Read Freeing Her Online

Authors: A. M. Hargrove

Tags: #Thriller, #Mystery, #alpha male, #thriller and suspense novels, #broken alpha male, #broken characters, #steamy adult romances, #dark pasts

Freeing Her (2 page)

BOOK: Freeing Her
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She’d picked up another olive and brandished
her little plastic sword at him. “No, I do not think I’d better
slow down a bit. I’m feeling rather mahhvelous at the moment.”


But wait until tomorrow.
Then the regrets will knock you right in the kisser.”


You know what, Skippy? I
think I’d rather you plant your mouth right here on this kisser.”
She puckered and closed her eyes.

It took everything Skippy had not to laugh
at her. But the more he looked at her, that urge to laugh was
quickly drowned out by a different urge. She wore a white blouse
that was unbuttoned, exposing the V of her creamy chest. The way
she was leaning toward him gave him a sweet view of her lovely
cleavage. If Skippy weren’t careful, his dick was going to have a
party in his pants and that wouldn’t do at all.

With her eyes still closed, Gabby asked,
“What’s taking you so long, Skippy?”

He put his lips next to her ear and asked,
“Do you have a habit of offering those sweet lips to perfect
strangers?”

She sat up straight on her stool. “Of coursh
not.” She swayed and shook her head as her long fingers gripped the
edge of the bar.

Skippy was looking at a very drunk Gabby. He
signaled the bartender and had him deliver a large glass of ice
water.


Gabby, drink this,” he
said as he handed it to her.


What ish it?”


Water.”


Why in the world would I
want water? I don’t wanna kill my buzzzz.” She laughed.


I don’t suppose you
do.”

She whipped her head around and nearly fell
off her stool. “Woo. That was closhe.”

Why the hell had he ever started talking to
her?


So, Shkippy, what do you
do for a living?”


A little of this and
that.”


What do you like better?
Thish or that?” And she broke into a series of giggles and couldn’t
stop. Her palm slammed the bar top and she giggled even harder. “Oh
my God, would you look at this. I’m tearing up,” she said. “Do you
have a tissue?”

Skippy handed her a beverage napkin. She
leaned over to him and whispered rather loudly, “Can I tell you a
shecret?”


I don’t know, Gabby. I’m
not good with secrets.”

The blood drained out of her face as it
darkened with pain. In a quiet voice, she told him, “That’sh okay
because I’m very good with shecrets, Shkippy. The besht
shecret-keeper ever. I never tell.” Then she drained her glass and
went back to rubbing her arms.

Skippy thought for a moment that he may have
met his match in the fucked-up-past department. Or at least it was
looking that way.

Gabby wished Skippy hadn’t brought up the
secret thing. Oh, she really couldn’t blame him, now could she? She
was the one who started it all. She grabbed her arm and slid her
thumb across her wrist, massaging it. Would she ever stop hating
Danny? Maybe. If he would leave her alone. But she knew that would
never happen. She shivered, thinking about what he’d told her on
the phone.


You okay over
there?”


Fine,” she lied. Gabby
learned a long time ago that it was easier to lie about things. The
truth only got you in trouble. And caused lots of pain. That’s how
she ended up in her career. She needed to help people who’d been to
hell and back, like she had.

Getting the bartender’s attention, she
ordered yet another martini.

Skippy was glad to see the bartender didn’t
make this one a double. Not that it mattered. Gabby was ten sheets
to the wind by now.


Thank you, tarbender.
You’ve been good to me tonight.”


You’re welcome,
ma’am.”

Skippy and the bartender tried not to
laugh.

Gabby picked up the little sword and began
eating her olives.


You have quite the
weapons cache there,” Skippy noted.


Yesh. Now I can defend
myshelf against that dickfashe pervert.”


I’m sure they’ll be quite
effective.”

She rested her head against her hand and
screwed up her face. “I doubt it. Nothing ever ish.” A few minutes
later, she sat up again, wobbled, and announced it was time for her
to leave.

She looked at Skippy and asked, “Do you know
where I am?”


Yes. It’s 5
O’Clock.”

She wrinkled up her brow and asked, “Ish it
five o’clock?”

Skippy laughed. “No, that’s where you are.
The name of the bar.”


But where ish
it?”

Shit, she needs a
hand.
“Gabby, where do you
live?”


Oh, no. You’re gonna try
and get in my pantsh. I’m not shtupid, mishter.”


No, I was going to help
you home. You’ve had a lot to drink.”


Have I?” She pushed
herself away from the bar and spun out. Skippy caught her before
she hit the floor.


Yes, Gabby, you
have.”


Rut-roh.” She
giggled.

Skippy paid both tabs and walked her
outside. The cool air felt great on her face but then she said she
needed to go back inside to collect her swords.


You’ll be fine without
them.”

In a serious voice, she said, “Noooo, I need
them for protection. They’ll defend me againsht all evil and keep
me shafe againsht intruding marauders who want to murder me, or
rape and pillage.”


I think you read too much
George R. R. Martin.”

Then she turned her caramel browns on him
and asked, “Will you lend me your shword? I really need a shword
tonight. One that’s long, hard, and dangeroush.” She wore a
mischievous smile.

He shook his head. “Precious, you don’t want
to get close to my sword.”


No? Why not?”


Because it’s long, hard,
and dangerous all right, but I promise you if it ever penetrates
anything of yours, you will never be the same again.”

She started to laugh but then hiccuped and
promptly passed out.


And now what the fuck am
I supposed to do?” he said to no one in particular.

Chapter Two

 

 

The beeping of
Kolson’s
phone woke him up. He always set
it for 6 a.m. so he could get his workout in before his day began.
But when he started getting dressed, memories of the evening before
pricked his mind. Gabby. Instead of throwing on gym clothes, he hit
the shower and then the kitchen. After he put on coffee, he moved
to his office to check his email.

