Deception (Carrington Hill Investigations Book 1) by Kate Allenton Read Free Book Online Page A

back onto the leather seat.
    “No.” She clipped with a hit of annoyance.
    It was clear he thought she was easy. Maybe her actions had indicated it, but she was in for the role of her life to find Catherine . His words, however, still hurt a little deep down. It wasn’t like kissing the man had been a chore of any sorts. She’d enjoyed it more than she’d expected to, and it reminded her of what she’d put on hold for her career. “That was the first.”
    He reached for her hand and entwined their fingers. “I didn’t mean to offend you. I know you’re only doing this to find Catherine.” He paused. “I wasn’t judging you.”
    Lexi let her gaze linger out the window on the passing trees. He had judged her whether he realized it or not, and maybe it did make her a bad person for her lack of morals in playing the part, but she held fast to the idea that Catherine’s life depended on it. Kissing and cozying up to Trip probably wouldn’t be the worst she’d do to complete this particular investigation. He placed an arm around her shoulders. “Do you forgive me, Lexi? I would never intentionally mean to hurt you.”
    She leaned into the crook of his arm , playing the part once more. His words were a reminder that she shouldn’t probably be here in the first place. No, her guard was up once more, right where it needed to be. Get in, get the job done, and get out like a thief in the night. There was no time to waste in getting the hell away from him. “It was a valid question, and considering I married you to get what I want, it’s not unfounded.”
    She felt the muscle in his arm tense around her shoulders. She had said them to prove her point, that she understood the situation she’d gotten herself into and hadn’t forgotten the reason she was there, no matter how soft his lips felt against hers. She patted him on the leg as the limo pulled up in front of the biggest mansion she’d ever seen. She leaned up and pressed a chaste kiss on his lips. “It’s showtime, husband.” She climbed out of the limo and lifted her chin. Even though she’d never felt like she belonged at places like this, she was a master at making people believe she did. Bring on the criminals. She needed a place to relieve her frustrations; Cinderella was home and loaded for bear.
    He pulled her into his arms and leaned down to place a kiss in her hair. He whispered, “Last chance to back out.”
    She glanced up at him and , with a determined smile, placed her palm on his cheek. She pulled his head down to hers and whispered against his lips. “Never.”
    “Welcome home, wife.”
    She crushed her lips to his with renewed fever, giving back as good as she’d received, and gave him the hottest, steamiest kiss she had in her arsenal. She heard the door creak open and the footsteps on the porch. She hadn’t had to open her eyes to know that they were indeed being watched and judged in this moment.
    He pulled her body flush to h is. There was no hiding his interest; she felt the bulge behind his zipper harden between them. She leaned deeper into his arms and ran her hands through his hair. She would have climbed him like a pole to give the staff more to gossip about, but damn, he was tall, even with the three-inch heels she wore. He grinned during his kiss, evidently enjoying the role of husband.
    ****
    Someone cleared their throat. “Uh, Trip, do you want to introduce me to your new friend ?” Ethan’s voice drifted to his ears, but Trip was unwilling to let the vixen off the hook. The kiss was just an appetizer to what it would be like to take her to bed, and he was already planning the seduction in his head. He held up his hand, trailing kisses down her neck and appreciating the slight moan that left her lips. He leaned his forehead against hers. “I could get used to that every morning.”
    A pretty pink tint stained Lexi’s cheek as he turned them both to his brother standing on the porch with his arms crossed. “I would