Free Uncharted Waters by Linda Castillo Page A

flexible. The money is good. I’ll have the freedom to take Kevin to his appointments. Not to mention the fact that I really like Laura and Seth and Emma.”
    He finally looked at her. “You’re exponentially overqualified.”
    â€œSo I’ll hit him up for a higher wage.”
    He didn’t look convinced. “Alison—”
    â€œDrew, I need to work. I want this job.”
    He scrubbed a hand over his face, then scowled at her. “When do you start?”
    â€œTomorrow.”
    When he groaned, she felt a smile emerge.
    â€œWhat are you smiling at?” he growled.
    â€œYou.”
    â€œI’m a barrel of laughs, huh?”
    â€œJust a little overprotective. It’s adorable.”
    â€œAdorable?” He choked out the word as if it were a shard of glass. “A guy doesn’t want to be adorable.”
    She threw her head back and laughed—something she hadn’t done much of lately. It felt good. “Be happy for me.”
    He gave her a reluctant smile. “I’m still going to talk to him about adding extra security.”
    Before she even realized she was going to move, Alison was out of the chair and rounding the desk. She heard his chair scrape across the tile floor as he rose. An instant later she reached him and was surprised by a moment of awkwardness. “Thank you,” she whispered.
    â€œFor what?”
    â€œFor caring. For being such a good friend. Both of those things mean a lot to me.”
    â€œHey, you’re not going to go all misty-eyed on me, are you?”
    â€œProbably. That okay?”
    â€œI was just judging the distance to the door in case I need to make a run for it.”
    â€œToo late.”
    â€œI’m pretty fast.”
    â€œBe quiet, silly.” Leaning close, she put her arms around his broad shoulders the way she had a dozen times in the years past. He felt solid and rock-hardagainst her. Ignoring an uncomfortable flutter in her stomach, she stood on her tiptoes and brushed a kiss across his cheek. His jaw was firm and slightly stubbled against her lips. The swift rise of pleasure stunned her. Inexplicably, her heart began to race so hard, she could hear the pound of it in her ears.
    â€œAlison...”
    She heard her name as if through a tunnel. His voice echoed in her ears. In a small corner of her mind she knew all the things that were happening to her weren’t supposed to be happening. He wasn’t supposed to feel so good against her. After all, this was just a simple hug between old friends.
    But by the time she realized the situation was out of control, it was too late. His hands went to either side of her face, rough palms scraping over her cheeks. She caught a glimpse of eyes the color of a summer storm, dangerous and unpredictable and moving rapidly toward her. She saw intent in those eyes, and the knowledge shook her even as her body responded.
    His mouth came down on hers like a waterfall crashing down. She could hear the roar of it in her ears. Feel the power of it in the way the floor trembled beneath her feet. Alison felt as if she were standing beneath the crashing spray, paralyzed by its awesome force, the water drenching her, drowning her, and she absorbed it like drought-stricken earth. The pleasure of the kiss shocked her system, shorted out her brain, made her legs go weak.
    It had been a long time since she’d been kissed by a man. She’d forgotten the heady power of it. The intensity. The thrill. Most of all, she’d forgotten just how sharp the razor edge of need could be. She felt those things with stark clarity as Drew’s mouth possessedhers. She was keenly aware of the hard plane of his body against hers. The hot rush of his breath against her cheek. Restless hands moving over her back, pulling her inexorably closer.
    Her intellect ordered her to stop the madness before things went too far. But dear God, how was she supposed to be smart about this when