He considered waking her. What if she needed
to be somewhere? Like a job? His own schedule was packed and he
didn’t have much time to hang around and wait on her sleeping ass.
He picked up the phone and called one of his employees.


How soon can you get
here?” Pause. “Fine.”

His body did not care for the fact that he
was missing his workout. His back and neck were already tense.
Nothing he could do about it now. He moved down the hall until he
reached the door where Gabby slept. Checking his clock, he noticed
it was seven twenty. His decision made, he tapped lightly on the
door. When he got no response, he opened it and walked in.

Wrong move. The minute he saw her, his dick
turned to granite and tried to pop through his damn jeans.

Fuck.
Does
she always look like this in
the morning?

Her deep brunette hair had escaped from the
messy bun and fanned out across the pillow. The pencil skirt she
wore was bunched up around her waist, showing off a damn nice set
of legs, not to mention a black lacy thong. She was lying on her
side, one leg bent at an angle the other straight, and Kolson had
all kinds of scenarios running through his mind at what he could do
to her like that. All he’d have to do would be lift that leg and
slip in behind her. Goddamn, his hand was rubbing his dick and he
hadn’t even realized it.

His second mistake came when his eyes
traveled up to her breasts, which he couldn’t even see. But her
blouse was twisted up, showing a strip of creamy skin that he
wanted to lick. And her cleavage. Oh God, he wanted to put his lips
on it and suck. And that was even before he got to her mouth. Lips
parted ever so slightly, he could only imagine how they would feel
around his rock-hard dick.

That was it. He spun around and got the hell
out of there before he came in his jeans. What the fuck was wrong
with him? His tastes usually ran to the extreme. Not to what was
lying in the guest room.

After he paced the hallway a few times, he
knew he must wake her. This time, instead of being quiet, he
marched back in and said, “Hey. Time to get up!”

She rolled back and forth a bit. But that
was it.


Gabby. You need to get
up. Now!”


Huh? What?” She rolled
over and groaned. “Oh God, my head.”


Yep. I tried to warn
you.”


Huh?”


Last night. I tried to
dissuade you from drinking.”

She turned her head and looked at Kolson,
squinting. “Um, who’re you?”


Skippy.”


Skippy?”


Yeah. You don’t remember
me?”


Uh, give me a minute. My
head’s exploding right now.”

Gabby’s head felt like a thousand
jackhammers were trying to outdo each other. And her mouth tasted
like an animal had urinated in it. Not that an animal had ever
urinated in her mouth before but still ...

Kolson handed her a glass of juice. “Here.
This may help.”


Uh, thanks.”

She guzzled it. “I’m so thirsty.”


I wouldn’t have
guessed.”

She lay back down and massaged her temples.
She hadn’t even noticed her state of dress … or undress, as it
were.


Do you work?” Kolson
asked.


Of course I work. What
kind of question is that?” She groaned again.


A legitimate one. Many
people don’t work. You could be independently wealthy.”

Gabby tried to laugh, but failed. “That’s
funny.”


What time?”


Huh?”


Work? What time do you
have to be there?” he snapped.


Oh. I don’t know. I have
to check my schedule,” Gabby replied.


Then Gabby, I suggest you
do so.”

She looked up at him and saw him for the
first time. Even in her hungover state, there was no mistaking the
man who stood before her. Tall and beautiful. Faded blond hair,
cropped a bit closer on the sides but longer on the top, with a
sculpted face that was something you’d see on a magazine cover. Not
the pretty kind of face you often saw, but a rugged one with flaws
that was much sexier because of them. Compelling was the word that
came to mind.


Who are you?” She was
totally confused.

He looked at her and his lips curved into a
smile emphasizing a scar that ran from his bottom lip to his chin.
Oddly enough, it only made him more attractive. And his eyes.
Arresting. An odd mixture of colors, she couldn’t quite figure them
out. But they looked to be charcoal on the outside, forest green in
the center and chestnut brown closest to the pupil. Strange, yet
stunning.


I told you. I’m
Skippy.”

Her weak attempt at laughing failed again.
“Right.” God, she thought, if only her head would stop throbbing,
maybe she could think. She lifted herself up to her elbows and
nearly died. A wave of dizziness smacked her in the cranium and she
collapsed back on the bed.


You okay?”

She groaned. “Hell no, I’m not okay. I have
an epic hangover.”


I tried to warn you.
Repeatedly. Hang tight a sec.”

Like I’m going somewhere?

He came back and said, “Here. Take these and
drink.” He handed her some pills and a glass of water.


What is it?”


Ibuprofen. Go
on.”

She downed it and then she caught her state
of dress.


Holy shit!” She scrambled
to cover herself.


Don’t you think it’s a
little late for that?”


No! I can’t believe you
let me lie here like this.”


And what precisely did
you expect me to do?”


Cover me up! I’m half
naked!”


I know that. And damn
enticing.”


Stop it,
Skippy.”

He smirked at her.


Where the hell am
I?”


At my place. I was going
to escort you home last night, but you passed out on me before I
had the chance.”


But, you didn’t …” Her
voice trailed off as the memory of Danny’s call nailed her.
Oh shit! Danny. Danny found me. He’s back.
She broke out into a sweat as she thought about
his phone call.

Gabby didn’t notice how Kolson’s humor
disappeared because she was stuck in a panic mode over Danny’s
call.

Kolson turned his flinty gaze on her. “I
didn’t what? I made sure that no harm came to you. What’s wrong
with you, going out alone like that, getting all sloppy drunk and
then not knowing how you’re getting home?” he snapped.


But that’s not what I
…”

BOOK: Freeing Her
11.76Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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