Living Dangerously Read Online Free

growth of dark stubble on his jaw and looked like the ultimate bad boy. So different than the clean-shaven man in the tuxedo who’d saved her. She itched to run her fingers through his messy hair. He shrugged again. “I did what I had to do. I couldn’t let you bleed out on the red carpet. It would’ve upset America.”
    She grinned. Her star definitely had been burning bright the past six or seven years. The Sporties might not have been as high profile as the Oscars but dying on any red carpet would’ve have made her a Hollywood legend. Not that she wanted fame that bad, or in that way. She definitely did not .
    “How did you manage to keep your name out of the news?” she asked. “That trick alone is worthy of Houdini. TMZ is everywhere. How did you dodge them ?”
    He looked over his shoulder, then leaned forward. “I told the hospital staff I was in the witness protection program,” he whispered. “Outing me could get me killed and since I saved you, they all want to protect me.” He put his finger to his lips. “Shh.”
    Julie’s unbelieving grin turned into openmouthed appreciation. “Wow. Nice one.” She liked that quick thinking. It told her he didn’t like the limelight, which told her he was a private man. “So you saved me and got shot in the process. That’s kind of a raw deal, wouldn’t you say?” She wanted the truth. He had to be a little pissed at her. She’d screwed with his life in a major way despite it being unintentional. God, what if he was one of the athletes who had been nominated for an award? What if she’d sidelined his career?
    He shook his head, his gaze never leaving hers. “I knew exactly what I was in for.”
    Okay. No doubt about it. The way his eyes locked onto hers. The absolute certainty that helping her meant a good chance of getting shot himself...and he’d gone and done it anyway.
    That was extremely admirable. And sexy as hell.
    * * *
    Troy couldn’t believe he was sitting in Julie Fraser’s hospital room having a conversation with her. He’d pretty much expected to never see her again. Not because he thought she might die, but because he hadn’t expected to survive. There’d been a few minutes there when he’d seen a giant white light and felt the peace surrounding it. He’d been suspended, almost floating toward it when everything had gone black.
    Life always surprised him.
    Her pretty blue eyes narrowed. “Why?” She shook her head. “I don’t understand why you’d risk your life like that.”
    He almost didn’t either. He shrugged his good shoulder. “Because not risking it meant you died and I couldn’t sit around and watch it happen.” It was hard enough seeing her lying in a hospital bed with her arm bandaged and strapped against her chest, knowing her whole midsection had to be heavily bandaged as well.
    Her gaze softened as she studied him. “Are you always so noble?” She looked so serious when all he wanted was to see her beautiful smile.
    “Never. You caught me on a good day.”
    The room lit up when she grinned and something inside him clicked on. He’d been living life in a dreary bubble and her smile had popped it fast. When was the last time he’d wanted to smile? He couldn’t remember.
    “Lucky me. If you’re not so noble, what are you usually?”
    “Usually...I’m a giant pain in the ass.” He could tell her to ask his friends, but he didn’t have too many friends. That sounded pretty damn pathetic even to him. He had an assistant, but the kid was too young to be a friend, and the guys at the gym had pretty much given up on any social time with him. Maybe working himself into the ground wasn’t the best way to live life, but it sure as hell beat thinking about his past.
    “I don’t believe you.” Her grin turned her face from pretty to stunning. She didn’t need an ounce of makeup to make a man hard. He still had to get used to her new hair color too. The honey blond softened her features, made her blue eyes