Force of Attraction by D. D. Ayres Read Free Book Online Page A

fork back into her plate. “What did he say?”
    â€œHe said wrong number and hung up.”
    â€œThe bastard!” Becca’s usually mellow voice lost all tone. “I can’t believe even he has the nerve…”
    â€œIsn’t it my place to be the one upset?”
    On a roll, Becca didn’t pause. “… after all you tried to do for him, defended him against the family, and his family, and everything. For him to betray…”
    Her sister sputtered to a stop as Cole’s gaze narrowed. “Right. We can’t talk here.” Becca glanced around to signal for the check.
    A few minutes later, they were walking toward the park where Becca had scheduled a mid-afternoon dog obedience class.
    â€œSo what, exactly, is going on? Why did you wait to tell me about Scott’s call?” Becca’s head turned back toward Cole. “DEA task force. Hah! There’s more to it than you’re telling me.”
    No moss growing on her sister. “When I went in for the initial interview Scott showed up. He’s part of the team.”
    â€œHe’s what?” Becca paused momentarily on the sidewalk, uncaring that they upset the park traffic of strollers, runners, and lunch-hour walkers. “Scott calls you out of the blue and then just happens to be part of this DEA business? That’s just a little too convenient. He’s up to something. This is a trick.”
    They were so in tune it was scary.
    â€œIt’s what I thought at first. But my sergeant got a visit this morning from a DEA representative. It’s been cleared through my department for me to go. I have this lunch hour to think it over and say yes or no.”
    â€œSay no.”
    â€œAs my big sister, you’re supposed to tell me that I shouldn’t let a great job opportunity slip through my fingers just because there’s a bump in the road.”
    â€œBump? Scott Lucca is an axle-busting deal breaker. The last time you saw him, he was screwing another woman.”
    Cole winced.
    â€œOkay. You’re right. I’m sorry. Picking a scab.” Becca embraced her sister’s waist and leaned her head against Cole’s as they continued walking. “I saw what Scott did to you. You fell so hard, when you landed there were scarcely enough pieces left to collect to put you back together. I’ll never forgive him for that.”
    â€œIt wasn’t all Scott’s fault.”
    â€œNo. You should have known better than to get involved. He had bad-to-the-bone written all over him.”
    â€œThen why did you point him out that night?”
    â€œCome on, Cole. It was a game. Find a hot guy. Turn him on. Then turn him loose. You were supposed to know better than to take it seriously.”
    Cole looked out across the park. Is that what she had done? Taken the game with a sexy stranger too seriously?
    Truth or Dare on a girls’ weekend. After dinner they decided to move out of their comfort zones and find a bar that didn’t cater to middle-class twenty-somethings. They found one on the outskirts of D.C. Another round of drinks, and the game was on.
    â€œHim.” Her sister and three girlfriends had pushed her out of the booth. “We dare you to kiss that guy.”
    Cole had noticed him even before her sister pointed him out. He was hard to miss, even in a room full of men. Even from the back. He wore a leather jacket with a lot of miles on it and jeans that hugged his hips and thighs like they were happy just to be along for the ride. And then he turned around.
    He was gorgeous; hard-eyed, hard-bodied, and so laid back it seemed as if he didn’t care if the world kept on spinning or not. Thick black hair with a tendency to wave, light eyes. He didn’t show any emotion, just went very still as their gazes met.
    Maybe it was the adrenaline rush of the dare. Maybe it was what she’d been drinking. Or maybe it was just lust. She wanted him with an