On The Run Read Free Page A

to be driving okay and it was almost all back roads to his farm. He’d give him a call when he’d had time to get home, just to ease his own mind. He turned and started back toward his SUV.
    It had been a good night and he was filled with warm contentment. Even if it hadn’t been a part of his job, he’d have enjoyed these evenings with Grace, Frankie, and Charlie. They were as close to family as he’d ever possessed. When he’d taken on this assignment, he’d never dreamed it would last this long, and now he’d be disappointed when it was over.
    If it was ever over, he thought ruefully. He’d been told Grace Archer was too important for them to take a chance with her safety. The fact that they’d kept him here for eight years in this little Podunk of a town only underscored that fact.
    Not that he’d take that chance even if she was considered dispensable by the agency. Grace had become a personal mission. He liked her, dammit. She was smart and strong and she never let anything get in the way when she was going after something. She was also one hell of an attractive woman. He was surprised that he found her appealing. He’d always liked cute, cuddly women, and his first wife had fallen dead center into that category. There was nothing cute or cuddly about Grace. She was tall, slim, and graceful, with curly, short chestnut hair that framed her face, big hazel eyes, full lips, and spare, elegant bone structure that was more interesting than conventionally pretty. Yet there was something about her confidence, quiet strength, and intelligence that turned him on. There had been times when he’d had to backpedal, but she was so completely absorbed by her daughter and the life she’d carved out at Charlie’s farm, he doubted if she’d even noticed.
    Or maybe she had and chose to ignore it. He knew she liked being his friend, and she probably didn’t want to jeopardize that relationship for a less calm, volatile one. God knew her life had been volatile and violent enough before she came here. When he’d read her dossier, he’d had trouble connecting the Grace he knew with that woman. Well, except for the fact that she had little trouble putting him down during their workouts. She was strong and skilled and went for the jugular. Who knew? It could be that that hint of danger was why he found her so interesting.
    He’d reached his SUV and he clicked the remote to unlock the door. It would take Charlie twenty minutes to get home. He’d give him another five minutes to get in the house and then call him and—
    A large brown envelope was on the seat.
    He stiffened. “Shit.” There was no question that he’d locked the SUV.
    He glanced around the parking lot. No one suspicious. But whoever had put the envelope on the seat had had all evening to do it.
    He slowly picked up the envelope, opened it, and took out the contents.
    A photo of two white horses in profile.
    Both horses had blue eyes.
             
    M om. May I come in?” Frankie stood in the doorway of Grace’s bedroom. “I can’t sleep.”
    “Sure.” Grace sat up and patted the bed next to her. “What’s wrong? Stomachache? I told you not to eat that last piece of pizza.”
    “No.” Frankie was cuddling underneath the covers. “I was just lonesome.”
    Grace put her arm around her. “Then I’m glad you came. Being lonely hurts.”
    “Yeah.” Frankie was silent a moment. “I was thinking maybe you probably get lonesome too sometimes.”
    “When you’re not around.”
    “No, I mean what about all that love and marriage and stuff on TV? Do I get in the way?”
    “You’re never in the way.” She chuckled. “And I promise I’m not missing all that ‘stuff.’ I’m too busy.”
    “Sure?”
    “Sure.” She brushed her lips across Frankie’s temple. “This is enough, baby. What I have with you and Charlie makes me very, very happy.”
    “Me too.” Frankie yawned. “I just wanted to let you know that I wouldn’t mind if you