Free Living on the Edge by Susan Mallery Page B

through her in-box and sorted through the letters from children. She liked to stay in touch with her clients, hear about their lives and the positive changes brought on by reconstructive surgery.
    There was an e-mail from Thomas, a little boy scarred by a gunshot. He told her all about his visit to his grandmother’s house and how he played with the other kids in the neighborhood and that none of them made fun of him.
    Madison touched the screen of her laptop and wished she could hold the precious child in her arms. If she ever got tired or frustrated or unhappy with her life, she only had to read these letters to have her world put back in perspective. If she—
    Tanner walked into her bedroom. She glanced at him and was surprised when her heart gave a little flip of happiness.
    Wait a minute. What was up with that? She couldn’t possibly be attracted to Tanner. Sure, he was tall, dark and dangerous, which made him the female version of catnip, but so what? He despised her and she onlywanted him around to keep her alive. They weren’t about to get involved.
    Before she could figure out what was going on, he stalked to the bed and threw several pieces of paper at her. She grabbed one and stared at it.
    â€œWhat?” she asked.
    â€œExplain these. You’d better talk fast because I’m about ready to take you back to your ex.”
    The threat chased away any lingering warm fuzzies. She grabbed the pages and tried to read them. Fear made it hard to concentrate, and she had to study each word until it made sense. When that happened, she knew she’d stepped into an alternate universe.
    The e-mails were from her to Christopher, begging him to take her back. She pleaded, she bargained, she offered sexual favors that made her blush. When she’d finished the first one, she knew she didn’t want to read any more, nor did she know what to say.
    She could feel Tanner’s fury filling the room. Whatever credibility she’d built up with him had just expired.
    â€œI didn’t write these,” she told him, frantic with worry but without any idea as to how to convince him.
    â€œThey’re on your computer.”
    â€œI figured that, but I didn’t write them.” She stared at the typewritten pages and wished they’d been written by hand. At least then she could demand handwriting analysis to prove her point. “I swear, it wasn’t me.”
    â€œThen who?” he asked, obviously not interested in believing her. “Oh, wait. Let me guess. Your ex-husband broke into your condo, typed these on your computer and left them for me to find.”
    â€œMaybe.” Although she knew it sounded improbable, it had to be true. Panic swelled inside of her. “Tanner, I didn’t do this. I don’t want anything to do with the man.”
    â€œRight.” He turned to leave.
    Madison knew he was her only hope. Without Tanner on her side, she was as good as dead. Maybe not right away, but as soon as Christopher didn’t need her anymore.
    She pushed aside her computer and scrambled to her feet to chase after him. She grabbed his arm before he could step into the hallway.
    He glared down at her. “I told you not to take me for a fool. That I wasn’t interested in any sick games you and your ex might want to play.”
    â€œI know. I’m not playing. I’m not doing anything. I’m the innocent bystander in all this.”
    His dark eyes were unreadable, but she felt his anger. Helplessness made her stomach tighten.
    â€œI’ll do anything,” she said frantically. “Tell me how to prove my innocence. I’ll sign anything. I’ll—” a lightbulb went on “—I’ll take a lie-detector test.”
    His gaze narrowed slightly. “They’re not dependable.”
    â€œThey have to be worth something.”
    â€œI prefer drugs.”
    She didn’t know exactly what that meant. “Truth