walked over to the edge of the