Silver Bracelets: A Loveswept Contemporary Classic Romance Read Free

was thought to be a man of purpose, one who never deviated from his course. There were some who called him a loner. He saw himself as an individualist. There were some who said he had tunnel vision. He called it commitment.
    He would have stopped Jeanie from eloping. He still could. But right now he was having trouble focusing on the how. The lady locksmith hovering over him was proving to be very distracting, and distractions were not a part of Asa Canyon’s life.
    Asa’s rescuer was wearing faded jeans, a T-shirt that said “Locksmith’s Have the Key,” and a baseball cap on her head. She smelled fresh and natural, like newly mown grass, or a watermelon right after it was cut. She was even humming as if she were completely at ease. She didn’t seem to have any trouble concentrating. She certainly was paying no attention to his nearly nude state.
    For that he was grateful. The rough texture of her jeans grazing against his thigh was suddenly forcing his body into paying enough attention for both of them. He took a deep breath. “Aren’t you done yet?”
    “The first key doesn’t fit.” Sarah tried another. “Are these bracelets yours?”
    “Yes.”
    “How’d your friend get them?”
    “They were attached to my belt, on my pants. There was a gun there, too. I’m glad he didn’t decide to take stronger measures. He could have done some real damage to my person.”
    Sarah silently agreed that was a good thing. His person was perfect just as it was. Shocked at her thought, she ducked her head so that Asa couldn’t see the blush that heated her cheeks.
    The second key didn’t fit either. She slid it around the ring and pulled up a third one. This time, by working it back and forth, she was able to release the lock. The handcuff attached to the bed slid open so suddenly that she was caught off balance. As she tried to keep from falling across the deputy, another instrument attached to her key ring, a wickedly sharp pointed pick, jabbed him in the wrist.
    Asa’s head snapped up. “Damn!” he exclaimed, jerking his hand forward. His sudden movement wrenched the key and broke it off in the lock, at the same time sending the key ring sailing through the broken window.
    “Ouch! If I’d wanted to lose a hand I’d have gnawed my way free.”
    “Sorry. Now you’ve done it! My keys are outside somewhere in the dark. I’ll have to see if I can find them to open the other cuff.”
    “Never mind, Sarah Wilson,” he said, massaging his wrist. “I’m free of the bed. That’s all I have time for.”
    “But what about the other bracelet?”
    “I have a spare key at the station. I’ll get it later. Let me get dressed and I’ll pay you for your trouble.”
    “What do you plan to wear?”
    “Damn!” He glanced over at Sarah, his gaze traveling from her T-shirt, down her long legs to her scruffy sneakers.
    “No way. You’d never fit.”
    “Well, I’ll just have to make a run for it like this.”
    Sarah shook her head. Even with today’s loose dress codes, she guessed that this man would be noticed.
    When she turned to free her flashlight, she saw a couple standing beside a police car on the street. They were talking to the officer and pointing at the window where Sarah was standing.
    “Deputy Canyon, I don’t think that it’s a good idea for you to go outside just now. Not unless you want to do some tall explaining. There’s a Smyrna cop out there. Somebody must have heard you break the glass.”
    Asa glanced out at the officer and back at Sarah. “I don’t suppose you have a pair of pants in that toolbox, do you?”
    “Nope, sorry. But wait a minute. I may have a solution.” She picked up her toolbox, turned around, and disappeared into the darkness.
    Asa imagined the worst. She was breaking into another apartment. She was stealing an overcoat and he’d be arrested as a flasher. She was calling for a pizza and they’d overpowerthe delivery boy. She was leaving, deserting him in his hour of