A Calculated Romance by Violet Sparks

Author:Violet Sparks [Sparks, Violet]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Christian Books & Bibles, Literature & Fiction, Romance, Mystery & Suspense, Military, Religious & Inspirational Fiction, Religion & Spirituality, Christian Fiction, Inspirational
Amazon: B01GUGT9YU
Published: 2016-06-08T04:00:00+00:00

"When?"

His countenance never changed after that first quick spasm, although a light akin to rage sparked from his eyes. She'd seen something similar burn in Rick the last time she refused him. She instinctively drew back.

"Nine months ago, before I came to LA. That's why I left Cadiz when I did."

Ireland averted her eyes from his stare and hung her head. Even though it wasn't her fault, the attack left her ashamed. She could hear Jim's breathing even though she'd inched away from him.

"Has he bothered you again?" he growled.

"No. I haven't seen him since. I don't think he knows where I am, but sometimes, I worry that . . ." her voice trailed off, her head still down.

They remained silent for several minutes. With each passing second, she figured he was trying to figure out an exit strategy—a way to leave politely.

"Did he do anything else to you?" he asked in a whisper so low, she almost couldn't hear him.

"Isn't trying to take my life enough?" she asked, incredulous.

Landi's spine straightened, and she shot James a withering glare before she realized what he was getting at. His expression remained hard as granite, and he focused his stare on her shoulder instead of her face.

"No, he only choked me," she said in a barely audible tone, ignoring how Rick had roamed his hands over her body before she'd convinced him she'd run away with him. The memory made her wince. They agreed he'd return for her the next morning after she'd had a chance to break the news to Hatti. Instead, she'd made it to Needles, then taken the bus to Los Angeles before disappearing into the metropolis.

Jim placed his hand over hers.

"I'm sorry, Landi," he said, shifting his eyes to meet hers.

His expression softened as he rubbed the fleshy part of his thumb over the back of her hand and wrist. She enjoyed how his rough fingers felt against her skin. Somehow, he managed to make her feel safe.

"I am too. Rick wasn't always like that. He'd been my friend for years, and we did talk about marrying someday. He's a couple of years older than me, and when he got out of high school, he started hanging around the wrong crowd. He changed."

"I don't think you have any reason to be sorry, Ireland. I've dealt with bad people in my line of work, and their victims are never at fault. I'm just glad you survived." He lowered his voice to a deep, husky tone and continued, "And that I met you."

She didn't recoil when he reached for her and pulled her under his arm. He gave her several good squeezes, jostling her considerably. She didn't mind.

"Your turn," she said.

He chuckled.

"Hmm, there was this blonde beauty who tried to drown me—"

His cheerful tone revealed that he joked.

"The truth! A real secret," she insisted.

"Demanding, aren't you?" he said between laughs.

"I'm only following your rules."

"All right. I find I've got a thing for redheads," he said in his most serious voice.

She

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.