Hard to Trust by Wendy Byrne Read Free Book Online Page A

slept in days."
    "That's probably because I haven't had much sleep since Wednesday." She shrugged, signaling her defeat. "I'd go for days without sleep sometimes in the field, but this time I couldn't handle it."
    "Nothing to be embarrassed about. After we figure this out, I won't stand in your way."
    "You won't be the first man who's told me the same thing, then screwed me over, and not in a good way." With a cheeky smile, she trotted ahead of him.
    Jake wasn't sure he had the ability to hang with a woman who had balls of steel for all that long.
     
    *  *  *
     
    Tessa couldn't think straight as he urged her down the street. She didn't know much about New York, but knew they were headed toward the Chelsea area, based on their direction. Even though he tried to hide his growing irritation, she could tell he was pissed, but she wasn't convinced it was directed at her.
    She couldn't help but wonder if it was a personal problem—perhaps a fight with his girlfriend, or other such nonsense, that had him in such a snit. Then again, he didn't look like the girlfriend type. In fact, he looked more like the one-night-stand type, with his dark, sexy looks, highly toned physique, and boyish charm. Smooth moves never did work on her. She had to give him some credit for successfully capturing her without harming so much as a hair on her head. If it weren't for the nonstop ache in her shoulder, she'd be unscathed.
    She shifted the backpack onto her good shoulder even while he kept a death grip on her arm. Based on this fiasco so far, she couldn't blame him for holding tight. "Could you let up on the arm, please?" She didn't think she had the energy for another attempt at running away, but couldn't dismiss the idea either, if given the opportunity.
    "Not going to happen. Besides, we're almost to my place."
    "Not unless you buy me dinner first." Her chuckle sounded a little maniacal. She must have gone stark raving mad because even to her own ears it sounded like she was flirting with him.
    He barked out a laugh. "Strictly business. That's what I'm all about."
    "So you say." She wanted to stop this silly banter, but found that her mouth wouldn't obey. Maybe, after being alone for so long since the incident, she'd latched on to him in some sick way as a port in the storm, even if the idea seemed ludicrous. Her mother had raised her to be independent rather than clingy, but the last several days had played havoc with her psyche. Maybe it was all due to sleep deprivation.
    "Are you kidding? Like I'd even close my eyes with you staying at my place. Can we call a truce so that you don't go all Krav Maga on me again?"
    "Why would I agree?" She had to give him points for his persistence.
    "Because you want me to help you stay alive. Going it alone doesn't make sense. I have skills that might be helpful."
    "How do you know I'm searching for something?"
    "I suspect you've always been."
    She hated the fact he knew her so well even though he'd only met her hours ago. True, she always felt like there was a missing piece to her life. She'd attributed it to being raised by a single mother and not knowing her father. But what was happening to her felt more personal than that. She'd been targeted for some reason. And it had to go back to her memories of Afghanistan or that stupid note she'd found.
    What had started this firestorm of trouble? She didn't want to think it was because she'd used her landline to call Nick, but the trouble had escalated since then.
    Now she had this contract-for-hire guy complicating her life even further. Knowing who and when to trust had always been a source of anxiety for her. She'd tended to take the easy route on that, and always choose to trust no one. It wasn't a bad way to live her life.
    But with Jake—if that was his real name—she didn't seem to have a whole lot of choice in the matter.
    Yep, it sure did suck to be her right now.
     

CHAPTER FIVE
     
    After fixing lunch, Jake spiked her coffee with some Tylenol