From Kiss to Queen Read Free

“I’m not complaining.” He cocked his head again. “You seem to be able to take care of yourself just fine. Where did you learn that trick of feeding me air while I was trapped in the plane?”
    â€œI didn’t learn it anyplace. I just thought it might help.”
    â€œWell, you are most resourceful. And your lips were most welcome. You tasted of butterscotch,” he added with a grin as he ran his tongue over his teeth.
    Jane was glad the man was nearly blind when she felt her face heat up. “Come on. You said we’ve got to get out of here.”
    He bowed. “I am in your care, madam.”
    â€œThe name’s Jane Abbot.”
    â€œAnd my name is Mark.”
    â€œMark what?”
    â€œSo which way, Jane?” he asked instead of answering.
    Jane frowned in the direction of her vehicle. “My car is still the quickest way out of here. You need to see a doctor. Are you hurt anyplace else?”
    He shrugged, then winced. “Everyplace. But your vehicle is not a safe destination.”
    â€œYou think you can walk twenty miles?” she asked, thinking the hike to her car would be a stretch for him.
    â€œIf I have to. And you? Are you hurt anyplace? You said a bullet grazed you.”
    Jane lifted her left arm. “It’s only scratched. It’s not even bleeding now.” She looked at the man named
just Mark
, and then she looked at the floats out in the center of the pond. “Is there anything in your plane you might need? Medicine or anything?”
    Rubbing his eyes again and looking at the pond himself, Mark seemed to think about that. Finally he sighed. “I have some things I would like to retrieve, but it’s too cold to get them.”
    â€œI could get them,” she offered, repressing a shiver.
    Mark looked in her direction again. “It’s too cold,” he repeated.
    â€œWhat’s in the plane?” She gasped when he hesitated. “It’s not full of drugs, is it? I’m not standing in the middle of a drug war, am I?”
    Mark stilled, then barked out in laughter—only to quickly cradle his ribs. “I’m not a drug runner. Leave the plane. I will find a way to retrieve my belongings later.”
    For some reason, probably stupidity, Jane believed him. “Well, come on, then. We’ve got a two-mile hike ahead of us, because
driving
is our only viable option of getting out of—”
    A long burst of distant gunfire suddenly shattered the air, immediately followed by a muted explosion forceful enough to scatter the already disgruntled birds from the nearby trees. Mark moved with surprising speed and gathered Jane into his arms, pressing her head to his chest as he looked in the direction of the blast.
    â€œWhat was that?” she whispered, closing her eyes asshe wondered if the plane had crashed trying to land—not that that explained the gunfire.
    â€œI would guess your car.”
    She snapped her head up to look at him. “They blew up my car?”
    He stepped back. “We are like sitting ducks. Do you know these woods, Jane Abbot? Can you lead us to safety without leaving a conspicuous trail?”
    â€œOh, yes. I’ve spent nearly my whole life in these woods.”
    He suddenly shot her a warm, genuine smile. “I have the damnedest luck. I’ve crashed into the arms of a guardian angel, have I not?”
    â€œAnd don’t I just have the darnedest luck,” Jane shot back. “I was minding my own business one minute and dodging bullets the next.” She picked up her jacket and backpack and shotgun. “Come on, Ace, the sooner we start walking, the sooner I can get rid of you,” she muttered, grabbing his hand and heading in the opposite direction from her destroyed car.
    They’d blown up her car!
    â€œWould you happen to have any more butterscotch, Jane?”

Chapter Two

    M ark blindly followed his little heroine, even as he