Courting Disaster by Carol Stephenson Read Free Book Online

privilege.”
    “You’re impossible.”
    “And you’re arrogant. There’s only one reason you want to know what Borys said. You haven’t gotten the mob leadership and it’s bugging the hell out of you.” Something familiar about this argument needled me.
    “Wait a minute,” I stormed. “You gave me an ultimatum the morning I was shot. You said if I didn’t stop representing Borys our relationship was over.”
    Jared’s jaw jerked as if I had slapped him. Annoyance flared in his eyes. “If you’re going to remember things after all this time, at least get them straight. I also immediately apologized for being an ass.”
    His nostrils flared as he took a deep breath. He let his gaze roam over my body again. “The make-up sex was exceptionally hot that morning.”
    My mouth dried at the desire in his eyes and I swallowed. If I recalled, we hadn’t made it from the kitchen back to bed.
    Jared braced his hands against the table on either side of me, effectively imprisoning me. “Get this through your thick skull, Carling. If you remember anything about that night—I don’t care if it’s what color panties you were wearing—I want you to come and tell me. You’re playing with fire.”
    “You can’t order me—”
    Jared’s kiss cut off any further protest. God, what a mouth the man had. Heat blasted through me clear to my toes. But before I could do something as idiotic as putting my arms around his neck, Jared raised his head and backed away.
    I gripped the table. Better that than hauling off and punching him in the stomach.
    “Don’t meddle in matters you don’t understand, Carling. I’m warning you. You’ll be in way over your head.” He strode toward the door, paused and came back.
    This time I whipped a hand up, but he caught my wrist with ease. I didn’t think it was possible to notch up the intensity of a kiss, but he managed it.
    The air-conditioned air stirred by the overhead fan was a relief when he finally turned and left the room.
    Bemused, I touched my lips. Jared sure knew how to deliver a closing argument.

Chapter Four
    Never let it be said that a toe-curling kiss could reduce me to Barbie mentality. Jared’s warning meant he was in the middle of an active investigation.
    Don’t interfere? He wasn’t the one being ripped apart in a nightmare of the past and present at war. He wasn’t afraid of the unknown. Jared knew who he was.
    I didn’t, not anymore. Was I really the woman who drove red-hot Mustangs and loved garish décor? Or was I the woman who once dreamed of a life with Jared complete with white picket fences and babies? I wasn’t even sure if I liked either one now.
    I needed to know what happened the night Borys was killed. Maybe then I could forge a brand new me.
    In the short walk from the client conference room to the detention center’s reception area, I assessed my options and arrived at a strategic plan.
    Ah, target in sight.
    Leaning with one elbow propped against the counter, Deputy Bill Murphy laughed and gestured as he chatted with the female officer manning the desk. No doubt telling a joke. If there was a bad joke, Bill knew it. He had this special brain cell that could retain every punch line ever invented by a comic.
    I sidled up next to him. “Hey Bill. Connie.” I smiled at the other woman.
    “Hey, Counselor!” Bill turned toward me. “What’s the difference between a lawyer and a vulture?”
    I could take a thousand blows to the head and still know the answer. As an attorney you couldn’t avoid being the butt of lawyer jokes at every public gathering. But when your mark for a huge favor wants to play the comic, you suck it up.
    “You got me, Bill.” I spread my hands and yes, did the wide-eyed innocent routine. “What’s the difference?”
    “Lawyers get frequent flyer miles.”
    Oh for the good old days when we only lost out to snakes on the popularity contest. “Ha!” I forced a smile. “That’s a good one.”
    Bill’s ruddy face lit