Deadly Target [IAD Agency 3] (Siren Publishing Classic) by Laurie Roma Read Free Book Online Page B

want the same things. Hell, she didn’t even know what she wanted, but she did know that she wanted more than he was willing to give. “Gage…” She sighed. “There is no point to all of this. I’m not really looking for a relationship, but I know I don’t want what you’re offering either.”
    “Just have lunch with me. If you still feel the same way after we eat, I’ll leave you alone.” Gage seemed to hold his breath as he waited for her answer.
    “Fine. Just lunch. Could you please ask your dog to move so I can go in and change?”
    Gage looked down to see Wulf had sprawled his large body down over Mikayla’s feet like one enormous furry slipper. Damn, Gage thought, he must have it bad if he was envious of his own dog for getting close to this woman.
    He had a feeling this was going to be a very long afternoon.

Chapter Four
     
    Gage sat next to the woman that had his mind reeling in a busy restaurant in the next town over from Serenity. He had chosen the Italian place to ensure their privacy since he knew the owner and the food was excellent. The owner, Dante Ricco, had welcomed them personally as they had stepped into the building and guided them to a table in the back where they were partially in the shadows away from the other patrons just like Gage preferred.
    They sat down and Dante had insisted on choosing their meal for them, also sending a bottle of one of Gage’s favorite Barolo wines over. Gage had tried to politely refuse, but Mikayla had smiled at Dante, thanked him in Italian, and that was that.
    She was a mix of contradictions that he couldn’t quite wrap his head around. She had let him and Wulf into the house to wait as she changed clothes after accepting his invitation to lunch. Gage had been to the house before to have a beer a time or two, but it hadn’t felt the same when Brett had been in residence. In the short time that Mikayla had been there she had made it a home, a place of welcome and warmth.
    Fury had risen up inside him as he watched her walk into the master suite on the main floor, the room Gage had seen Brett use when he had last been in town. Just the thought of the other man, or any man touching her had Gage wanting to pound the man into bloody dust. Not that he could. Sure, he could hold his own in a fight, but there was something about Brett Michaels that made a man extremely cautious when it came to pissing the other man off.
    When she was ready they had left the house, heading back into the cold. Gage had been surprised at the feelings that had overcome him on the short walk to his truck. The sight of her using that cane to walk had him frowning and made him want to pick her up and carry her to the vehicle. He had held back the urge, pretty sure the stubborn woman would have hit him if he tried.
    She was a mixture of strength and vulnerability that had him off balance and unable to get a good read on her. Actors were trained at seeing beyond the surface, to see when people were playing a role based on their expressions and their attitude, but with Mikayla it was impossible.
    Even more baffling was Wulf’s reaction to her. When they had gotten into the truck Wulf had refused to sit in the back of the cab where Gage had told him to go. His dog always listened to him, but the damn dog had insisted on sitting between them in the front, curled up next to Mikayla with his head in her lap where she could stroke his ears just like he liked.
    There was a point on the long, silent drive that Gage would have given his left nut to be able to feel her hands stroking over him like that. His cock had been so hard it was a steel spike in his jeans. He knew it would take a few simple strokes before he blasted his cum onto her hand.
    Damn it, the truth was she fucking fascinated him.
    It had been a relief when they had arrived at the restaurant. He had felt his heart clench when Mikayla had turned those beautiful eyes to him in question. “What are we going to do with Wulf? We can’t