Waking Up With His Runaway Bride. Louisa George

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СКАЧАТЬ just hang around. I’ve got to do something.’

      ‘No. It’s better if they bring the injured here out of the fire zone. They’ll let us know when to evacuate if we need to. In the meantime, we wait.’ She shook her head and put her hand on his chest. Her smile was the same one she’d given to that hulk, Tony. Conciliatory. Close. So tempting. So bad for him.

      ‘You’ll like this, Connor, this is our protocol. We managed to work it out all by ourselves, me and the fire chief. It’s going to kill me to say it, but I need you to stay here with me.’

      He forced a smile. ‘Honey, if I thought you meant that I’d give it a second’s thought.’

      The pads of her fingertips pressed into his skin and heat from her touch spread across his torso like a fast incoming tide. A sudden need to kiss that smug smile away overwhelmed him.

      He edged back from her palm, put air between them. It had been three years since Mim had dictated terms, and he wouldn’t slip back into that after a few hours. He wouldn’t let her stop him doing something he believed in. ‘Great that you have a system for you to work with, but I’m going.’

      ‘So it’s just your own protocols you like to follow? Forget anyone else’s?’ Her hands slid to her hips as her jaw jutted towards him. Her body hummed with muted frustration, almost tangible. Her eyes sparked fury, melting fudge and fireworks. Full lips pouted under sheer lipgloss. Damn it, if his body didn’t stir at her reaction. ‘These are the rules, Connor. Stay here where it’s safe.’

      ‘Your rules, your problem. If you have to sit here and bide your time, that’s fine by me. But I’m going to do something.’ Then he jumped into his car and gunned the engine. Out of sight, out of mind, right? Out of arm’s reach. And while he was up at the development he’d ask the fire guys to douse him with cold water too.

      Mim rapped hard on the car window. Stupid, rash, insane. ‘Wait.’

      The tinted glass gave way to his mock impatient face. ‘I’m going. Don’t argue.’

      She laughed despite herself. ‘And I’m coming with you. Skye can manage in the surgery for a couple of hours. The action plan is up and running. There’s nothing to say I can’t help a dumb doctor with a death wish.’

      ‘Maybe you should write that in the plan for next time.’ A flicker of something she couldn’t quite place flashed across his face. Excitement? Confusion. Yes, probably confusion. He rolled his eyes and tutted. ‘You can’t trust anyone to stick to protocols these days. I’m going to have to have a word.’

      ‘Haven’t you heard, Connor? Rules are made for breaking.’

      And she was doing just that, God help her, trashing her own hard and fast rules. There was a danger to getting into cars with strange men.

      Connor mightn’t be a stranger. But he was dangerous.

      And seemed hell bent on helping her friends so, heck, she had to go with him. She swallowed hard, for some reason seeing him so fired up had her dry-mouthed and aching to touch him. ‘There are houses up there near the fire. Might be some casualties. You’ll need some help.’

      ‘I think I’ll be fine.’ He leaned closer and grazed her cheek with his breath. ‘I know exactly what to do when things get hot.’

      No. Five hours. That’s all it had taken for the innuendo to start. Resisting his cheek was too hard. Next thing they’d know, it’d be hot talk, hot kisses, then hot sex. Then … making and breaking promises again.

      Taking her time to calm down her flushed reaction to his words, she walked round to the passenger side. Then hopped into the leather seat, brushed her palm along the curve of the cherrywood dash. ‘Gosh, there’s a year’s worth of my clinic’s operating expenses just in this car.’

      ‘Top of the range.’ His chin tilted in pride. ‘You could have had fancy cars, you know. And more … lots more, Mim.’

      She chose not to dignify his comment with a reply. He obviously still didn’t understand why she left him. Her need to be in control of her own life. Why she didn’t believe in the picket-fence dream. Not for herself anyway. Those childish dreams had faded as she’d watched her mother slide from one crappy relationship to another lost in her search for her next fix of love. And dope. But she never got her fill, and died trying.

      No, she managed her own life. She would never let need and dependency rule her heart. After all, that was why she’d walked away from Connor in the first place.

      At the entrance to the campsite they were met by a police officer and Tony, who indicated for them to go back to town.

      Connor braked with no intention of turning round. ‘Great, a welcoming committee. I’ve driven straight into Deliverance.’

      Punching the electric window button, he nodded out to them, scanning for stetsons and firearms. Luckily neither was obvious. ‘Need any help?’

      ‘I’ll handle this.’ Tony held his palm up to the police officer and swaggered towards the car, his chest puffed out. He nodded towards Mim in a brief salutation, then back to Connor. The look on his face was ill-disguised distaste. ‘Fire Chief’s downgraded the threat. They’ve contained the fire at the edge of the development. No need for you, Doc. Thought you’d play hero?’

      ‘Thought you might need one. Shouldn’t you be taking it easy after the explosion?’

      ‘No.’

      Beside him Mim bristled. She leaned forward and put a hand on Connor’s shoulder. ‘Let me talk to him.’

      ‘No.’ That fast incoming tide washed over him again. He pulled away before he drowned. ‘Give me a chance.’

      Hauling in a breath of smoke-tinged air, Connor slammed down his irritation. He was on their territory, he understood that, understood Tony’s need to protect, his alpha rivalry. And his distrust of an outsider, ill-dressed to help. But that wasn’t going to stop him. Step back and bad things happened. ‘I don’t want to tread on anyone’s toes. But I wondered if there’s anything I could do to help?’

      ‘Sure. Go back to Atanga Bay. The road’s blocked from here up. No traffic allowed. No one. Not Mim. Not you. Orders.’

      ‘Has everywhere been evacuated? Anyone injured? Anyone need help up there?’ He knew Tony would never allow himself to be told what to do, but a few questions wouldn’t go amiss. ‘I only want to do the right thing here. And I have skills you could use.’

      The police officer stepped forward and placed a hand on Tony’s shoulder. ‘Listen, mate, maybe they could help with Steph? Get her down to town? Out of harm’s way, eh? We’re still on standby. The wind direction could change and the fire could sweep back around here.’

      Tony looked at the officer, his hard face unreadable. But eventually he nodded. ‘Stubborn old boot. She’s refusing to leave.’

      ‘Why?’

      ‘Because she can. Maybe Mim can talk sense into her.’

      Mim blanched. She looked uncertain as she spoke, like she was trying to convince herself as much as anyone else. ‘I’ll give it a go, but she probably won’t take any СКАЧАТЬ