Deadly Ties by Jaycee Clark Read Free Book Online Page A

pool. They hadn’t had a big tour because Mrs. Kinncaid and Taylor started talking about plants. Who wanted to talk about plants?
    Gavin and his mom got along great. Maybe when he was that old, he and Taylor would still get along. Taylor was great. Not like that other one. No, he wasn’t going to think of her .
    His stomach churned and tightened.
    Shaking his head, he picked up his violin and found a piece of music he wanted to practice. The notes flowed from the instrument, through his arm and chin, connecting at his heart

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    and flowing back out. That’s how he liked to think of it anyway.
    Music was the best.

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CHAPTER FOUR
    Taylor walked out of the office and onto the sidewalk.
    “Taylor,” his quiet voice had her turning. Gavin stood still and silent, leaning against the wall. He was dressed in a dark button down shirt and slacks, those wicked eyes hid behind black shades. A sigh slipped out of her. Idiot .
    “Lunch?” he asked.
    “Funny, I don’t recall my phone ringing.” She dug her keys out of her purse. Her heart did a little skitter as he stepped closer to her.
    “I like spontaneity. Women tend to get irate when something planned gets cancelled due to say, labor, or complications.”
    Women, plural. “You would know, I’m sure.”
    “Jealous?”
    She ignored him and shook her head.
    “Okay. Truce. I’m hungry and you’re off for lunch I presume, so let’s go eat.”
    Taylor figured she should say no, but she was hungry and knew no one. “Fine, since you asked so nicely, how’s a girl to refuse?”
    “Did you get a rental?” he asked.
    “Yes.” Taylor pointed and they walked to her gray compact car. Gavin took her elbow and her blood hummed at the simple contact, even as she stiffened for a moment. She cleared her throat. “At least the dealership loaned me a car while mine is in the shop.”
    “Well, I’m right over here.”
    She started to jerk away, but the slight shiver from his touch, made her pause. Plus, she had to admit, she liked the feel of his hand, warm on her arm. It had been a long time since a man had not only walked her to a car, but had been a gentleman about it. Which, considering who this was, it seemed almost odd. She was used to his rude, sometimes condescending behavior.
    Though yesterday he had been nice enough. And here he was today to take her to lunch.
    And she was reading more into this than she should be. Idiot.
    He looked to her car and said, “I’ll admit, for some reason, I didn’t expect you to drive a Mercedes. Social workers make more than I thought. At least you have another to drive.”
    Taylor only smiled at him. She didn’t want to tell him how she had all but blackmailed Charles for the damn car, and then had to give him the money to let her keep it. Should have just let her ex have the stupid thing and bought a new one. She did have money from a comfortable inheritance, from her parents and a distant aunt, but it was the principle of the thing. And it was hers. And now it was in the shop.
    “I never asked, are you busy today? I just assumed you were going to lunch.”
    “Yes, I was … going to lunch that is. Actually, someone else asked and I lied and said I
     
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    already had a lunch appointment.” She smiled. “And you fell nicely into place.”
    He leaned closer to her, backing her against the door of the car. “Did I now? Sort of like being used, isn’t it?”
    She licked her lips. “Um…. No, not really, because I didn’t know you’d be here and….”
    He was so close she could see his eyes behind his shades, smell that cologne he used, or maybe it was his aftershave.
    “Oh, but being used has its advantages,” he continued with a wicked grin and a wiggle of brows. What did that mean?
    If she leaned a little closer she could kiss him. Taylor blinked, cleared her throat.
    Finally, she took the bait. “Dare I even ask what those advantages are?”
    For a moment he only have her his almost-smile, and tilted his head