Ensenada Escapade: Destination: Desire, Book 6 Read Online Free Page A

she had on the steering wheel was white-knuckled, so he didn’t bother with small talk. “Since you have the first stint at driving, I’ll see if I can catch some shut-eye. That way we can drive straight through.”
    “Fine.”

Chapter Two
    Ben Hudson didn’t snore.
    Nora wasn’t sure that was information she wanted about him. In fact, with his face relaxed, and the dappled sunlight playing over the fans of his eyelashes, he looked almost angelic in sleep.
    A yawn took her, and she blinked hard, focusing on the road. She was still fine to drive, but the adrenaline of finding out her sister was in trouble was fading. It also didn’t help that the California’s Central Valley was an endless stretch of dry fields dotted with citrus farms and cattle ranches, where the stink of cow manure made her eyes water as the air conditioning sucked the smell into the car. Nasty. Unfortunately, this was the fastest way to get through the state. The more scenic highways along the coast were windy and had lower speed limits.
    Which meant there was a whole lot of nothing to keep her entertained as they cruised down I-5. Except listening to Ben breathe and wishing he hadn’t overheard her discussion with Hazel. Even sleeping silently, he bothered her and made her want to escape.
    Her phone vibrated and she stuck in her earpiece to answer the call.
    “Hello?” she said softly, glancing over to make sure she didn’t wake Ben. Nope, still dead to the world.
    “Hey, it’s Camille,” her youngest sister replied with characteristic briskness. “I’ve been in meetings for the last few hours, but finally got Hazel’s message.”
    “Yeah, I’m on my way down to get her. She forgot you had a business trip to Seattle.”
    Camille made a humming noise. “I just got off the phone with her. She said Ben horned in on the trip.”
    “Uh-huh. He’s crashed out in my passenger seat right now. I can’t even express how thrilled I am.”
    “I can imagine,” she replied drily. “I would have come with you if I’d been home.”
    There was a hint of defensiveness to her tone that made Nora’s heart squeeze. “I know, honey.”
    A few years back, Cami had been in a bad automobile accident. No, bad wasn’t a good enough word. Catastrophic was closer to the truth. The guy who’d hit her had died on impact, but she’d suffered so many broken bones it had been like a horror version of Humpty Dumpty. Collarbone, ribs, both arms, and her left leg had been so damaged they’d had to perform a total knee replacement.
    She’d fought hard through fourteen months of physical therapy to regain her mobility, and most people would never guess by looking at her that she’d been through such a traumatic experience. But she still struggled with long trips in the car. Not physically, but emotionally. She could do her daily commute with no problem, and could manage the hour it took to get from her apartment in San Jose to Half Moon Bay for a visit with Nora. More than an hour? Yeah, it was difficult.
    Would she have sucked it up and come along in order to help Hazel? Definitely. Camille had a will of pure steel. But Nora was kind of glad her baby sister didn’t have to suffer through this trip.
    She kept her tone light when she added, “Believe me, Cami, I would much rather have you with me than Ben freaking Hudson.”
    “Pfft. You’d rather have almost anyone there besides him. Satan and Mom would be the only two lower on your list.”
    She had to smother a chuckle. “True story, my friend.”
    “He’s always been nice to me, but I’m sorry you’re stuck with him now.” Camille’s voice softened with sympathy. “I know he gets on your last nerve.”
    “Oh, I think that’s putting it kindly,” Nora countered. “Especially after he blackmailed his way into coming with me.”
    “I heard he threatened to call Dinah. What an asshole move.”
    Apparently Hazel had filled the youngest Kirby in on all the dirty details. Nora had called about