Provoked Read Free Page A

head. Slowly, she reached over and locked the door.
    Her heart picked up its pace, and her harsh breathing was the only sound in the world besides the ominous growl of the truck. Puffs of clouds came from her mouth. Panic froze her in place as the windows began to fog.
    Clouds wandered above and partially covered the moon. Oh God.
    Butch drove a Suburban and lived above the bar. She didn’t know anyone who had a truck lifted at least two feet like the one behind her. Why the heck wasn’t the driver getting out?
    Scrambling for her purse, she grabbed a ballpoint pen. Yeah, that’d help. A slightly hysterical giggle rippled from her chest.
    Both doors opened on the truck, and two men jumped to the ground, snow billowing up. The drunks from the bar.
    Amber licked her lips. Okay. That might be okay. Or a complete disaster. Either way, she clutched the pen so hard her fingers ached. As a teenager, hadn’t she snuck to watch a movie where the heroine jammed a pen in the bad guy’s neck? She turned her head to watch the guy on her side of the car stumble along until he finally knocked on her window.
    A slightly blurry face bent down. “Hey, baby. Your car lasted longer than we thought it would.”
    Heat filled her head until her ears rang. Although his voice was muffled, the quiet night allowed the words to penetrate past the filmy glass. She lowered her voice into an authoritative tone. Hopefully. “I have a gun and have no problem shooting you between the eyes, jackass. Get lost.”
    He threw back his head and laughed, the sound obnoxious in the peaceful woods. “You’re one of them eco-nuts from the farm. No fucking way you got a gun.”
    No, but she had a pen. “What do you want?” The question held risk, or rather the answer did. But sometimes a girl had to know in order to make a plan.
    A smack to the passenger window had her jumping and biting back a shriek. The second guy leaned down and pressed his mouth against the window. “I’m Chuck.” Full, sloppy lips left a round mark.
    Didn’t the dumbass know not to kiss anything icy? Hopefully he’d stick.
    Drawing in a deep breath, she wiped her window clear. “Well?”
    The guy outside her window smiled. “We’re, ah, here to talk you into selling to Hanson. You crazies don’t need that much land, now, do you?”
    Relief, raw and hard, ripped through her so quickly her knees weakened. “The land?” Thank goodness. They wanted the land. Something a woman alone could be happy about. “Yeah, sure. I’ll talk to the others.”
    He smiled, menace tipping his lips. “Well, now, we’re supposed to convince you. Come out of the car, pretty lady.”
    Fear rushed back.
    A shadow caught her attention. One second the moonlit road was clear . . . the next a man wearing all black stood with long overcoat flapping in the wind.
    He came out of nowhere. No vehicle, no hint, just a tall figure in black like something out of a movie.
    The clouds parted and the moon slid down to highlight him. Hard, primitive, predatory, fierce eyes lighter than possible stared out of a chiseled face.
    Amber slowly sat back as far as possible in her seat. “Kane.”

C HAPTER 2
    A mber bit her lip, her gaze on the figure dead-center in the quiet road. His name fell easily from her cold lips. Instinct whispered the two guys flanking her car were silly jokes compared to the motionless man taking in the situation. The clouds groped the moon, plunging half his face into darkness.
    Her shoulders shuddered from something other than the cold.
    “What did you do to the vehicle?” Low, male, Kane’s voice carried through the night and past her windows.
    The jerk on her side of the car took several lurching steps toward Kane. “None of your fucking business.” Fumbling in his jacket pocket, he yanked out a gun.
    Amber gasped and reached for her window. Quick motions had the glass partially rolled down. “Wait a second, here. I know Hanson wouldn’t want you to kill anybody.” Okay, probably