Free Against the Sky by Kat Martin Page B

looked surprised, though he tried not to show it. “That’s a good idea. In the meantime, you and I are still going fishing. I’ll be here to pick you up at six a.m.”
    Jimmy’s eyes widened. “No way. I don’t have to go with you. We made a deal.”
    â€œThe deal was you don’t have to talk to me and you don’t. You still have to go fishing with me.”
    Jimmy opened his mouth to argue, snapped it closed. “Fine.”
    â€œAnd you better be here when I get here. I still have plenty of pull with the department. You give your aunt any more trouble and I’ll have you hauled in to detention. Now get some sleep. I’ll see you in the morning.”
    Jimmy’s mouth thinned.
    â€œCome on, Samantha, let’s go home.” With a hand at her waist, Nick guided her out of the house.

    Nick helped Samantha into his SUV for the drive down the hill to his house. It had started to rain. This time of year, rainy days were a given.
    â€œWhat do you think really happened?” Samantha asked. “A fistfight wouldn’t explain why he didn’t come home all day.”
    â€œMaybe he was afraid what his aunt would say when she saw his face, but that’s hard to believe. Jimmy’s usually the kind of kid who tackles trouble head-on.”
    â€œThen what else could it be?”
    Nick shook his head. “Worrying his aunt that way was really out of character.” He ran a hand over his jaw. “I don’t know, it seemed like he was trying to brazen it out, putting up a tough front, but I got a feeling he was scared.”
    â€œOf his aunt?”
    Nick shook his head. “No.” He sighed. “Hell, he’s a kid. Maybe I was reading the whole thing wrong. I’ll talk to him in the morning, see if I can get him to open up.” He looked over at Samantha as he pulled into the driveway. “I’ve got a microwave. How about we heat up some of that chicken?”
    â€œThat sounds great. I’m really hungry.”
    â€œMe, too.” But the kind of hunger tightening his groin had nothing to do with food and everything to do with Samantha Hollis. He tried not to remember the softness of her lips, her petite, feminine curves moving beneath him, how snug she felt when he was inside her.
    He tried, but by the time he pulled the car into the garage and turned off the engine, helped Samantha down from the vehicle, he was hard as a frigging stone.
    Samantha smiled as he led her up on the deck, through the mudroom, into the kitchen. “I imagine after all the excitement, we’ll both get a good night’s sleep.”
    He cast her a thunderous look. “You really think so? Because I’ll be lying there half the night aching for you, wishing you were in my bed instead of your own.”
    Her eyes widened. “You said—”
    â€œI know what I said, and I won’t break my word. Doesn’t mean I don’t want you.” He leaned over and very softly kissed her, felt his erection stirring beneath his jeans. Samantha returned the kiss, making him even harder, then she pulled away.
    â€œI-I’d better get the chicken out of the fridge and into the microwave.” She started walking toward the refrigerator, stopped and turned back. “I’m glad your friend is home safe.”
    â€œYeah, so am I.” It took superhuman effort to force his mind off sex and onto the conversation he needed to have with Jimmy in the morning. But the kid was important to him. The thought had him glancing at Samantha. Nick sighed and turned away.
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    Samantha couldn’t sleep. Nick had said he’d be lying in bed, aching for her, wishing she were there with him. She hadn’t thought she would be the one aching, unable to sleep.
    How could she have forgotten the magnetic pull of the man, the aura of masculinity that had so effortlessly seduced her the first time?
    Just looking at that lean-muscled body