Free Lone Rider by Lauren Bach Page B

life.
                  Dallas looked up, noting her scowl. Most people would have already buckled under the strain. Not Tess. Her moxie pleased him. And challenged him.
    His glance swept to her stockinged feet then slowly traveled up as he recalled his plan. Exploitation. Seduction. The assignment wouldn’t be a problem on his part. He was keenly aware of her. Could still taste her. And fair or unfair, her survival hinged on his gaining her confidence, making her dependent.
    “Feel better?” he asked.
    She nodded.
    His eyes held hers. “Head still hurt?”
                  “A little.”
                  He grabbed a bottle of aspirin from a shelf and tossed it to her. “Take two. It’ll help.” 
                  She started to toss the bottle back, then stopped. Her head did hurt. Bad. Moving past him to the sink, she ran a glass of water.
                  “Chow’s almost ready. Sit there.”  Dallas pointed to a chair, then turned back to the stove. “Eggs, bacon, toast. Nothing fancy.”
                  She ignored the chair, leaning instead against the counter. The shower had revived her, left her in the mood to pick a fight. “You cook for your prisoners? How quaint.”
                  “Only the skinny ones.”  He gave her a quick once-over then looked away again. “Personally, I prefer a woman with a little more cush on her tush.”
                  Tess opened her mouth, then closed it, glad to know she didn’t fit his image of an ideal woman. Ignoring his back, she surveyed the cabin, the urge to escape stronger than ever. She studied the brand new dead bolt on the front door. On the off chance it was unlocked, she doubted she’d make it far without a better head start. Besides, where would she go?
                  The last thing she wanted was to get away from Dallas only to run into Snake. Or Bogen. For now she needed to be patient and learn the lay of the land. She also needed to make sure no one was around when she made her break.
                  “Hello?”  Dallas stood right beside her, skillet in hand. “Scrambled okay?”
                  She jumped, flustered that he’d caught her lost in thoughts of escape. Needing distance, she took the chair f a rthest from him. “Yes.”
                  Her eyes widened when Dallas set a plate in front of her and slid into the chair next to her. She stared at the plate. There was enough bacon to clog an elephant’s arteries. And it was extra - crispy -- just the way she liked it.
                  She pushed the plate away. “I’m not hungry.”
                  Dallas ’ hand closed over hers, stilling the motion. “Starving yourself won’t change the situation.”
                  Tears stung her eyes at his unnecessary reminder. She glowered at him. His tendency to be thoughtful confused her. And infuriated her. “What will change it?”
                  “For now, nothing.”
                  “Don’t say that!”  She snatched her hand away. “You had no right to bring me here. If you’ve got a shred of decency left in you, you’ll let me go.”  Her voice lowered in desperation. “Please. I’ll do anything.”
                  “Anything?”  Dallas looked at her. Fueled by the memory of her beneath him in the bed, his imagination supplied searing images laden with hot potential. Anything... What would she look like wearing only willingness and all that long golden hair?
                  He shook himself mentally, yanking hard on his control. Not for the first time he felt the sting of regret over his actions. But that didn’t alter a thing. His path was carved in stone , and now she was part of it. A complicated part. And it was going to get personal.
                  Bogen had been right. She’d