Read On the Hunt for Free Online Page B

for a second his beautiful face hardened, as if he were considering the pleasure of knocking the table out of the way and hauling her into his arms.
    Then, with an obvious effort, he leashed his raw desire, pulling the map out of his back pocket to toss it on the table.
    “Here.”
    She reached for the folded paper, recognizing the glossy picture on the front as one she’d seen at a dozen gas stations between the bayou and Lafayette.
    “You can buy this anywhere.” She spread open the map to see the large X that had been marked at a location not far from her cottage. “It’s not going to be much help.”
    “Smell it.”
    She arched her brows. “Are you serious?”
    He sent her a wry glance. “Always.”
    Well, that was true enough.
    Even when they were young, Mika had been a somber, oddly aloof young man. In part because it was his natural demeanor. But she suspected that the death of his mother when he was just five had added to his air of reserve.
    Only when he was with her had he ever revealed his warm, unexpectedly tender side. The knowledge had always made her feel special.
    She grimaced. A pain slicing through her heart.
    Okay. Not going down that road.
    Instead she lifted the map to her nose and sniffed.
    “It smells like ethanol,” she murmured, sending Mika a startled glance. “Antiseptic?”
    “That’s my guess.”
    “Why would . . .” Her baffled words came to an abrupt halt as she shoved herself to her feet, glaring at Mika in pained disbelief. Suddenly she understood why he was at her cabin. And it had nothing to do with old times, or the crushing desire that still held her in its grip. “Oh, my God. You think I gave Jacob this map?”
    “Not anymore.” He grimaced, pushing himself upright. “You’re a terrible liar.”
    “Screw you.”
    Tossing the map at his face, she whirled to head into the narrow living room that barely had enough space for her battered sofa and one easy chair that was shoved next to the bookcase that was overflowing with her precious collection.
    Places came and went, even people. But her books always traveled with her.
    As a child she’d learned they were the one thing she could depend on in her crazy, unpredictable life.
    She’d reached the middle of the room when Mika grabbed her arm and turned her to face him.
    “Bailey, listen.”
    “Why should I?”
    “Because I know you,” he said, his grip softening so he could run his fingers down her arm in an unconscious caress. “You’re as worried as I am about Jacob.”
    “That doesn’t mean I’m going to let you insult me in my own home.”
    “That was never my intention, little one.” He wrinkled his nose, regret shimmering in the depths of his dark eyes. “Where else would I find antiseptic in this area?”
    She was still mad at him. The aggravating brute. But he was right.
    She was desperately worried about Jacob.
    “There’s a small clinic in town and a healer at the monastery.”
    He nodded. “I’ve spoken to the healer.”
    She knocked aside his hand. She couldn’t think when he was touching her.
    “Did you accuse him of leading Jacob into a trap?”
    He eyes narrowed. “Why do you suspect it was a trap?”
    She made a sound of disbelief, taking a step backward. What the hell was he implying now?
    “Are you serious?”
    “Please, Bailey.” He held up a slender hand. “I’m just asking for your opinion.”
    Oh . . . hell.
    Bailey shoved her fingers through her short tangle of curls.
    “Jacob wouldn’t tell me what happened, but it was obvious from his injuries that he’d been beaten, and by more than one person.” She pointed toward the paper he clenched in his hand. “If that map was sent to him to lure him to a precise spot, then obviously it was some sort of ambush.”
    “Or someone sent the map because they wanted to meet with Jacob and he was attacked by the unknown assailants before the person could arrive,” he pointed out. “Which was the only reason I thought you might have