Carolina Heat by Christi Barth Page A

focused on the dark, curling hair covering his arm.
    “Stop fighting me or you’ll get hurt,” he ordered. Immediately Annabelle let herself go limp. Accordingly, Mark let up the pressure on her neck, but kept his arm in place. Her panicked breaths came in long gasps.
    He whispered, his breath fanning her ear. “You don’t have any idea who is trying to kill you. You don’t have any idea what happened to your friends. No one knows you’re out here with me. And despite it all, you go ahead and blow your cover.” He released her hands and propped her back in her seat. “Darlin’, are you sure you’ve done this sort of thing before? Seems to me the bad guys could get to you without even breaking a sweat.” He readjusted the rear view mirror she’d knocked askew and started the car.
    Before the engine turned over, Annabelle reached across and yanked the keys out.
    “Let me get this straight. You assault me, practically strangle me, and scare a good ten years off my life just to make a point?”
    “It was an unbelievably stupid risk you took. I’m sure deep down you recognize that. And don’t exaggerate. You know I didn’t hurt you a bit. I’ve got a black belt in taekwondo, so I know how to incapacitate.” His voice was measured and matter-of- fact. “I also know I didn’t cross the line and injure you at all. Scared some sense into you, maybe. You ought to look into taking self-defense classes, if you get into this kind of trouble on a regular basis.”
    “Are you crazy?” she screamed. All the pent-up adrenaline of her fright transformed into righteous fury. Without hesitation, she plowed her fist into his stomach. His breath exploded, and he grabbed her hand just before she landed a second punch on his jaw.
    “I can see you didn’t like my tactics, but let’s call it even for now, all right?” With lips pursed and a glare capable of melting glaciers, she dropped her arm into her lap. He rubbed his stomach and winced. “That was some punch, Ms. Carlyle.”
    “I actually have taken some self-defense classes. You know, in case the bad guys ever catch me,” she said sardonically.
    “Nicked your ego, did I?”
    “No!”
    He gave an amused look at the vehemence of her retort.
    “Oh, all right,” she said grudgingly. “Maybe a little. But I always work alone. Having to worry about someone else puts a whole different perspective on things.”
    “Thanks, but I’m a big boy. I can take care of myself.”
    “I see.” She rubbed at her wrists where he’d held her. “However, my point is by coming clean with you, I didn’t take as big a risk as you may think. In my line of work you learn to not only trust your instincts, but always rely on them. I can’t quantify it or explain it.”
    It was crazy. Here she was, stuck in the dump of all places, and yet ready to open up like never before to this near-stranger. She could almost hear the snick as one of the padlocks on her heart fell open. She’d stalled long enough. It was time to leap forward with naked honesty.
    “Mark, you’re different from anyone I’ve ever met. So it wasn’t a risk, because deep down I knew I could trust you implicitly. Believe me, I don’t say that about many people, especially men.” She held her breath, unsure both of what sort of response to expect, and what she hoped to hear.
     
     
    Annabelle smiled a slow, sweet smile and all of Mark’s defenses dropped. It didn’t matter that murderers might be hot on their trail. His beautiful Annabelle trusted him. Sure, she’d been lying to him since they met, not to mention possibly risking his life. He could overlook all of it if she kept her angelic smile aimed at him.
    A particularly pungent whiff of the dump hit him and he shook his head. What a sap! Can the romance, Dering. It’s time for some action . He leaned over and gently brushed her lips with his. Her perfume, light and citrusy, invaded his senses. He rested his forehead against hers, then marshaled all his