Out of Control by Shannon McKenna Read Free Book Online Page A

little stinker. He was determined to undermine her.
    McCloud’s fingers tangled gently into Mikey’s hair. “I’m just being methodical,” he said. “Don’t take it personally.”
    Margot sank back into the chair. The urge to tell another human being her troubles—no, not just any human being, but Davy McCloud in particular—was almost overwhelming.
    She’d always believed in following her instincts, but this wasn’t instinct prodding her. This was fear and exhaustion, tricking her into making what was probably a fatal mistake.
    She blew out a tense, explosive breath. “No married men,” she said tightly. “No men at all for a long time.”
    â€œHow long?”
    â€œNone of your damn business.”
    â€œActually, it is. In this context of this particular conversation.”
    She picked at the label of the beer bottle. “Nine months, almost.”
    â€œWhy’d you break up with him?”
    Because someone slaughtered him and pinned the blame on me.
    She wondered if the truth would shock that inscrutable look off his face. She gave him her flintiest stare and steeled herself to lie.
    â€œHe was cheating on me,” she said coldly.
    Actually, that was literally true, she reflected. Irrelevant, but true.
    He just nodded. “How long have you been in town?”
    â€œSeven months,” she said. “I don’t know many people here.”
    â€œWhere did you live before?”
    â€œI don’t see how that’s relevant,” she snapped. “Oh, wait—you’re the one who decides what’s relevant, right?”
    He smiled, but his eyes were watchful. “You said it, not me.”
    She took a deep breath. “L.A.,” she lied.
    â€œDo you have any reason to believe that someone from L.A.—”
    â€œNo.” She shook her head, too rapidly. “Absolutely not.”
    His eyes narrowed. “There’s a story behind that.” His tone put the phrase halfway between a statement and a question.
    Oh God. If you only knew. “Not really. Just ancient history.” She smoothed out her face, tried to look calm while screaming panic built. She was out of her league. Wasting the guy’s time for no good reason.
    â€œYou didn’t call the police. Not for the break-in. Not for the dog.”
    There was no accusation in his tone. She felt it anyway, and flushed. She shook her head and waited for the other shoe to drop.
    Minutes ticked by. Mikey rolled blissfully on his back, legs in the air, tail flopping as McCloud petted him. Her heart started to pound.
    The words burst out of her. “Oh, come on, already. Aren’t you going to ask me why not?”
    His watchful eyes flicked up to hers. “You going to tell me?”
    â€œNo,” she said.
    â€œNo point in asking, then, right?”
    He was unfazed, petting Mikey like nothing was out of the ordinary. “So…that’s that?” she faltered. “No further questions?”
    He lifted his shoulders in a faint shrug. “I recommend that you call the police. You’ve got a serious problem. They’ve got resources that I don’t have. In any case, I can’t help you unless you tell me what’s really going on.” He paused thoughtfully, and added, “Then again, neither could the cops. So whatever. If you want to talk, I’m listening.”
    â€œBelieve me,” she said. “You don’t want to know.”
    â€œOh, but I do.”
    The laser brightness of his eyes made her mind go blank. “You’d be sorry,” she heard herself say.
    â€œProbably. I never said it was smart. Like I said, curiosity is my vice. It’s a lot more compelling than drugs or rock ’n roll.”
    â€œYou forgot about sex,” she said without thinking.
    His eyes flicked over her body. “No, I didn’t.”
    The speculative look in his eyes sent a shiver down her spine. As if