High Lonesome Read Online Free

wants us to be happy. He and I were not meant for each other. We both realized that and ended our marriage before either of us got hurt. He accepts that you and I are together now.”
    Scott flashed a half-hearted grin. “I’m not convinced you know your ex as well as you think you do.”
    “I know him better than anyone, and that includes you.” She stabbed her finger into his chest. “And I know he and I were too young and impetuous when we married. It was a big mistake. That’s the one thing we ever agreed on. Neither of us knew what true love really was.”
    “And you do now?”
    “Yes. I know the exact type of man I want and need now.” She leaned in close and nuzzled Scott’s neck. “Speaking of wants and needs…As I recall, we have a date planned for tonight. Will you be getting that woman a room at the motel in town?”
    He backed away from her touch. Annoyance flared in his stomach at Joanna’s insensitivity. “No. She’s going to stay here. Since I’m the one who found her, it’s up to me to keep her safe. Someone most likely did this to her on purpose— you said so yourself. He or she might still be after her. I’m not about to leave her alone in some crummy motel.”
    Joanna grabbed his hand. “Yes, I did say that. It doesn’t make you responsible, honey. She’s very lucky you came along when you did, but you did what any good citizen would. You opened your home to her and you’re bringing her in for tests. She can’t expect more than that. She’s a stranger. Hand her off to Buddy this afternoon and let him do his job. Let him take care of her.”
    “Hand her off?” Scott shook his head, unbelieving Joanna’s cold attitude. “She’s not a pair of used shoes. I’m sure she doesn’t expect anything, but the poor girl doesn’t even know her own name. She’s scared to death. Carmen and I will look after her until Buddy locates her family, or someone who can identify her.”
    Rolling her lower lip out, Joanna feigned a pout. “That person upstairs is not a girl, Scott. She’s a full-grown woman. I don’t think I like the idea of her sleeping in your bed, either.”
    Joanna had a way of getting his ire up, but he didn’t want to argue. He snaked an arm around her waist and kissed the tip of her nose. “I’ve never seen you jealous before. You’re always so confident and sure of yourself. What’s all this about?”
    “I don’t know. I suppose it’s because she’s quite pretty, and she might consider you her knight in shining armor. Since you rescued her, she’ll feel indebted. I’m not comfortable with that.”
    Scott squeezed her waist and chuckled. “I’m no knight. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time.”
    “A lot of men are attracted to helpless women.” Joanna eyed him.
    “I’m not one of them. You’re far from helpless. Besides, this lady is not that way by choice.”
    “You feel sorry for her, don’t you?”
    “Of course I do. Someone beat her up, dumped her in the desert and left her for dead. Don’t you?” She didn’t answer—just pressed her breasts against his chest and moved her fingers through his shaggy hair.
    Joanna sure knew how to push his buttons. “She is lucky I found her,” Scott said stiffly, “because I’m not the kind of man to look the other way when someone’s in trouble. We’ve known each other all our lives, Jo. You know that about me.”
    She shrugged away from him and frowned. “Of course I know. You’ve taken care of other people your entire life.”
    He leveled a solemn gaze at her. “I’ve had to.”
    “I realize that,” she responded quickly, “but you finally have your own life to live, Scott. And in case you’ve forgotten, I’m a part of it, limited as it may be.”
    His brow puckered. “I don’t understand where this attitude is coming from, Jo. You’re a doctor. Of all people, you should be understanding and sympathetic. Instead, you’re coming off like a jealous teenage girl, and I