Free When You Dare by Lori Foster

was so innocently provocative, and yet so trusting, that he felt himself stir.
    Damn it, it wasn’t lust. What she made him feel was something more powerful than that—and more disturbing. He shook it off to concentrate on her injuries.
    “How’d you get this scratch?” It looked deep, healed over a little, but still painful.
    Her narrow shoulders lifted. “One of them wore an ornate ring.”
    And the bastard had been manhandling her enough to cut her with it? Yeah, Dare decided, he’d be protecting her—but he decided against sharing solid decisions with her yet. He needed a lot more info, and it’d be best if she thought his compliance hinged on her giving full truths.
    In his experience, too many people had secrets that could alter the outcome of an event.
    Dare treated the scratch, but didn’t bandage it. “Done.”
    “So…” She turned on the bed again, facing him as he replaced the chair. “You’ve made plans to leave.”
    “In a few hours. Soon as we can get packed up, we’re out of here.”
    She nodded, but hesitated. “I, um… Not that it matters in the long run, I guess, but… I feel conspicuous boarding a plane like this.” She held out the hem of the big shirt he’d given her. “Do we have time for me to just buy some jeans and maybe…a bra?”
    His mouth firmed. Looking at her, he could see the need for the bra, especially with her nipples puckered, pressing against the thin cotton of the shirt.
    Yeah, he could make time for that. If she knew they’d be on a chartered plane, away from any crowds, she might not think that shopping was necessary, but it wouldn’t hurt for her to get some shoes and socks, too. “We can spare about twenty minutes or so.”
    “I promise I can find what I need in that time.” Hustling now, moving faster than he’d seen her move before this, she gathered up the few things he’d gotten her.
    Dare nodded toward his bag on the bed. “Stow it in there.”
    “What will you do about your weapons?”
    “Don’t worry about it.” Chris had already cleared it with the pilots of the chartered plane.
    In no time, they were checked out and leaving the motel. Dare scanned the parking lot but didn’t see anyone watching them. Making yet another trip to Walmart, he drove across the street and parked away from other shoppers.
    Though she could no doubt afford to shop in a pricey boutique, Molly didn’t turn up her nose at the racks. She looked tired, but it didn’t slow her down as she located a pair of jeans, three pairs of socks, low boots, a bra, more underwear and a zip-up hooded sweatshirt in under the twenty minutes allotted.
    She was a power-shopper—like him.
    Impressed, Dare paid for the purchases and started back out to the lot with her.
    That’s when he spotted the red Ford truck. Handing the bag to Molly, he steered her to the side of the front doors and said, “Stay here until I come back for you. Don’t move. Period. Do you understand me?”
    “What? Wait.” She grabbed for his arm in a flash of panic. “Where are you going?”
    Dare scanned the area, deciding on the best advantage. Through his teeth, he said, “Tell me you understand.”
    She released her death grip on him. “I understand.” Fear put a quaver in her voice. “I won’t move from this spot.”
    “Good girl.” Keeping his gaze on the truck driver, who hadn’t yet noticed them, Dare darted out alongside a driver looking for a parking place. Staying low, uncaring of what others might surmise, he used the parking-lot traffic to conceal him until he could get to the other side of the truck.
    Using an SUV for cover, he checked to see that Molly remained near the front doors. The driver of the red truck stepped out. He’d spotted Molly, was looking right at her, and then he started searching for Dare.
    The driver, a dark guy with black hair and mirrored sunglasses, held a cell phone in his hand. For backup, or to report to someone?
    Darting from car to car, Dare positioned