For the Bond (Romantic Suspense) (Beyond Blood, #3) by Nora Flite Read Free Book Online Page B

Maria?”
    “Marina,” I sighed.
    “Yeah. Marina. She is your girlfriend, then.” Tugging her hair, Anabelle's smile continued to grow. I knew she wanted an answer, even if she was already assuming facts. The thing was, I didn't know how to answer. What I wanted to say, what I felt, wasn't exactly smart to admit openly.
    Not when I didn't know what was going to happen.
    Folding my arms, I reclined on the bar and frowned. “Okay, enough of this. Finish up cleaning or whatever it is you do.”
    Lifting her hands in defense, she rolled her eyes and giggled. “Whatever it is I do. Right, got it. I'll stop poking the beast.” She swung her hips, overtly trying to get me to look. It was a walk down memory lane. The times I'd pulled Anabelle into the backroom because some other girl hadn't gone home with me.
    Those days, I'd been chasing life at the bottom of a bottle or between some soft thighs. It was a different decade, a TV show that I no longer starred in. Since Marina had come into my life, she'd replaced every urge I had with a desire for her.
    Only her.
    The bar was too cloistering. Needing to escape, I grabbed my coat and shoved out into the streets. Here, I could be free of being teased about my relationship with Marina. Really, what was I going to say? Yes, I'm kind of seeing her. Jacob is, too! Go bother HIM about that. I'm sure he'll have some nice words for you. Grinning, I ruffled the back of my hair. It wasn't Anabelle's fault. I was curious about what the hell was going on, too.
    Strolling down the sidewalk, a voice perked up. “Kite?” I'd almost bumped right into her, our paths about to intersect. Marina, dressed in her jacket and jeans and managing to look better than any woman in the city. Her hands clutched her purse tight, eyes squinting. She was surprised to see me.
    Straightening my shoulders, my grin spread. “What are you doing out here?”
    Marina darted her gaze side to side, from my feet back to my face. She was nervous, but then, she often got fidgety when I was close to her. I sort of loved it. “Just getting some air. Are you... working right now?”
    Half-turning, I looked back where the bar was down the street. “Kind of. We don't open for another hour. Did you want to get a drink?”
    “At two in the afternoon?” she asked. The curve of her lips was tempting me more and more, especially when she smiled in disbelief. “It's early for alcohol. Cocoa would be good. Want to go do that?”
    “Marina Fidel,” I gasped, covering my mouth. “Are you asking me on a date?” The flush that hit her cheeks had my heart thumping. She made it such a treat to rile her up. Reaching out, I adjusted the front of her jacket. The zipper had slid low, and another man might have peeled it open, but I enjoyed being unpredictable. Surprising her was a real treat. “Yeah. Let's go get something hot.”
    That line just made her pinker.
    Together, we slipped into one of the thousands of cafes filling the city. It was that magical hour where no one was free, busy at their jobs or classes. We had the place to ourselves.
    I bought our drinks, not needing to ask what she wanted. In a small table in the corner, a view of the street through a large window, we sat and sipped and smiled.
    It was oddly normal. Special and private. Pretending we were not who we were—a hitman and a woman on a murder mission—wasn't easy. But with her smiling at me, eyes alight and lips cherry-red, fuck... I tried my best.
    She slid her jacket off, revealing the creamy white shirt beneath. It clung to her chest, extra bright against her toffee skin. “Hey.” Her fingers snapped, drawing my attention briskly. Her smile was coy. “Eyes up here, buddy. I didn't take my coat off to distract you.”
    I folded my hands under my chin. “You don't need to strip to distract me. That's the problem.”
    Pursing her lips, she watched the outside world and acted like her ears weren't going red because of my compliment. “Is this weird for