But knowing hadn’t prevented her from lying awake all night or from being in a fever of anticipation. And it didn’t keep her from wanting to run down the road like Frankie.
She drew a deep breath, turned, and walked out of the stable. Blockman, Donavan, and Frankie were opening the gate and letting Charlie, Hope, and the colt into the paddock. Cosmo brayed and trotted toward them.
And Kilmer was walking toward her. “You’ve got some new livestock. I hear you need a stable hand.”
God, he looked wonderful. “You’re overqualified. I like my help to stick around for a while.”
“I’ll stick around. Try me.”
“You told me you found that engine. Wasn’t it what it was cracked up to be?”
“Yes, the preliminary tests are astonishing.”
“Then you don’t need a job.”
“I need it. I need you.” He smiled. “Think of your status in the horse community. You’ll be the only owner with a billionaire stable hand.”
“The idea has its merits.” He was close enough to touch. Jesus, she wanted to touch him. It had been too long. “You know how I’ve always prized my social status. Of course, I’d be willing to give you fringe benefits.”
“I’m counting on them. I’m anticipating them. I can’t do without them.”
“Neither can I.” It was time. She couldn’t wait any longer.
She took a step forward and was in his arms.
BOOKS BY IRIS JOHANSEN
ON THE RUN
COUNTDOWN
BLIND ALLEY
FIRESTORM
FATAL TIDE
DEAD AIM
NO ONE TO TRUST
BODY OF LIES
FINAL TARGET
THE SEARCH
THE KILLING GAME
THE FACE OF DECEPTION
AND THEN YOU DIE
LONG AFTER MIDNIGHT
THE UGLY DUCKLING
LION’S BRIDE
DARK RIDER
MIDNIGHT WARRIOR
THE BELOVED SCOUNDREL
THE MAGNIFICENT ROGUE
THE TIGER PRINCE
LAST BRIDGE HOME
THE GOLDEN BARBARIAN
REAP THE WIND
STORM WINDS
THE WIND DANCER
ON THE RUN
A Bantam Book / January 2006
Published by Bantam Dell
A Division of Random House, Inc.
New York, New York
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved
Copyright © 2005 by Johansen Publishing LLLP
Bantam Books is a registered trademark of Random House, Inc., and the colophon is a trademark of Random House, Inc.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Johansen, Iris.
On the run / Iris Johansen.
p. cm.
1. Mothers and daughters—Fiction. 2. Government investigators—Fiction. 3. Attempted murder—Fiction. 4. Alabama—Fiction. I. Title.
PS3560.O275O5 2006
813'.54—dc22 2005053033
Published simultaneously in Canada
www.bantamdell.com
eISBN: 978-0-553-90222-8
v3.0
On the Run Page 29
