Renegade Millionaire Read Online Free Page A

that. He’d almost gone after her, waited outside the dressing room and tried again to convince her to join him.
    He wasn’t sure why he hadn’t. Normally, he didn’t give up easily where women were concerned, but this woman was different. She sure as hell wasn’t his type, surprisingly innocent—except for that mouth of hers. Agreat mouth, even when she chose to use it as a weapon on him, in every respect. She was also a mom.
    Withdrawing the picture from his scrub shirt pocket, Rio studied the young boy he presumed to be Joanna Blake’s son. He could be wrong, but he doubted it. The kid had the same eyes, the same dark hair, the same smile. He flipped it over again, as he’d done several times over the past few days.
    Joseph Adam, age 3. My heart. Definitely something a mother would write.
    Rio had seen the picture fly onto the floor New Year’s Eve when Joanna had dropped her bag on the run. But before he could shove his way through the crowd and retrieve the photo in order to return it to her, she had already flown away like a dove finally emancipated from a cage.
    He should’ve given it back to her tonight, but he hadn’t. Maybe he viewed it as some connection to her. Maybe he would use it as an excuse to see her again. Maybe even tonight.
    Why not? He wasn’t one to avoid risks outside his medical practice. Besides, he wanted to know more about her. Wanted to know, if he kissed her again, would he still have the same gut-level reaction? Would it go beyond a kiss? Only one way to find out.
    Rio decided it would take her several minutes to dress, make a call, then another fifteen or so to check on Mrs. Gonzales. Only fifteen minutes had passed since he’d left her in the hall. If he hurried and changed into his street clothes, he might catch up to her at the bus stop.
    On that thought, he shoved his chair back and went in search of a woman who might not want to be found. Not that he’d let that stop him.
    Â 
    â€œNice night, huh?”
    Joanna glanced at the man who’d seated himself on the bus-stop bench where she now waited. She’d been so lost in her thoughts—thoughts of Rio Madrid—she hadn’t even noticed his presence until that moment. He was big and beefy, his round ruddy face covered by a full reddish beard. He wore only a faded denim vest—ridiculous considering the cold—his ham-size arms sporting tattoos that ran together in a webwork of blue, covering almost every inch of his skin.
    A scruffy scarecrow of a guy wearing a dirty cap and threadbare flannel shirt, his lecherous grin exposing a sparse display of yellowed teeth, stood at the opposing end of the bench. The smell of stale beer and cigarettes carried on the faint January breeze, causing Joanna’s empty stomach to pitch.
    The big man nodded toward his partner. “Mind if my friend has a seat?”
    Before Joanna could issue a protest, the second man took his place on the other side of her. Wonderful. Flanked by offensive lowlifes.
    Focusing straight ahead at the street, she became more than a little wary when in her peripheral vision she noted both of them staring.
    â€œYou want a smoke, missy?” the skinny guy said, his voice rough as unfinished pine.
    She hugged her arms closer to her middle and shot him a look of disdain. “No, thanks.”
    The big guy released a grating chuckle. “Maybe you want to go down the street and have a beer with us. Take a walk on the wild side.”
    Not with these animals. “I don’t drink.”
    The ogre inched closer, his massive thigh brushinghers. “Aw, come on now. Everyone needs a drink now and then.”
    Considering his breath, he’d probably had plenty. She shuddered. “Not me.”
    He tipped his head close to her shoulder. “You sure are sweet.”
    Joanna bolted from the bench and faced them, trying hard to hide her fear behind a toughness she didn’t feel.