Making Mina 3: Compromising Positions by Tacie Graves Read Free Book Online Page B

like a mountain.  Her heart was beating erratically, and her hands were shaking.  Marco was sitting outside, waiting--something he didn’t do well at the best of times.  Fifty feet separated them-- fuck , the streets here were so narrow it was probably more like twenty--but she wasn’t sure she could make it.
    Ivy was standing across from her, watching her closely.  Probably getting ready to trip her if she ran.
    She is in for a world of payback.  Mina met her gaze and Ivy smiled. “I’d like to see you try it, Hemingway.  I can outplot you seven days a week, and you know it.”
    Mina laughed in spite of herself.  “Yeah, but you know me.  Queen of Ignoring the Obvious.”
    She stepped forward and gave her a quick hug.  “Thanks.  No matter how this works out.”  She looked down at Giovanni and said, “Keep an eye on her, okay? There’s no telling what kind of trouble she’ll get into now that she’s here.”
    He looked up at her, his face serious again.  “If you want me to go out…”
    Ivy poked him, “Stop that!  She doesn’t need you sticking your big nose in the middle…”
    Mina turned away from them, letting the squabble fade away behind her.  One step… two…  It seemed to take forever to reach the door, but she finally made it.  Blood pounded in her ears and she forced herself to take a deep breath and open the door.
    The street looked so normal--apartments and cars and a fat orange tabby cat sitting on the patio wall watching her suspiciously.
    Yeah, I’m not sure why I’m here either, bud .
    She walked down the three steps to the street and saw him immediately.
    He was standing in a beam of sunlight, leaning against the bumper of a low-slung Italian sports car she didn’t recognize.  His eyes were fixed on her and her breath hitched in her chest at what she saw there.
    He looked wonderful and terrible, his dark eyes full of longing and anger, and she wondered if she looked as conflicted as he did.
    She forced herself to put one foot in front of the other, every instinct screaming to turn and run the other way, and before she thought it possible she was beside him.
    They stood there like there for what seemed like forever.  She soaked in his scent, the heat of him so familiar and comforting that she had to fight the urge to lean into him to let it thaw the ice that had swallowed her for days, and she wondered that she’d ever thought she could have abandoned that feeling forever.
    “You haven’t been sleeping.” He sounded accusing and she shook her head. It was pointless to deny it.  “No.  Not much.”
    More silence.  She looked up at him and made herself speak
    “Thank you for bringing Ivy here.” It wasn’t what she expected to say, but it was true. Marco looked at her, and she could see him trying to gauge what she was thinking.  Good luck with that , her inner voice mocked, if you figure it out, make sure to let us know.
    “It was no trouble,” he said stiffly. “I was returning and there was more than enough room.”
    Mina sighed.  This wasn’t working.
    “So, the only reason you brought her along was because you had extra carry-on space?”
    Marco looked frustrated, a tinge of red creeping into his skin.  “Of course not.” Irritation clipped his words and she could tell he was angry. “I thought,” he looked down at her, “you might need a friend.”
    The bitterness in his voice surprised her.  He expected her to believe that the only reason he brought Ivy was for her ? And what about why she needed a friend?  Was he going to address that ?  Anger masked heartache, and she lashed out. 
    “Sure.  I get that.” Mina stepped away a fraction and nodded sagely. “The best lever is the one that’s already in place, right?  You bring someone I care about and let them make your excuses for you.  Perfect.” Sarcasm oozed from every pore.  “Well, we all knew you were a master manipulator, but it’s good to see that you haven’t lost your