He Can Fall (She Can... #4.5)(5)

“He’s not sure. Mia’s father did a lot of moaning about Glenn’s selfishness when he refused to pay for expensive criminal defense lawyers. I think Glenn was hoping Mia’s dad would get a much longer sentence.”

“That’s awful.” Amanda’s mouth tightened. “I hate to think of anything happening to that sweet child.”

And this was why Sean hadn’t told her about Mia. Amanda couldn’t help empathizing with the child, especially considering his wife’s current emotional, baby-craving state and the fact that their own two girls were very close to Mia in age. Time to change the topic.

He waggled his eyebrows at her. “I’m waiting to see what you have in the bag.”

She smiled. Mischief lit her eyes to pure wicked. Better.

“I’ll bet you are.” She unzipped her bag and pulled out a pair of handcuffs.

“I hope you plan to use those on me.” Sean loved kink as much as the next man—OK, more than the average man—but there was no way he could ever lay a hand or leave a mark on his wife. “If you want me to tie you up, I’ll have to find something silk that won’t bruise your pretty skin.” He lifted her hand and kissed the inside of her wrist. “But you know I love the dominatrix look on you.” She also had a cheerleader uniform that made him really hot, but she seemed to be feeling authoritative tonight.

Her smile widened. “I haven’t forgotten. Don’t worry. These are for you.” She spun around and gave him a playful shove. “We’re just getting started.”

He let himself fall back on the bed. “You didn’t, by any chance, pack any interesting movies in that bag of yours?”

“Maybe.” Amanda stripped off his shirt, murmuring feminine approval as she swept her palms across his pecs. She snapped a cuff on one of his wrists and fastened it to the iron headboard. “Perfect.”

Sean leaned back, cuffed hand over his head, content to let Amanda have any way she wanted with him. With his free hand he slid the bobby pin into the sheets within easy reach. He was fine with being vulnerable to his wife, but vulnerability in general wasn’t in his makeup. Amanda’s long hair swept across his abs.

He stroked her head with his free hand. “Oh yeah. Perfect.”





CHAPTER THREE

Early morning light bathed the room. Amanda rolled over and sighed, snuggling deeper under the thick duvet. Since Sean had left for his morning run, the temperature in bed had dropped ten degrees. Who left a bed this fabulous and went running in the snow? A former army Ranger with physical training burned into his brain, that’s who.

She could hardly complain about the results, though. Her husband had a chiseled body Hollywood stars would envy, and his morning run would energize him and benefit Amanda later.

Coffee in bed. That’s what she wanted. She would curl up in the chair by the balcony, look out over the icy landscape, and drink in peace—a rare treat for a mom with young kids.

She sat up and stretched. Outside, a clear and blustery day dawned. The sky was a pale, bright azure, undimmed by a single cloud. Streaks of sunlight glittered on ice. A few layers of snow had drifted against the french doors. Beyond, the frozen lake was windswept clean. A gust blew powder across the inn’s backyard. It was a perfect day for lounging in front of a blazing fire.

Shivering, she reached to the foot of the bed for the thick spa robe that came with the room. A turn of a knob lighted the gas fireplace. Heat rose from the neat row of flames. She picked up the phone and dialed the front desk. The line rang a dozen times, but no one answered.

Hmm. Sean wouldn’t be back for a half hour. How badly did she want coffee? As badly as oxygen, but she wasn’t going to pester Glenn. They weren’t really paid guests. She’d just slip down to the kitchen and get her own.

She used the bathroom, washed her face, and swept her hair into a messy bun. Stepping into jeans and a sweater, she grabbed her sheepskin boots from the closet and left the room. Downstairs, the lobby was empty.

A door behind the registration desk was labeled “Employees Only.” Amanda knocked softly. No answer. An inexplicable buzz of apprehension started low in her belly.

Something wasn’t right. The place was too quiet. That’s ridiculous. Of course it’s quiet. The inn isn’t even open yet.

She glanced to the right at a swinging door. The kitchen? Maybe Glenn was in there. But as she rationalized, that unexplainable, instinctive tension rippled through her bones. Holding her breath, she cracked the door with two fingers. The inch-wide gap revealed a slice of a white-tile-and-stainless-steel commercial kitchen.

Glenn stood in the middle of the space, both hands raised in the classic being-robbed position. “No. Please don’t hurt her.”

“Grandpa—” A child’s thin cry pierced the kitchen. Mia!

Amanda’s free hand shot up to cover her mouth.

“Then you better do exactly what I say.” The voice was male. Amanda couldn’t see who was talking, but the situation was clear. Whoever he was, he had Mia.

“I’ll do anything,” Glenn said in a voice thick with panic and desperation.

Adrenaline dumped into Amanda’s veins. Her heart sprinted, and sweat broke out under her sweater. Sean. He would fix this. She eased away from the door. She’d go outside and find her husband. Then everything would be all right. Her boots were silent on the carpet as she tiptoed backward.