Perfect Match [Ménage.com 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Read Online Free Page B

in and whispered something to him. Whatever it was had him clenching his hands into fists. Not looking back down at her, Dakota stalked down the hallway and disappeared down the stairs.
    “Is he mad at me?” Elise couldn’t imagine what she could have done to have made him angry, but why else would he be acting that way?
    “No, honey, he’s not mad at you.” Chad sat down beside her and pulled her close. “Dakota’s feeling guilty that he wasn’t here to protect you.”
    “He couldn’t have known this would happen though.” Elise relished the heat that his body was emitting. Her teeth started to chatter. She was cold and couldn’t seem to get close enough to Chad. “W-what did you s-say to him?”
    “Honey, we need to take you downstairs and wrap you in a blanket. I think you’re going into shock.”
    “Why n-not just go into m-my room?” Elise didn’t think she was going into shock, so much as the relief of being safe was overwhelming.
    “Sheriff Whittington is going to want to speak with you. I think you’ll feel more comfortable on the couch downstairs.”
    Chad stood up, and when she would have done the same, he leaned down and swept her up into his arms. She didn’t know how, but Elise sensed that Chad was keeping something from her. Her mind was so cluttered with everything that just happened, she was having trouble concentrating. What could have happened that would have made Dakota angry?
    Elise was too cold and tired to do anything but let Chad carry her down the stairway. Kathy had been halfway up when she saw them and scurried back to the main level and across the floor. She came back and handed them a brown throw blanket. Kathy stood back and kept wringing her hands.
    “Ms. Goode, I’m all right.” Elise had stopped shaking and her teeth had stopped chattering since Chad had picked her up. His warmth seemed to soak into her body. “Really, I’m fine.”
    “I just can’t believe this happened!” Kathy started to pace back and forth on the large, red oval rug that was situated in front of the brown leather couch. “We live in Triple. Nothing happens in Triple!”
    “Ms. Goode, would you please get Elise a glass of water? I think it will help her throat.”
    “Oh, my goodness, yes!”
    Chad sat on the couch, bringing Elise with him. Instead of seating her alongside of him, he situated her directly on his lap. She was grateful and, even though she knew it couldn’t last, snuggled her face into his chest. Elise would take his comfort now, knowing that she would have to face this situation alone in the end. She always took care of herself and never relied on others to do things for her. Her parents had taught her that lesson early on.
    “Ms. Sinclair? I’m Sheriff Whittington.” Elise looked up to see an older gentleman with white hair and a white mustache. He was in a brown uniform, with a silver star on his left side. “Dakota explained that you were attacked. Do you think you are up to telling the story again?”
    “Yes, sir.” Elise went to move off of Chad’s lap, but his arms were like steel bands around her upper body. She looked up into his face and saw that he was shaking his head. She caved, hoping she didn’t regret making that decision later on. But what could it hurt to lean on him for a few minutes more?
    Elise reiterated what had taken place and how the man had attacked her. All the while, Chad stroked her arms and Dakota remained standing away from them. He was leaning up against the desk, staring at her with those cobalt-blue eyes of his. Dakota’s arms were crossed and his hair was mussed, as if he had been running his fingers through it.
    “Did you get a look at his eyes?”
    “Yes, they were brown. But the ski mask prevented me from seeing anything else. Oh, and he had really bad breath.”
    “Could you see his eyebrows?” Sheriff Whittington asked. Elise shook her head. “What about his height?”
    “I’m not sure. I don’t think he was as tall as