Stranded Read Free

“Not that I think you should be going home.”
    “Unbelievable,” she muttered, turning away sharply.
    “’Scuze me?” he asked.
    “I meant my husband,” she replied.  “
    “Oh,” he said with a wink.
    He had the most unnerving gleam in his eye.  Smoky.  Alluring.  Seductive. Naomi had to make a conscious effort not to fall for it.
    “You promise my husband really asked you to kill me?” she asked.
    “He did,” replied Foley.
    “And you promise that you alerted the sheriff?” she asked.
    “I did,” he replied. “I got him on speed dial.  We can call him and confirm.”
    Naomi laughed.  “Everyone has the sheriff on speed dial,” she teased as she slowly headed towards the door. “It’s called 911.”
    “I meant his cell phone, silly,” he replied.
    “And you promise me you’re safe?” she asked.
    “You are,” he said with such sincerity.
    “Are you for real?” she asked shyly.
    He tilted his head, his eyes took on a smoky gaze.  It was a simple little move that changed the atmosphere completely.  Naomi felt a buzz but not from the drink she was sipping.  It was from him.  Their chemistry.  He definitely moved her.
    “Real in what way?” he asked with a soft seduction.
    She had no worldly reason to, but she believed him.  It was his damn good looks that made it irresistible for her to not just go along with the situation.  Foley was an absolute picture of physical perfection.  He was just over six feet which was Naomi’s dream height.  Her own husband was about an inch taller than she and she was petite.  Though in fairness, her husband had been a handsome man before he found designer beer. 
    Foley was as chiseled as if he were flaked from the mountainside. His face belonged on a cover of a magazine. Yeah he would definitely do, Naomi thought.  He had to know he was gorgeous.  He had to know and was probably working it.  But he was so pretty she was unable to care too much.
    “How about we go ahead call the sheriff and he confirms what you just said to me, just like you suggested, I’ll stay,” said Naomi.  “I’ll stay all night if you let me.”
    “Baby,” he rasped as he leaned in so that their mouths were but a whisper apart.  “You don’t have to ask twice.”
    Chapter Three
    “Annabeth, get me John please.  This is Foley Lardner,” he said into his phone.
    Annabeth.  Naomi knew some of the names of the people who worked in the sheriff’s department through charity work. This was good news because Foley was more and more becoming the good guy.  And not some bullshit artist.
    Naomi particularly enjoyed watching Foley’s body move as he spoke on the telephone.  He was smiling into the air to Annabeth the way he smiled at her here in his home, in person.  It didn’t take but a few sentences for him to arrange a meeting with the sheriff and Naomi to set Naomi’s concerns to rest about the legitimacy of his claim.  That her husband Daryl Pollard wanted her dead.
    They stepped back out to the front porch wherever everyone clustered to brief his guests about where they were going.  A few good-hearted guys dispatched to examine Naomi’s car. 
    “You have nice friends,” she said spontaneously.
    “I do,” Foley agreed without hesitation.
    He led her to his bike.  He handed a helmet to her and took one for himself. She watched as he swung his giant magnificent leg over the bike, a sight that made her step back and suck in her breath.  She would replay that one over and over for sure.  She loaded herself on the back timidly. 
    Foley corrected her swiftly.  He reached behind himself for her, taking hold of the backs of her knees and pulling her tight against him.  The connection was both physically and personally intimate.  Naomi’s insides waffled with arousal as it rose from deep within her to make her belly flutter.  To make her so empty and aching.   He was bring parts of her to life that she had long neglected.  This man was too hot