Setting Him Free Read Online Free Page A

and
reflect on the fact that they were both still alive. A dull ache
started on one side of her head, and she leaned it carefully
against Taylor's shoulder. Five minutes. Just five minutes, sitting
here with him, then she'd go fix a sling for his arm and check on
the other passengers. Too quiet, no sound from them at all.
    What a rare luxury. It had taken a plane crash to get
her to sit still in a man's arms and not be thinking about the
itinerary, the next hotel, or what to wear to the club so she'd
blend in with the clientele. None of that seemed important any
more. No, not just a luxury, it was a gift.
    She let go a little more and listened to the steady
beat of Taylor's heart. Her gaze dropped to the dark red mark
circling his wrist. True, the downside was that they were in a
wrecked plane, somewhere in the tropical rainforest. Taylor was
hurt. Maybe they wouldn't be found and they'd die here. But, right
now she wouldn't trade these five minutes to be anywhere else.
Crazy though it seemed, the only place on Earth she wanted to be
was here, doing this, with him.
    "Can you hear the sea, Taylor?"
    "Huh?" He tilted his head and half-smiled.
    "Close your eyes," she ordered. "Right now, we're on
an endless beach of white-gold sand. The sunset looks as if it's
melting into the earth. There's no wind, and the surf's making
those funny little sucking noises. And it's warm, and it's safe.
Can you see it, Taylor?"
    "Yes." His hand squeezed her shoulder.
    "Just the two of us, and everything will turn out
fine. And…" She sniffed and wiped at her face with her fingers.
"Sorry…"
    "I'll meet you there someday. When I've got my life
back, we'll go to that beach and - hey, come on. Don't cry…"
Taylor's voice trailed off and he lapsed into silence.
    Danielle's groped in her pocket for a tissue and blew
her nose. "I'd like that. Get your life back, and I'll be
there."
    Her five minutes were up. Time to get on with
surviving this ordeal. Something they'd already started by giving
each other the most important thing they could. Strength. Together
they'd get through this. But Taylor wasn't coming with her if and
when the rescue came, she'd already decided that. When that
happened, Danielle wanted him as far away as possible.
    She wanted to set him free. But would he go?

Chapter 4
     
    Taylor sat quietly while Danielle fixed him a
sling.
    "Tell me if I'm hurting you."
    "I've had worse." Taylor inhaled and let the breath
out slowly. The arm hurt like hell, but there wasn't much they
could do about setting it. "I need to keep it as still as possible
until the rescue."
    Danielle glanced at him briefly before resuming her
task. "Are the painkillers working yet?"
    "Yes, the head's feeling better."
    "Do you think the plane's radio is still intact?"
    "Finish up, I'll go check, and see if anyone's still
alive up there."
    "I'll do it. You can't get through there with a
broken arm."
    "No, not something you need to see." It was bad
enough that they still had the gruesome spectacle of the policeman
behind them. Taylor glanced at the body. They needed to get rid of
him if they aimed to use the plane for shelter.
    None of this worried him. Blood and gore didn't give
him pause, but Danielle? This would be new to her.
    He held the broken arm still against his chest while
she slid hers around his shoulders to fasten the sling, hissing
softly when she pulled it too tight.
    She stilled. "I'm sorry. I'll be as quick as I
can."
    The compassion in her eyes made him want to lay his
head on her shoulder and stay that way forever. Let someone else be
the strong one for a change. So tired . So bloody tired of
everything . And then, hell, stop being such a wimp.
    "No, it's okay. Go ahead." He leaned forward to give
Danielle more room to work. When a loose lock of her hair brushed
across his cheek he kept very still and breathed in her perfume,
memorising the feel of the gentle fingers tending him. Something to
take with him when this was all over.
    Danielle sat back