Asking For Trouble Read Online Free

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things to do tonight. A date…?”
    Orion shook his head. “No.”
    Natalie cleared her throat, overwhelmed by his proximity and
the intent way he looked at her. “All the same, I’m sorry to have bothered you.
I really don’t want to impose upon you further. A hotel will be fine—”
    His mouth covering hers cut off whatever else she might have
added. His lips were firm and moist. Their heat transferred to her, making
Natalie realize just how cold she was. Instinctively, she moved closer,
pressing her lips to his eagerly. When he parted her mouth to slip his tongue
inside, she met it with hers. Their tongues parried in an erotic simulation of
battle that soon dispelled the last trace of chill from her body.
    A knock on Orion’s window caused them to break apart. Before
he moved his head, he said, “You are under my protection and you’re staying
with me.”
    Natalie searched for a response to his command, torn between
asserting her independence and enjoying his oddly endearing mastery. Orion
saved her from having to reply by getting out of the car to meet the uniformed
officer. Following suit, she slid from the car to find another officer standing
beside her door. A flush of embarrassment stained her cheeks when she saw the
knowing glint in his eyes. Both of the officers must have recognized exactly
what she and Orion were doing in the car.
    Orion came to her, taking her hand in his. His grip was
comforting and she let herself lean on him, just a little, as they walked up
the steep steps of the hill of the apartment building. It was a charming
Victorian house, converted to multi-family dwellings sometime in the Seventies,
and she had fallen in love with it the moment she first laid eyes on the
rental. The resentment she’d felt earlier returned with a vengeance and she
narrowed her eyes as she scanned the neighborhood. Were the hoodlums who were
driving her out of her home out there at this very moment, watching her every
move? Rather than increase her fear, it added to her anger.
    “Are you okay?” Orion asked as they paused at the side door
that led to Mrs. Hawkins’ basement apartment.
    “Fine,” she said more harshly than intended. Natalie
softened her tone. “Sorry. I’m just angry at having to leave my home. It isn’t
fair.”
    “No, it isn’t.”
    She searched for and found no hint of patronization in his
voice. Satisfied, Natalie nodded as Mrs. Hawkins opened her door. Lucy came
bounding out, rushing to greet Natalie with a half-jump. Her paws never touched
her mistress, but her tongue was close enough to Natalie’s cheek to swipe a
doggy kiss across it.
    “Yuck.” With a laugh, Natalie pushed Lucy into a more
dignified sitting position. The dog’s rapidly wagging tail and pleading eyes
proved difficult to ignore. She patted her golden-brown head. “Yes, girl, I
missed you too.”
    “I hope you don’t mind me bringing her down with me,
Natalie,” said Mrs. Hawkins. “It gets so quiet around here at night…” The older
woman trailed off, her eyes wide at the sight of the police standing behind
Natalie and Orion. “What’s going on?”
    “Natalie witnessed a crime.” Orion took Mrs. Hawkins’ hand.
“I’m her boss, Orion Taylor.”
    Though close to sixty, a girlish laugh bloomed from Mrs.
Hawkins’ sagging throat when he squeezed her hand. “Of course. I’ve heard all
about you.”
    “Really?” Orion slanted a look at Natalie peripherally and
she deliberately looked away, determined not to let him see her embarrassment.
“Nothing bad, I hope.”
    “Not at all.” Mrs. Hawkins’ cheerful expression faded when
she looked at the officers again. “What sort of crime, Natalie?”
    “It doesn’t matter,” said Natalie quickly. “I don’t want to
discuss the particulars. I just wanted to let you know I won’t be here for the
next few days. Please make sure you don’t enter my apartment while I’m gone,
just to be safe. May I trouble you for the copy of the key I