On a Knife's Edge Read Online Free

chocolate chip. I have a secret ingredient my
mom showed me when I was a kid. It’s cinnamon. It gives the cookies an extra
little zip.”
    “And?”
    “And would you like me to bake you some? Cookies,” she added
when he didn’t answer.
    “Why would you do that?”
    “As a thank you for…you know…helping me with the truck.”
    “You don’t have to—”
    “But I want to. You really saved my ass. And I appreciate
that you didn’t lecture me…you know…about school.”
    He shrugged. “I never found lectures to be very useful.”
    “Tell that to my brother. All he does is lecture.”
    “Yeah, well, he’s just looking out for you.”
    “Yeah…maybe…” She swiped her hand over the seat cover. “So
what about the cookies?”
    “I won’t turn down homemade cookies.”
    She beamed a huge smile. “Great! I’ll make them this Friday
after school.” She lowered her gaze, but her smile remained. “I don’t suppose
you’d let me bring them to your place on Saturday.” She peeked up at him. “Will
you?”
    He smothered his grin. “No.”
    Her nose wrinkled slightly. “That’s kinda what I figured.
Okay if I drop them off at your mom’s salon?”
    “Sure.”
    After opening the door, she jumped to the ground.
    “Hey…” He pulled the truck fob from his pocket. “Here.”
    “Oh…right.” She stepped onto the running board and took the
offering, gracing him with another smile. “Thanks.”
    “And what about your stuff in back?”
    “Keep it. I wouldn’t be able to explain the beer anyway.”
She hopped down again then paused. She shifted and licked her lips. “Guess I’ll
see you around.”
    He stared at her mouth for a moment then met her gaze.
“Yeah. See ya.”
    She heaved the door shut and headed for the underbrush
surrounding the elms. He tracked her movement. Fuck she had fine legs. Probably
a fine ass too. But he couldn’t be sorry he’d turned her down. She was just a
kid, and a confused kid at that. She needed to be protected from making some
very bad decisions.
    She looked over her shoulder with a smile and a wave. His
lips kicked up as he lifted his hand from the steering wheel in farewell. Then
she disappeared…

 
    Chapter Two
     
    Present day…
    LYNCH
CALLAN SPLASHED cold water on his face and chest, welcoming the biting
slap in the hope it would clear his mind.
    He dreamed of her last night.
    Fuck .
    He gripped the sink’s stainless steel edge and braced his
arms, his head bowed. He allowed the memory of caramel eyes that sparkled like
a freshly opened bottle of root beer and apple-cheeked innocence to wash over
him. Of a time and place when he had hope for something more.
    Something better.
    But that hope died long ago. A lifetime ago in Stardust—a
quaint town nestled against the Sierra Mountains just thirty miles south of
Reno, Nevada. Once the judge’s gavel came down, the life Lynch always feared
became his reality…in the state penitentiary, guilty of attempted murder.
    A frustrated growl rumbled in his chest. He snatched up the
nearby towel and dried his face.
    Shit .
    No use dwelling on things he couldn’t change. He lived this
life now. And his cellmate, Oscar, waited for him in the yard. And when Oscar
wanted him somewhere, he went.
    A small, bitter grin twisted Lynch’s month. Oscar. El
Jefe . Spanish for boss. Sounded like a character from a bad television cop
show. But no one could dispute Oscar ran this cellblock. Nothing happened
without his knowledge—or permission.
    Lynch draped the towel over the sink, pulled his state
issued t-shirt over his head then stuck his arms in the sleeves of the state
issued chambray shirt. Buttoning it, he turned. A shadow filled his open cell
door.
    “You Oscar?”
    The new inmate, his hands in his front jean pockets, didn’t
seem all that intimidating, but Lynch noted the ugly, irregular prison ink
marring his forearms and the even uglier gleam in his dark eyes. A lifer.
    Lynch reached back and grasped his