Free Bound to Them by Lorna Jean Roberts

heart. What was it about this woman that brought his
protective instincts screaming to attention?
    “Crista,” Quinn growled. “Do as you’re told.”
    She stiffened and Nash glared down at Quinn.
    “She’s terrified,” he protested. Couldn’t Quinn see she was
close to losing her control entirely? Nash rubbed her back soothingly as she
buried closer to him.
    “Well, the sun’s about to disappear behind the mountains and
she’s going to be terrified, cold and in the dark. The longer she stays up
there, the scarier it becomes. Come on now, sweetheart,” Quinn told her in a
softer voice. “I won’t drop you.”
    Nash ran his hand over her hair. “We’ll sit down first,
darlin’. Then I’m going to slip you over the edge and Quinn will grab hold of
you, okay?”
    She shook her head.
    “We can’t stay up here all night,” he said quietly. “If we
don’t move soon then the big bear down there is going to come looking for
Goldilocks.”
    She snorted, making him smile a little.
    “I’ll climb down myself,” she said.
    He raised his eyebrows. “Will you? And how are you going to
do that when you’re shaking like a leaf and too scared to move?”
    “I can do it,” she said, a stubborn tinge to her voice.
    “Okay, then. I’m going to step back. You walk over and climb
down.” He raised his voice. “She’s coming down by herself, Quinn.”
    “What? Like hell. Just pick her up and pass her down,” Quinn
replied.
    Nash shook his head and pulled her arms off him, taking a
step back. Crista let out a small cry, immediately grasping the metal rail.
    “Ready when you are, darlin’.”
    She remained silent for a long moment. “I can’t. I’m going
to be sick.”
    Nash grabbed her, pulling her back against his front. He
forced her to sit and held her between his thighs, their legs dangling over the
side.
    “Shh, shh, it will all be over soon,” he crooned as she
whimpered. “I’m going to lift you down.”
    “No, you can’t,” she cried.
    “Crista,” he warned, deliberately hardening his voice.
Enough was enough. She’d make herself ill with worry.
    “I’m too heavy.”
    “Excuse me?” he asked.
    Quinn growled. “What did you say?”
    “I’m too heavy, you’ll hurt yourself.”
    “Oh darlin’, if you weren’t already terrified out of your
mind, you’d be in so much trouble for that nonsense.” As Nash spoke, he slid
her over the side, not giving her any warning. Quinn grasped her, cutting off
her scream. He caught her up against his chest, holding her close as she cried.
    Nash quickly climbed down off the scaffolding and reached
for her. “Give her to me.”
    “No way.”
     
    Quinn ignored the frustration on Nash’s face as he turned
away, keeping hold of Crista. Nash had gotten to play hero, now it was his
turn.
    Maybe it was a bit petty, but damned if he would let her go
now that he had her in his arms.
    “Put me down.”
    He walked toward his Jeep. “No.”
    “I can walk. I’m too he—”
    “Don’t say it,” he interrupted her. “I’m not the gentleman
Nash is. I hear you disparaging yourself one more time and you will end up over
my knee.”
    Her eyes widened as she gaped at him. Quinn stared down at
her calmly. Her gaze dropped as she blushed. Good. She needed to understand
some rules. And one rule was that he would retaliate against anyone who put her
down. Including herself.
    “Open the door for me,” he ordered Nash.
    “Give her to me and open it yourself.”
    “You can’t take her on your bike,” Quinn said. “I’m driving
her back to the motel. Now open the door for me.”
    Nash blew out a deep breath but did as Quinn asked.
    “Wait. What are you doing? My car—”
    “Will still be here tomorrow,” Quinn soothed her. “No one
would steal that heap of junk.” Another thing he’d change once she was his. No
woman of his would drive around in a tiny rust bucket. His Jeep could run right
over the top of the tiny car.
    He placed her on the seat and