Read Hazard Play for Free Online Page B

Bailey worked his particular kind of magic. 
    “I think it’s time I got the cat settled in.” She carefully stepped out of his arms and moved closer to the pickup door; relieved he released her without comment. She climbed into the seat, waved good-bye and left. In the rearview mirror, she saw him standing there, looking as good from a distance as close-up.
    “Caught you looking,” Bailey murmured as he watched her pickup chug down the road. He had to hand it to her. She interested him and he couldn’t say that about many people. He was used to having the upper hand with women because he figured out what they wanted from him. Usually, it was money, security or a good time.
    Not Tess. On the contrary, she seemed to go out of her way to avoid him, an unfamiliar tactic he didn’t like one bit. 
    He turned and headed for his car, stopping when he came to the tire iron. Maybe he’d catch up with Tess and return it. He hopped into the Cougar and laid a patch in the road. He felt the rush of adrenaline that accompanied a chase, whether after a jumper or a woman.
    He had a perfectly legitimate reason to follow her, didn’t he? A few minutes later, Bailey saw the red pickup turning onto Paul Street. As he made the turn, Tess swung into a narrow driveway. The garage door opened and swallowed the pickup before closing.
    Bailey circled the block, figuring he should give Tess a few minutes to unload that monstrosity of a cat before knocking on her door. He completed the loop and parked on the street in front of her small white house. He made his living observing people and places in order to learn about them and he did so automatically. 
    Tess had an eye for beauty and a green thumb to go with it.  The yard was immaculate, lush and green. A profusion of blooms spilled from every flowerbed, creating an explosion of brilliant colors. Ground cover made up of tiny purple and white blossoms. Roses in white, pink, and red. Against the fence, she had orange tiger lilies. He remembered those from his parents’ yard. His mother loved tiger lilies. And lilacs. He’d bet Tess had lilac bushes somewhere. She had to. Maybe they weren’t in bloom in the summer.
    The house and yard combined to welcome guests into the comfort and peacefulness of a home. To a man whose idea of a plant was something made of silk, this looked like the Garden of Eden. And...it came equipped with an Eve. Bailey strode up the sidewalk and pushed the doorbell.
    Tess opened the door. She’d discarded the flannel shirt and the t-shirt accentuated her curves. Her eyes widened. The hunter in him recognized the wariness in them. He also noticed the flush in her cheeks. Good.
    “How did you...what are you doing—?”
    “Hey, Contessa.” Bailey enjoyed watching her sputter. It told him she was more aware of him than she pretended. “Missing something?" He held up the tire iron.
    "I was so happy the tire was changed, I completely forgot about it. Thanks.”
    “I thought if I could catch up with you, I'd return it tonight.” Bailey congratulated himself on how plausible that sounded. She didn’t have to know he could’ve found her in a small town like Greenview in about five minutes. “Can I come in?”
    “I...it’s getting late...” Tess blushed and he was delighted.
    “I’m not a vampire. You’ll be safe,” he teased.
    She grinned and opened the door. “Idiot.” The entry opened directly into the living room. It looked lived in, which made Bailey feel comfortable. He didn’t have to worry about sitting on some antique or smudging a glass-topped coffee table. He’d been in his share of those places, too. 
    “Sit down. I was letting Pyewacket get used to the place.”  Tess disappeared into what looked to be the direction of the kitchen.
    Bailey sank into a brown recliner. It was a perfect fit for his long legs. He resisted the urge to trip the lever and lean back. “Where have I heard that name before?”
    She returned with the cat in her arms.