Revenge for Hire (The Get Even Agency) by Janice Lynn Read Free Book Online Page A

shouldn’t ask. Then again,
the knowledge might come in handy for TGEA business.
    “What’s your fault?”
    Sniffling, the girl waved a perfectly manicured hand in the air.
“Why Jude won’t see me.”
    “He’s busy. That’s all.”
    The woman shot her a wry look.
    “Why won’t Mr. Layman see you?”
    The girl inhaled sharply and Avery worried she was going to
burst into full-fledged boo- hoo tears. “Because I
love him.”
    She loved him?
    The all out boo- hoo fest started. “I
shouldn’t have told him. I shouldn’t have made such a big deal of it, but I
couldn’t help myself. He’s just so bloody lovely and,” the girl dabbed more,
“and I just love him so much.”
    “Mr. Layman doesn’t feel the same?”
    The girl laughed. Avery couldn’t think of her as a woman. She
was too young and too emotional to have woman status.
    “Jude doesn’t love. He got what he wanted then he moved on. Just
like he always does.” She plucked a fresh tissue from the box on Mrs. Sedwick’s desk and blew. “When I heard he’d broken things
off with Celia, I thought perhaps he’d reconsidered…” yet another glance toward
the closed door, “but I suppose not.”
    “Who’s Celia?” She hated that she asked.
    “His latest girlfriend. She replaced the twins.”
    The twins. Just how many women did the man need to stroke his
ego? And other things?
    Avery clenched her fingers. How could she have forgotten Jude
was a total user? A screwball who screwed women every chance he got and in
every way he could? Because she’d gotten sucked in by his charm and those
magnificent eyes. Sucked in by a daisy he’d stolen. No more or she’d mess up
this mark and be the one crying her heart out over the woes of Jude Layman.
    “He dated two women at the same time?”
    The girl nodded. “He was dating them while he was dating me. Near
the end, I think.”
    The bastard. Someone should Bobbitt him.
    “Tell me more.”
    * * *
    Mrs. Yamaguchi refused to take Jude’s calls. You’d think the
monstrous-sized bouquet he’d had the street vendor deliver to her this morning
along with a hand-written apology would have appeased the goddess of sex toys
and herbal products. Apparently not.
    He signed his name to the bottom of a requisition order and to
two other documents. Most things would wait until Mrs. Sedwick returned, but to have only been on the job two days, Angela was doing a great
job sorting through the things that needed his urgent attention.
    He liked that about her. She had a quick wit and an
intelligence that rivaled his own.
    She’d gotten rid of Sara Brown. Just thinking about the clingy
woman was enough to make him break out in hives. He’d slept with her a total of
one time. A mistake to be for sure, but he was a man and made such mistakes
from time to time. Sex with Sara had been a doozey. She’d cried afterwards and
proclaimed undying love and wishes to bear his children.
    She was twenty-two years old for crying out loud. Surely, she
didn’t believe he’d want that just because they’d had sex together? She hadn’t
been a virgin, not by far. She’d had the sexual experience to match the image
of a Miss January centerfold.
    He’d been honest from the beginning, but she hadn’t taken a
hint. Not even when he’d spelled it out point blank.
    Jude didn’t do clingy. Nor did he do women who said they wanted
to give him babies after a quickie at a party.
    He hated that she’d gotten hurt, but hell if he’d do anything
more to encourage her. Yeah, he was particularly grateful that Angela had
gotten rid of drama queen Sara. He didn’t want to deal with the
waterworks-on-demand today.
    Dealing with Angela was another story altogether, and the
thought of her clinging didn’t upset the way the thought should have.
    Remembering how her lips parted and her green eyes turned hazy
made him smile. She could hide behind that prim-and-proper exterior all she
wanted, but she wanted him every bit as much as he wanted