Cold Day in Hell Read Free Page B

thought.
    “I stopped by and put my gear in your casita and scouted around some.” Scouted around for what? She mentally shrugged. She’d find out once they got back to her, now their, suite of rooms.
    “Okay. Can we get something to eat? I’m starving.” He nodded. She wiggled. “Put me down. I can walk. I’m too heavy to carry.”
    “No.” At her gasp and continued attempts to get down, he added, “Stop it! You fucking almost fainted. And you don’t weigh all that much. You could add a few pounds.” He hugged her more tightly against his body and continued to stride straight toward the paseo currently blocked by her erstwhile guards.
    Risto swore foully, this time in idiomatic and very filthy Spanish. Loosely translated, he ordered the sons of bitches out of the way or he’d gut them and then drop them over the ancient wall to the rocky beach for the gulls to peck out their entrails. The thugs moved.
    “Holy crap,” she breathed against his neck, “effective threat.” He peered at her through thick lashes, his eyes glinted darkly. “You understood all that?”
    “Yep.”
    “Shit.” His mouth thinned and the muscles in his jaw tensed. “I apologize for…” She placed her fingers over his lips. “Stop apologizing. I’ve wanted to let loose with some of the profanities my dad used. But since I couldn’t follow up the words with the actions, I kept my mouth shut. It’s been a real pain holding back.”
    “If you don’t mind me asking, where would a lady such as you learn to swear in idiomatic Spanish?”
    “Marine bases around the United States and the world.” She smiled. “The best education a kid could get. I was a horrible tomboy … still am.”
    “You don’t look like one.”
    “Appearances are often deceiving.” She fluttered her lashes.
    Risto snorted and shook his head.
    “Calista, dear.” Evan’s trilling tones came from behind them.
    “Stop, please.” Callie patted Risto’s chest. He frowned, but nodded and turned to meet Evan. “Let me down.” He refused even after she pinched his arm. Solid muscle that arm. “Yes, Evan? I thought we were done for the day. Risto and I haven’t seen each other for four whole days.”
    Her pretend husband played his part by holding her against him with one arm, then turning her head for a searing hot, but far too short, kiss. She licked her lips, tasting him—mint and coffee and heat.
    “Here’s your tote bag, dear girl.” Evan grinned and handed her the large, leather bag which held all her important papers—she hadn’t trusted Cruz not to break into her rooms and steal her passport, traveler’s checks and credit cards. “Ah, newly wedded bliss.” Cruz’s goons had followed and stood off to the side, interested observers. One had his cell phone out and was, she bet, making a report to his boss. “I guess this means you and Risto don’t want to have dinner with me and Chad this evening?”
    “Callie hasn’t had lunch yet, Evan.” Risto’s voice held anger and a note of chastisement. “I’m taking her to get cleaned up and then I plan to feed her. Maybe we can meet later for drinks after she has a nap .” The way Risto said “nap” was clearly meant to indicate to all who listened he intended to be in that bed with her and they wouldn’t be sleeping.
    Evan had the grace to blush. “Oh, yes, please take care of our girl. And, definitely …
    a drink … later. Chad would love to see you again. He was so-o-o upset you two lovebirds eloped. He so wanted to plan a wedding for our Calista.”
    “I didn’t want to wait for the hassle of a wedding.” Callie stroked Risto’s jaw. “I didn’t want him to get away.”
    Risto coughed. “Callie tells me I have you and Chad to thank for keeping the Latin lovers away from her.”
    “No problem. Glad you’re here though.” Evan shot a nasty look at Cruz’s men.
    “Some people can’t take a hint that our lovely Calista is unavailable.” He turned his back on their