Free Sin on the Run by Lucy Farago

in New Orleans. You’ll be pulled long before they make it out to the house.”
    That didn’t make her feel hunky dory. The reality of it all started to make her stomach hurt. She’d have an ulcer soon. “How is he really?”
    Christian shrugged. “Anxious to see you.”
    â€œWhy?” Admittedly, she was eager to see him too. But just to see for herself that he was alive.
    â€œHe’s worried about you. I had complete faith in my wife’s talent of persuasion.” He kissed Maggie’s temple. “But until you’re on that plane . . . Shall we?” He motioned toward the airstairs.
    Rhonda followed Christian and Maggie. What the hell had she gotten herself into? She could take care of herself. Always had, even when taking care of herself meant lying to the social workers who’d come sniffing around. Now, she’d have to put her faith in people she knew little about, except for the fact that they flew under police radar. And one of them was injured. Like it or not, she was going to have to play nursemaid again, the one thing she’d promised herself she’d never do. Her father was dead and God help or strike her down, whichever the case may be, she was thankful. She’d loved him, loved him with everything her young heart had been able to offer. But when he died, she’d been relieved. Her life was now her own. And she’d be damned if she’d relinquish that to anyone.
    She heard Blake’s concern before she made it through the door.
    â€œWhere is she?”
    On seeing her, he visibly relaxed, his head falling back onto his neck rest. Her heart sank. He was pale, and from the sweat on his forehead, in obvious pain. She glanced around the luxurious cabin, looking for a place for him to lie down. Up front, four spacious leather chairs turned to face each other, and a long sofa in the same cream color flanked by two more seats with a table between them, took up the back.
    â€œRhonda, you’ve no idea how happy you just made me,” he said.
    â€œI hear that a lot,” she answered in the sauciest tone she could muster. She was sure that fancy seat he sat in reclined. All this money, it must.
    â€œOkay, Dozier’s ready to go,” said Christian. “I gave Rhonda her own cellphone, just like you wanted. If you need anything once you land, go through Monty’s secure website and he’ll contact me or Ryan.”
    Blake nodded. “I know the routine.”
    Routine? They’d done this before?
    Maggie pushed her way past her husband to give Rhonda a hug, hopefully not their last. “Now listen to what he tells you. Don’t get in his face about this.”
    Rhonda opened her mouth but one look from Maggie and she shut it.
    â€œI know what you’re like. But even injured, he’s still the expert here. On the flip side, if he gives you any lip about his injury, you can let him have it. See, a trade. Your safety, his health.”
    That should’ve made her feel better. It didn’t. What if something went wrong? What if he got a horrible infection under her care? It’d be her safety, his death. “I just wish I knew how long this was going to last.”
    â€œMe too, but you don’t have a choice. So try and make the best of it.” Maggie’s tone suggested something more than catching up on reading.
    Rhonda’s eyebrows shot up. If she didn’t know better . . . nah, Maggie would never make that kind of innuendo. Shannon and the girls would, but Maggie? The idea of sleeping with him again had never even popped into her head. She’d been too busy remembering the first time. “How would you suggest I make the best of it?”
    â€œSpend the time considering my job offer.” She smiled.
    â€œOh.” Rhonda now had to try and get the image of a naked Blake out of her head.
    Months earlier, since the media had made Heart’s Desire a household name, Maggie had