Free Spirit Bound by Christine Feehan Page B

working at the shop tomorrow and the weather should be nice.” Her chin was up, her spine straight.
    She was determined to see it through and as quickly as possible before she changed her mind. He kept his smile to himself and sank down into the chair at the desk in front of the open books. It was time to get to “work” and allow her off the hook before she became too wary. She was already on the verge of flight.
    “What time? Sounds fun.” He didn’t actually know what fun was, but spending time in her company and sparring with her was definitely intriguing. He had time to establish his presence in Sea Haven before Jean-Claude was broken out of prison and picked up. Hopefully, there would be nothing to do but to leave. In the meantime, he would study the people and get a feel for the town. He would look for Petr Ivanov as well, and if he found him, Ivanov would have to disappear. Stefan couldn’t leave him behind to find Lev, if his brother was still alive.
    “Let’s do eleven or twelve. That will give me time to get some work in at home.”
    He made certain not give into the temptation to look up, studiously studying the book. “Sounds good to me. If you write down the address, I can find it. I’ll bring lunch, otherwise, you’ll think you have to provide one for me.”
    “Why would you think that?”
    He did allow his gaze to jump to hers, amusement showing through. “You’re that kind of a woman.”
    Her eyebrow went up. “What kind of a woman would that be?”
    “The hospitable kind, of course. And I’m not going to take any more advantage of your kindness than I already am just by agreeing to the tractor ride.”
    “Oh, no you don’t. Thomas, you’re not just getting a ride, you’re going to drive it.”
    The teasing note in her voice disarmed him. He’d never really engaged in teasing with a woman and he pushed down the warmth spreading through his body. He had to remind himself he wasn’t Thomas Vincent, that he was seriously playing this woman. None of it was real, no matter how real it felt to him. He sat up straighter. Or how real he wanted it to be.
    Cursing under his breath, he forced himself to keep from looking at her again. He had more discipline than this. How in the world could he allow a woman to rock his world? She was just like everyone else in his world: a target. Disposable, a tool to be used and thrown away. He had no other way of life and he didn’t know how to change or even if it was possible.
    “Are you thinking of chickening out?”
    He closed his eyes briefly. Her voice, velvet soft, bedroom husky, slipped under his skin and found its way inside of him, no matter how much he tried to punch up his armor. He couldn’t stop the stealing glance. She was sitting on the edge of a counter, her long, slender legs crossed, that modest skirt suddenly not quite as modest. Again, he had the feeling she had no idea how sexy she looked sitting there, or the fantasies she might put in a man’s head.
    Her hair fell like a silky waterfall, cascading over one shoulder, covering one breast, a rain of blue-black, straight and shiny. He had the sudden urge to bunch it into one fist and jerk her to him, his mouth taking hers, over and over, long kisses until she was so drugged on him, that she begged him to strip off her clothes and take her right there on the counter.
    Judith sucked in her breath sharply and pressed a hand to her heart. Her gaze met his. Immediately that one-two punch to his gut came. She slid off the counter and pulled the edges of her jacket together protectively. “Who are you?” she whispered. “What are you? Because you’re no ordinary businessman from New York.”
    Her hand crept toward the phone. She actually took a step back, and then, as he stood, suddenly bolted around the counter. Her hand swept up the receiver. He was there at the same time, cursing his wayward mind, astonished that she was so psychically gifted that she either read his thoughts or felt