Rescue Me Please Read Online Free Page B

all lump between her breasts.
    Parker’s eyes followed her agitated movements choosing not to mention the action at th at time.  “Your baby is safe with me,” he assured.  “You have no need to fear.”  He allowed his voice to go soft and calming.  He took that moment to rise cautiously to his feet with the infant still pressed securely against his wide shoulder.  “I mean you know harm.”   He kept his gaze on hers ; h er tired gr een eyes held suspicion as if she wasn’t fully convinced that she could trust him and her pink-tipped nose told him she was cold.
    She couldn’t help but stare; he was such a large man, tall, broad-shouldered, lean, and well - dressed with casual elegance, almost immaculate if not for the loosened cravat about his neck and the thick brown hair tipped with gold that lay tousled atop his head which she assumed was normally flawlessly styled.  She watched as he raked his long fingers through the silky strands and almost smiled.  He was the perfect example of man .  The kind that would have caught her eye before—her past desires were no longer of any conse quence.  She closed her eyes gather ing her wits.  She had only enough strength to worry for herself and her daughter.  The rest was nothing but a best forgotten longing for something that would never be hers.  She opened her eyes slowly, her gaze not quite focused.
    Parker watched her closely taking note of how she held the knife with both hands, her knuckles white.  H er arms stretched out stiff in front of her, her m eager bosom heaving.  Fear perceptible in every tense line of her slender body.  No, not just fear.  Terror .  He could tell that she had no formal traini ng in weaponry, but hid her terror well behind false bravado.  His brows drew together, and h e stared intently at her.
    “Imagi ne my disbelief as I walked and nearly stumbled upon your crying babe.”  He noticed that she fought a smile.  He watched as she pressed her lips flat before losing the battle as the corners of her mouth tip ped up in an unexpect ed smile, if for only a second.  A flicker of warmth heated her eyes for a moment before they were shuttered once again with guardedness.  He knew that smile meant something; it seemed rusty, but not forced.  It appeared and brightened her face and for some reason he felt that smile all the way down to his toes.  He used that distraction to inch closer.
    A heartbeat of silence descended over the clearing , curiously he observed her.   His eyes traveled over her disheveled appearance.  She was rail thi n and beyond pale.  Her deep red hair was scraped back in a tight coil at the back of her head , with hunks of limp curls falling a bout her face.  Dark circles were drawn beneath her eyes as if from charcoal , emphasizing the washed-out appearance of her skin.  Her cheeks hollow ed and the freckles scattered across her nose made more visible by her ashen appearance.  And although the dress had seen better days, he could see that under the filth and grime, the fabric was of the highest quality.  The worn cotton hung loosely on her body as if she hadn’t eaten well in a good while, although the bab y appeared healthy and well-fed.  D elightful rolls of fat encased its tiny body.
    “Your baby needs a dry cloth.”  His eyes slanted towards the discarded satchel.  “I was going in search of one when I accidently woke you from your rest .”
    Her brow wrinkled in confusion.  She glanced at her baby, then her face crump led.  He could see her check the tears that had welled up in her eyes.  Her head shook tiredly from side to side .  She licked her lips and swallowed h er voice a croak as she responded to his inquiry, “Our belongings were taken a few days back when we stopped to re st.  I have nothing else to use,” he r reply said in a low voice and with a regretful shake of her head .  She averted her eyes, press ing her lips together to still their trembling.
    “Crying women