Volcano Read Free Page A

miffed, if you catch my drift.”
    Charlie checked over the driver’s shoulder to be certain they headed the right way. Once out of Vieux Fort, nothing but the narrow rural road gave evidence of civilization. She might even be grateful for his company when they hit some of those hairpin turns.
    He’d appreciate a little gratitude about now, but his haughty companion obviously disdained his animal presence. Charlie shoved his mirrored glasses more firmly up on his nose and sank back in the seat.
    â€œSurely you needn’t accompany me any farther,” she protested, but her shoulders sagged in defeat as the town outside the window vanished from view behind a banana forest.
    Charlie smugly suspected she’d just realized the village they left behind was the only civilization around. That ought to scare the hell out of Miss Rich Bitch. His animosity toward her surprised him. Generally, he was a Good-Time Charlie around women.
    â€œI’m going to Soufriere. Anse Chastenet is just down the road. This suits me fine.” He tried to stretch his long legs out. The position brought his hip closer to hers. He grimaced as she scrunched against the window. Maybe if he tried charming her just a little bit... Hell, he’d never charmed a woman in his life. They took one look at his bulk and either crawled all over him or ran for their lives. This woman was the running kind.
    Maybe she responded to reason. Charlie didn’t think it very likely, not the way she inched away from him as if she suspected he would pull out a machete and take off her scalp. A guy would think she’d never seen a man before. So maybe he didn’t wear a slick Italian suit or those yuppie camp shorts or whatever she considered socially acceptable. That didn’t make him a killer or a rapist. Lots of women liked his size. Lots .
    Forget reasoning. He couldn’t take a chance on telling her about Raul. He didn’t know anything for certain except that he knew damned well Raul wouldn’t abscond with his money. He and Raul had grown up together, protecting each other’s backs. He’d trust Raul with his life, just as Raul must be trusting Charlie with his right now.
    â€œI suppose offering a ride is the least I can do in exchange for your help,” she said tentatively, turning toward him with fear still etching the corners of her eyes behind those awful glasses.
    That was more like it. Crossing his arms, he regarded her with no small degree of interest. After all, they’d be spending considerable time together, although she didn’t realize that yet. “My name’s Charlie Smith. What’s yours?”
    That brought a wry look from beneath sooty lashes. “Smith? Why not just call yourself Brown and make a joke of it?”
    He scowled. “Because the name is Smith. I come from a long line of plain ordinary Smiths. I take it you don’t follow football?”
    She still seemed tense, and she answered cautiously, “No, I don’t. Should I recognize the name?”
    â€œProbably not,” he admitted, shrugging. “Not unless you follow college ball. I pulled a kneecap my senior year and never went on to the pros. I could have though,” he added defensively. It was a bit of a sore point with him. He’d been one of the top contenders for the NFL draft. His life could have been filled with wine, women, and song. What made it worse was that he hadn’t even ruined the knee playing ball. He’d done it falling off a damned roof. He glared at her. “Your turn.”
    Briefly, amusement curved her naturally red lips and banished the wary look from her eyes. “Penelope Albright; no comments, please. I’m bright, but I’m not a Penny.”
    â€œYeah, I doubt you come that cheap,” he offered pragmatically. He didn’t spend much time around women wearing designer suits and real gold, but he recognized them when he saw them. “So, what are