Never Let Go by Sherryl Woods Read Free Book Online Page B

I’ve ever thought about you.”
    Mallory propped herself on her elbow and gazed into his eyes, her expression quite serious. The look on her face teased him like a feather’s touch. “I didn’t think you ever thought nice things about me.”
    “All roads lead back to Rome,” he muttered under his breath, furious with himself for giving her another opening.
    Mallory just watched him and waited.
    Those eyes of hers could make a saint do unpardonable things, he told himself. “Okay, I occasionally have thought nice things about you.”
    “Such as?”
    “Lady, didn’t anyone ever tell you it isn’t nice to beg for compliments?”
    “I’m not begging. I’m asking, sort of in the interest of research. Since so many of my qualities irritate you, I thought it might be nice if I could figure out what doesn’t.”
    She looked incrediblypleased with herself for dreaming up that retort, and Justin couldn’t help laughing.
    “Okay. Okay. I applaud your clever tactics. I also respect your dedication. You appear to be kind and gentle and intelligent.”
    “Appear to be?”
    “I don’t know you all that well. I’d hate to make any claims I couldn’t substantiate.”
    “We could work on that,” she said softly, and Justin’s heart flipped over at the wistful sound he detected in her voice. He hardened himself to it.
    “No. We can’t,” he said flatly. He tipped up his soft drink and drained the can. “I’ve got to get going.”
    “Are you going back on duty tonight?”
    “No. I have a date.”
    “Oh, I see.” Averting her eyes, Mallory got to her feet. She threw her own half-filled can away, and then, with a determined lift of her head, she gave him a dazzling smile. The only thing spoiling the effect was the slight quiver of her chin. “Enjoy the rest of your weekend.”
    This time it was Mallory who ran away.
    As he watched her go, Justin could have thrashed himself for lying to her, for hurting her, but he told himself he’d had to do it. He had to show her once and for all that it simply wouldn’t work for them. He would never allow himself to fall in love and harm another human being the way he had been hurt. He’d thought once that perhaps it was possible to alter patterns, but then he’d learned otherwise. Things taught in childhood never left you, no matter how hard you tried to change.

Chapter 4
    “F ool! Idiot!” Mallory repeated thewords in time with her steps as she ran back to her car. “You asked for it, you jerk. The man told you he wasn’t interested. How many ways do you want him to spell it out before you get the idea? He’s obviously involved with another woman.”
    If anyone else had described the scene she’d just acted out with Justin, she’d have suggested they take the hint before they got hurt. Instead, she found herself trying to puzzle out why the man had lied to her.
    He had lied. She knew it. She wasn’t wildly experienced—there had been only a few dates with other men since Alan’s death, virtually none before their marriage—but she knew kisses like those she’d shared with Justin didn’t just happen unless there was a whole spectrum of emotions behind them. Justin was absolutely determined, though, to deny it. Maybe he was just fighting it out of loyalty to the other woman. That was certainly an admirable trait. She ought to feel terrific that he was so honorable.
    She felt lousy.
    She didn’t buy that theoryfor a minute, anyway. There had to be some other explanation, but she was darned if she could think of one.
    Whatever Justin’s motivation, though, he either had to stop the denials or the kisses. She found herself praying she could get him to make the same choice she would, given the chance.
    But what if she were only deluding herself, what if he were seriously involved, even engaged? She moaned as her imagination took flight again.
    On the way home, she decided to make a quick detour by Rachel’s. She simply couldn’t bear the prospect of going