Safe at Home (Warm Springs Trilogy Book 1) Read Online Free Page B

back, she climbed down the ladder but missed the last rung. Her ankle twisted sideways and she sucked in air between her teeth. He leapt into action, sweeping her off her feet with one arm behind her legs and one under her arms.
    “What do you think you’re doing?” She struggled in his arms.
    “I’m carrying you inside seeing as how you just twisted your ankle.” He glanced down at her face and then bent to open the back door. “This is the part where you say, ‘Thank you.’”
    She chose to glare at him instead, but she stopped squirming. He set her down on the couch and returned to the kitchen without a word. Alone in the kitchen, he ignored the residual heat her skin left on his and filled a small plastic bag with ice.
    “Here.” He knelt by the couch and placed the bag over her ankle. “Give this a few minutes.” His finger gently grazed her skin and it sent a rush of heat through him. Her skin was soft and her features delicate. His arms could wrap around her with ease.
    “Thanks,” she spoke without smiling, breaking his line of thought. “I guess you better go then.”
    “What? Oh right.” He headed for the door. “See ya around.”
    Spencer stalked back to his truck and tried to figure out where that temper of hers had come from. Up until now, Sam always seemed quiet, timid even, but not today. He hated to admit it, but with the extra color in her cheeks and fire in her eyes she looked damned sexy.
    She leaned her head back on the couch cushion and tried to figure out what had just happened. She heard Spencer’s tires squeal as they hit the pavement. What was wrong with her? She went crazy on someone for no reason. Who cares if he used to live in the house? It was her house now and he didn’t seem to mind that she lived here. Why had she taken the news so personally?
    She stood and hobbled to the kitchen cabinet to get something for her sudden headache. What happened to the care free girl who used to roll with the punches? What happened to her ability to trust? Not everyone was out to get her. Plus, she was now a long way away from that part of her life. It was time to get a grip and move on. After all, no one could find her here. No one even knew where “here” was. Not her friends or what was left of her family.
    Spencer turned into his brother’s driveway without slowing down and saw Ann sitting on the porch. She mouthed some words he couldn’t hear and then his brother appeared on the porch beside her.
    He brought his truck to a stop and climbed out, slamming his door with a little more force than necessary.
    “What gives little brother?”
    “I’ll tell you what gives. I went over to ask Sam if she wanted to join all of us for dinner next week and she nearly ripped my head off. Well, after she fell off a ladder and nearly broke her neck.”
    Ann crossed her arms over her chest and tilted her head to the side. “Wait, why don’t you start at the beginning?”
    He filled them in on the rest of the story ending where she practically threw him out after he helped her into the house. His temper calmed some during his retelling of events, but he still felt like kicking something.
    “She does have a point on the omission part.” Ann held up a hand when it looked as if he was going to argue. “Did you apologize and invite her over?”
    “She didn’t let me apologize and she said thanks, but no thanks, to dinner.”
    “Something tells me you didn’t try very hard.” Her brows arched. “My advice? Let her cool down and apologize when you see her tomorrow for work.”
    Spencer did a mental, toe-in-the-dirt, back step. Why was Ann the only person who could ever make him see reason, to stop and think? “What makes you think she’ll forgive me so easily?”
    “She’s not a monster. She’s a woman. She just feels embarrassed is all.” Ann winked as she gained momentum to get up.
    Jake helped get her to her feet and shot Spencer a wicked grin behind his wife’s back, the same way he