Read We're One for Free Online

the danger rolling over him also? Let’s face it, he’d never asked for her help; she’d made the decision to be involved, all on her own.
    “Leave! Now!” She pointed to the door and turned her back.
    His hands clutched his hips on both sides. She watched him in the mirror and got the distinct impression he did that to keep from winding them around her throat. She bent her head to hide the forming grin.
    He turned in time to catch it, and his expression hardened.
    “I’ll be at your place tomorrow morning to pick you up. Pack, because we’re going on a trip. I mean it, Crystal. You know I won’t leave this alone. If you won’t let me protect you in Vegas, then we’re leaving town. I’ll be there first thing. You have my card. And if you need me for any reason at all tonight, you call, and I’ll be minutes away. Got it?” He whispered to the back of her head. “Please call me, Crystal. I couldn’t stand it if anything happened to you because you helped a friend in need. Promise me.” His voice resonated with an honest passion she had no power against.
    “I’ll think about it,” she muttered, but still kept her head turned away from him. She stared down at her hands scrunched together.
    He waited. She’d turn to him soon. He silently demanded it.
    She didn’t.
    He sighed loudly, and repeated, “In the morning. Early!” He left, closing the door with an audible snap behind him.
    Before she sat down she let out the breath she’d locked in her throat. God, he was hard to resist. She’d never found it this tough before. From the time she’d promised herself that no man would mean more than a good friend, she’d never questioned that decision until today. Could any man have enough sensitivity to understand her foibles, love her anyway, and respect her heart’s rash choices? She couldn’t take the chance.
    The knocking on the door heralded Joey. His one-two, one-two-three let her know to open up for her boss.
    “Hey, Joey. How did you like the show tonight? I thought it went pretty well, especially with a full house.”
    “Missy! What the hell have you gotten yourself into now? I can’t leave you alone for two minutes, and you get in trouble. How many times I tell you—keep a low profile. Huh? It’s for your own good...”
    “Hold it! What are you talking about? I haven’t done anything wrong. What’re you yelling for?”
    “Arnie! That’s what! He found out it was you in the alley last night. You, with a bat, for Christ’s sake! What were ya thinking of?”
    “Quit screaming at me, and back off.” In his fury, Joey had advanced towards her, and she’d run out of room. She pushed against his fancy pink sports jacket. He stumbled backwards, out of her personal space. “You were beating the hell out of some guy, three of you! That’s fair? You should be ashamed, all of you.”
    “The only shame I can think of is how your boyfriend Ash Parks is gonna look after Arnie gets through with him.”
    “What are you talking about? He never hit Arnie. I did.”
    “Yeah, well, Arnie came to me after he’d found out who the culprit was, and I talked him outta hurting you. Told him the boss would kill him if he touched a hair on the head of our newest star attraction, but he’s so mad, he’s decided if he can’t hurt you, he’ll settle for killin’ Parks.”
    “My God, Joey, you have to stop him! Talk to him.”
    “I’ve talked till I’m blue in the face. There’s no getting through to the stubborn, freaky moron. He’s got a one-track mind, and it’s on revenge—pure and simple. I can’t warn Ash, but you can. If Arnie sees me going over there or talking to Parks, I’m as good as dead myself. You call him and warn him. Talk him into skipping town until the idiot calms down.”
    “He won’t go unless I go with him. He came earlier. Wanted me to leave with him tomorrow morning. Said he’d be picking me up, and whether or not I ‘want’ to go didn’t appear to matter at