Free Earth Angel by Linda Cajio Page A

Catherine, but not now, not like this.
    He ducked his head out from under her hands, his chin brushing along her breasts. Her nipples were diamond hard even through the sweater she was wearing. He wondered how stupid he could be, then opened the passenger door.
    “Get in the car,” he said between clenched teeth.
    “But what about mine?”
    “I’ll have someone pick it up.”
    “But—”
    He pushed her inside, then locked and shut the door. Once in the driver’s seat, he started the car and backed it out onto the dirt road.
    “All right,” Catherine said. “I’ll play prisoner until we get to my house—”
    “My house.”
    He liked the way she gasped.
    “I am not going to your house,” she announced.
    He grinned. “Who’s driving?”
    “Miles, this is ludicrous!”
    “No more ludicrous than your being the Earth Angel. You have been playing a dangerous game, and it’s going to stop before you get hurt. I’ve decided that tonight was Earth Angel’s swan song. And you’ll be staying with me so I can ensure it.”
    She gasped again, this time in pure outrage.
    He smiled to himself.
    Life definitely had its moments.
    Catherine watched Miles as he pulled the curtains shut in his study, then checked the messages on his answering machine. His dark hair, usually so stiffly brushed back, was tousled bytheir fighting, and the front locks fell across his forehead. She realized she was getting a glimpse of what he’d looked like as a young boy. She turned away quickly, refusing to admit how endearing he looked. Considering how he’d treated her, the last thing she should be feeling was attracted to him. She yanked on her hands once more, but he’d firmly tied them to a drawer of his filing cabinet, forcing her to sit on the floor with her back to the cabinet.
    “You have no right to do this!” she told him for what seemed like the hundredth time.
    “I suppose not,” he agreed. “But you had no right to do whatever you did at the refinery.”
    “Come on, Miles,” she said, trying a wheedling tone. “You don’t really mean this. Think of what the neighbors would say if they saw this.”
    He smiled grimly. “They’d say hurrah for taking care of public enemy number one.”
    She scrunched her backside around on the Persian carpet and licked her lips. Her body was sweaty, her clothes were filthy, and her hair was hanging in stringy hanks around her face. If she was going to be stuck sitting on the floor tied to a filing cabinet, she ought to be comfortable. And clean.
    “Can I take a shower?” she asked.
    “Anytime you want,” he said. “Of course, I’ll have to wash you. You won’t be able to do it properly with your hands tied. I’m ready, willing, and very able to help you.”
    “Thank you, but no,” she said curtly. “Miles, this is absolutely ridiculous.”
    “Probably. But I can’t let you loose to play EarthAngel anytime you please. And you’ve already proven I can’t trust a promise from you.”
    She made a face. “You can’t keep me here forever.”
    “The thought is appealing.” He sat down on the floor next to her, and every muscle in her body tensed at his closeness. “You’ve been having fun poking at the family because they won’t listen to you. But sooner or later, you’ll go too far and somebody will get hurt. And that someone will be you.”
    She stared at him. He sounded so sincere, as if he really cared about what happened to her. She shook her head sharply, tossing away the silly thought. His “concern” was no doubt motivated by fear of the scandal that might erupt if the press found out she was Earth Angel. The headlines would be a corporate and personal embarrassment to him.
    “Are you going to turn me in to Byrne?”
    “Hardly.” He chuckled dryly. “I think you wouldn’t mind that at all right now. No, you’ll be my guest for a while—at least until you confess what you’ve done tonight.”
    “I already told you—”
    “And I don’t believe