Read On the Fly (Crimson Romance) for Free Online Page B

he’d been so good helping with management and staffing issues that she let it slide.
    The end of September approached, and things had cooled down slightly, but it was still in the mid eighties when she skated out into the sun. It had been a while since she’d had the pleasure of gliding along, the wind in her hair, and a familiar, enjoyable strain in the muscles of her legs. She coasted down the horseshoe driveway and headed for the trail. It was a paved, two-lane pathway that wound through Diamond Cove with markers that let her know it was two miles each way.
    Desert palms lined the path, providing beauty but little shade, and she longed for the leafy oaks and maples of Ohio. Moving side to side, pushing with ease, Jacey sped along, dodging the occasional pedestrian and trying to leave room for the people on bikes. Ear buds in place and playlist jamming away her nerves, she was oblivious to crying babies, barking dogs, and panting, middle-aged men jogging as if their lives depended on it — and they probably did.
    Jacey slowed her pace as she came up on a mouth-watering figure. He ran almost fast enough to keep up with her. Almost. Broad shoulders, bare back, and a firm behind showcased in black athletic shorts. Smooth, lightly tanned skin. Blond hair. Blond … ? Jacey held her breath as she eased into the opposite lane around him and from her peripheral vision saw her fear confirmed.
    She passed Carter without a second glance, though she could feel his heated stare, and her heart rate spiked.
Great
. What was the protocol here? Not acknowledging him at all would be rude. He hadn’t said a word since the staff meeting a week ago, ignoring and avoiding her every chance he got. Maybe he’d pretend not to see her. Her heart sank at that thought. She caught herself and shook her head. “Nuh uh. No. I’m his boss.” She went over twenty different scenarios by the time she came to the end of the two miles and turned around.
    He came back into view shortly after. Rivulets of sweat slid down his sculpted chest, the muscles of his arms looking massive as they pumped at his sides. Her gaze swung to the stationary double stroller ahead of her. Too late. She’d have to cross into the other lane to get around it. She glanced over her shoulder. She didn’t have time. A marathon cyclist sped toward her, looking for a loophole. Damn, she was too close to the stroller to stop, and the cyclist barreled on.
    Hoping that she could squeeze through on the other side, she darted across the yellow line. The cyclist whizzed by, making a space where she couldn’t, but now she was headed straight for Carter. A group of walkers striding three across blocked him in. She could either play a very dangerous game of red rover with the walkers or take her chances with Carter.
    He took the choice away by holding out his arms and reversing his run. His big hands gripped her waist as he jogged backward, trying to slow her momentum, but she was still rolling faster than he could handle, and they went down. He shielded her, taking the worst of it, and when they stopped tumbling, Jacey found herself locked in his arms, cheek to chest. She scrambled to sit, taking her weight off him and looking him over. “I’m so sorry. Are you okay?”
    “Fine.” But he didn’t look it. Aside from having the breath knocked out of him, Carter had a gash running the length of his forearm as well as some road rash on his legs. She’d be willing to bet his back was pretty scraped up as well.
    “I’m so sorry.” Jacey slipped an arm under his shoulder to help him up and was surprised to see a smirk on his face.
    “Not your fault. You’re actually a pretty good skater. Are you hurt?” His voice remained gravelly, but he breathed better and looked her over with an eye that knew injuries.
    “No.” Jacey took a brief self-inventory and shook her head. “I’m fine. Thanks to you.”
    “Don’t mention it.” Carter pushed to his feet a bit unsteadily.
    Jacey