Free Bad Girl Bill (Atlantic Divide) by Diane Saxon Page A

like being a good-guy action hero sucked.
    “I knew a girl in England not far from where I’ll be on location. She was the love of my life when I was twenty-one.” Mac stared into the distance, regret in his eyes. “She had the most beautiful eyes you’ve ever seen.” His mouth quirked slightly. It seemed to Michael that Mac had gone into the right industry. His penchant for drama was effective.
    “What happened?” Michael’s attention started to wane while he watched with rising curiosity as Jack’s Land Cruiser flew down the road toward the house, kicking up dust in its wake. Both men stood to peer out the window.
    “Broke my heart and left me.” Mac shrugged, and he squinted. “Wanted to be a vet. Wonder if she ever made it.”
    His voice tailed off as his little sister slammed out of one side of the Land Cruiser while Jack slammed out of the other, their voices raised and their long strides quickly covering the distance to the house.
    “Uh-oh,” Mac murmured as he stepped toward the door.
    The kitchen door flew open, and Bill strode in with two anxious dogs prancing by her side.
    “Forget it, Jack, I’m not going to hospital.” She eyed the two motionless men in her kitchen. Blood streaked down her chin, and the front of her shirt and her speech was slurred and her face had been pummeled.
    Mac reacted first. “What in hell’s name happened to you?” he yelled.
    Michael wasn’t sure whether it was his place to do anything, but the sick feeling that hit him in the pit of his stomach as he saw her swollen, battered face rooted him to the spot while the other two men circled around her, trying to bully her into doing what they wanted her to do.
    He knew they were concerned for her, but she wasn’t responding well. Her eyes were glazed, and she looked panicked as she backed up into Michael. Instinct had him bend down and simply scoop her into his arms.
    “Quiet,” he commanded and carried her out of the kitchen away from the noise. Speechless, her mouth dropped open as he held her gently in his arms, but then the two men left standing in the kitchen were left speechless too.
    It took them a split second and narrow-eyed glances before they hustled after them just in time to see Michael sit on her large blue sofa, cradling her in his arms. He shifted her body so she was comfortable on his lap and pushed her head firmly so her uninjured cheek rested on his shoulder.
    “Shh…Jack, go and ring Kate, tell her what’s happened, and ask her to come now.” His voice calm and in charge, he instructed each of them in turn. “Mac, go and get some ice, a bag of peas, or something out of the freezer and wrap it in a towel…and a clean cloth to wipe this blood off.”
    All three of them opened their mouths at once to argue.
    “Do it!” he commanded.
    She lifted her head, and he pushed it firmly into his shoulder again. He rested his chin on top and stroked her hair and ear in a slow, soothing motion.
    “Stay where you are,” he instructed her.
    Her face was a mess, and it made his gut wrench looking at the damage. He’d seen so many injuries in his time, but he didn’t think many affected him like this. It worried him that he seemed to feel responsible for her protection. It wasn’t natural.
    Silent, he felt her relax as her hand came up to rest on his chest, and her fingers shook slightly as she rubbed the material of his T-shirt.
    Mac returned with the ice, applied gentle pressure to her cheek, and knelt on the floor by her side.
    “Sorry.” His smile was soft, his eyes apologetic. No further words were needed. She smiled back, closing her eyes, relaxing further into Michael’s chest.
    “I’m okay.”
    “Tell me what happened,” Michael said. She relayed the story as Mac adjusted the ice pack on her face and wiped the blood from her chin. Jack stood silent in the doorway looking uncomfortable and a little guilty.
    By the time she’d finished the story, Kate came bustling through the house, baby