Omens by Kelley Armstrong Read Free Book Online Page A

month, right?”
    “We’re getting married. Absolutely. The timing may need to change, but that’s a conversation for tomorrow. Right now, we need to get you out of Chicago.”
    “Out of Chicago?”
    “Of course.” He straightened. “This is going to be an absolute media nightmare. Do you remember those reporters hanging out at the dinner tonight? And did you see the ones at the end of the driveway? You need to go someplace safe. Get away from these vultures.”
    “For my sake? Or yours?”
    “For you, of course. To protect you.”
    “But I can handle it. You
know
I can handle it. The question is: can you?”
    He looked away, shaking his head, saying something about how I shouldn’t need to handle it. But all I noticed was how fast he’d looked away.
    “You’re postponing the wedding,” I said.
    “I’ve been advised—”
    “You’ve been
what
?” I scrambled to my feet. “You’ve talked to someone about this
before
me?”
    He stood, began to pace. “Neil called when I was trying to get in touch with you. He advised me to postpone the wedding and, honestly, I agree. Can you imagine what kind of circus it would be?”
    “You mean what kind of senatorial-dream-killing circus it would be.”
    His expression hardened. “No, Olivia,” he said, barely opening his jaw enough to get the words out. “I’m thinking of you. Of the kind of wedding you deserve—”
    “Deserve? Hell, I don’t even want a wedding. I’ll settle for a justice of the peace. Or Vegas. Let’s fly to Vegas and get married.”
    He hesitated. For a second, I thought he was going to say,
Yes, let’s do it.
Then his face went still, eyes clouding and he reached for me, ignoring my struggles as he pulled me into a hug.
    “I love you, Olivia. And I wish we could get married right now. Tonight. But your mother—”
    “Which mother?”
    The flash of anger again. “Don’t pull that, Liv. You know what I mean. I’m not going to start our marriage by upsetting your mother and doing something you’ll eventually regret. We’re going to wait.”
    “Until when?”
    “I don’t know. I have to—”
    “—talk to Neil?”
    “Olivia
.
” His tone was curt now. Losing patience. Damn it, why didn’t I understand?
    I did understand. I understood that he could pretend nothing had changed. He could kiss me as if nothing had changed. He could say all the right things to convince me nothing had changed.
    But
act
as if nothing had changed? No.
    I wanted him to say he didn’t give a rat’s ass what anyone thought. Didn’t care if it put his political future in jeopardy. He loved me and he was marrying me now or a month from now, as we planned.
    That’s what I would do if the situation were reversed. To hell with the road of caution. I’d go my own way.
    But he just stood there, frustrated and impatient. Wanting me to meekly accept his reasoning, tell him I understood. I’d go away and hide until this was over. Then I’d wait until he was ready to marry me.
    Like hell.
    “You want to save your political future? Here, let me help you.” I wrenched off the engagement ring and whipped it at him. “You’re free. Go find a sweet little wife and get yourself elected.”
    “Olivia…”
    I stalked to the door.
    “Olivia!”
    The cool night air slapped me so hard my eyes stung. I jogged until I reached the end of the garden walk.
    The front door creaked open behind me.
    “Olivia?”
    I raced across the lawn. James’s sigh wafted across the quiet yard. Then he padded back into the house, leaving the door open. Getting his shoes. Because the grass might be wet and running after me in stocking feet was foolish.
    I wouldn’t have stopped for shoes.
    I circled back into the shadows beside the house and waited there, hidden. He came out, looked around, then jogged in the direction I’d been heading.
    When he disappeared through the hedge, I exhaled and glanced toward the road. My cab was long gone. If I went out there, I’d have to face the