Taken by Tuesday (Weekday Brides Series) Read Online Free

her internship was taking her.
    Footsteps behind her made her turn around.
    Rick, wearing a suit that belonged on a secret service agent, loomed over her. He tilted his head and spoke into a mic she couldn’t see. “I found her. Everything’s fine.”
    Judy put her hands up in mock surrender. “Was there a kidnapping threat when I wasn’t looking?”
    There was no humor in Rick’s stern expression. “There’s no telling what someone might do to get to your brother.”
    Wow! Who knew Rick took his job so seriously? Seems he always had a smile and laughed in the face of adversity.
    “Just looking for fresh air, Green Eyes.”
    His shoulders relaxed. Even in the suit, he took on the laid-back posture of the man she’d grown used to. “I haven’t seen you all night. How is it you knew I walked away?”
    “Just because you haven’t seen me doesn’t mean I’m not there . . . watching.”
    Lord, if she didn’t know the man . . . or kinda know him, that line might have made her squirm. “Stalker much?” she said even though she knew Rick wasn’t the twisted stalker type.
    “Private security is a license to stalk.” He smiled now, as if he was enjoying his own private joke.
    “So . . .” She paused, took a breath. “You were on duty . . . or assignment the other night?”
    She expected a safe retort, not the truth.
    “No. That was personal.” His lips actually lost some of his smile and his eyes peered into her in a way she’d never seen before.
    “P-personal?” The cool air around her actually heated.
    He tilted his head to the side, as if he was debating what exactly to say. “I take it you passed that final.”
    “Hard to graduate without passing your finals. Now, back to that personal thing . . .”
    Rick rocked back on his heels. “I wanted to see if the girl I met in Utah had the same amount of fire in her as she did last year. Then I find you hustling pool—”
    “Playing for money isn’t hustling. You’re the one who said you hustled pool.”
    Rick nodded. “I guess that’s true. Though bets over a hundred usually constitute a hustle.”
    She pointed at him. “You’re the one who suggested the hundred bucks. I didn’t even have that much on me.”
    Rick closed his eyes and dipped his head. “Welching on a bet? So bad.”
    “I didn’t welch. You didn’t win!”
    “I would have.”
    Yeah, he would have . . . they both knew it, but she sure as hell wouldn’t let him know she knew it. “Gee, ego much?”
    Rick walked to the side of the open veranda while Judy leaned against the pillar.
    “I hear you’re going to stay at your brother’s while you find your own place in LA.”
    “Mike tell you that?”
    “I do monitor his place when he’s in town and come to events like this with him.”
    Judy laughed. “I don’t think his sister’s graduation party is a high-risk event that requires a bodyguard or security.”
    He turned to her now and ran a hand over his chin. “You’d be shocked at some of the crap your brother puts up with because of his fame. Living in his home will put you center stage.”
    “After last summer, I don’t think I need to worry.”
    “Last summer was all about someone else and had nothing to do with Hollywood’s leading man that everyone wants a piece of.”
    Rick had her there.
    But her adventure with Rick in locating Becky had made her feel alive in a way she’d never felt before and gave her confidence. Becky’s parents had kidnapped her, and Rick and Judy drove over half the state of Utah searching for the girl.
    “I’m a big girl. I can handle it.”
    Rick’s eyes lost their laughter as he turned his head to the side. He placed a finger to his ear. “Moving inside now.” He closed the space between them and placed a hand on her waist. “Time to go inside.”
    “What?” She moved alongside him, looking over her shoulder at the darkened sky.
    “Paparazzi spotted on the south lawn looking for a photo op.”
    “I doubt they