CUL-DE-SAC (On The Edge Book 1) by M.E. YILDIRIM Read Free Book Online Page A

desirable companion for someone like her.
    He was also the very same male who acted
somewhat pitilessly toward her, unapologetically taking something that belonged
to her and then leaving her without any choice and much hope she would ever get
it back.
    Fine, perhaps she should have been more
subtle about the whole subject of pictures and left as soon as she got what she
went there for, but she did nothing that warranted landing on the receiving end
of his rudeness.
    People simply didn’t treat Catalina Bennett
mercilessly; this one was utterly on him, she decided.
    Yet, as much as it was unacceptable and
unheard of, it was also strangely exhilarating at the same time.
She shook her head, surprised at the route her mind seemed determined to take.
    She should have ignored his not-so-subtle
challenge and order tightly wrapped in one nasty package and stay away from
him. The whole reason why she had found herself on the scene of the underground
fighting was safely placed in one of her drawers, leaving him with nothing but
an empty memory card while she was the one who fled the club with the full one
nicely tucked in her jeans’ pocket.
    She could imagine his anger and frustration
when he understood the situation hadn’t turned out the way he thought it would.
Some part of her – the part that was
all Cat and had always been ready to rebel against rules – urged her to laugh
and celebrate her small victory over someone who didn’t even take her
seriously.
    Catalina however, felt a healthy dose of
apprehension at the thought of playing with someone for whom failure apparently
was not even an option.
    She sighed softly, ridiculously conscious
of the pros and cons of the meet, knowing she was going to make the appearance
regardless because, as much as she didn’t care about the empty memory card, she
cared great deal about her Canon.
    She was not sure what was it about Xan or
the situation that was making her act so out of character, but she was about to
find out, she thought critically looking at her wardrobe.
    She took meticulous care with finding just
the right outfit because no matter the circumstances, the proper attire was
kind of a weapon. One she had wielded well since she learned how to walk.
And something told her she was going to need every tool at her disposal to deal
with a man like Xan.
    When she parked her car before the Monsoon
Café she was not only frustrated. She was also annoyed and nervous and it was
not the kind of nervous where she would have butterflies of excitement
fluttering in her stomach.
    This was the kind that came with an acrid
taste coating her tongue and a film of real apprehension clinging to her skin.
    Dread was not something she was comfortable
with. But whatever the situation and emotions involved they were not to be
shown on the surface, hidden like a dirty secret within instead.
    So she tried her best to do so.
    She pressed her hand to her unsettled
stomach not able to fully comprehend where all those nerves were sprouting
from. Catalina had to remind herself yet again that, theoretically speaking,
she was the one who had the upper hand in this uncommon situation. Her mind
knew it, but she refused to listen to the voice of reason anyway.
    She stepped out of her car, looking around
at the crowded parking lot, absurdly glad that Xan chose an ordinary place like
the café for their meeting. It should have reassured her she was safe but some
voice, currently occupying her head, kept urging her to turn around and drive
back home before she would got more than she bargained for.
    She had the exact same feeling of being out
of her depth just like that fateful night at the Cul-de-sac. The recollection,
instead of making her flee instantly, spurred her to take a few steps forward
instead and she entered the bistro.
    The place was jammed just like the cars
outside suggested, yet her eyes inevitably landed on Xan as if he were the only
person in the whole place.
    He was occupying one of the tables