Snapped by Kendra Little Read Free Book Online Page B

didn't like the implication in Nick's
tone that she shouldn't be there. She could go where she damn well pleased. "We're
old friends." She tried to convey with her eyes that he shouldn't mention
her real relationship with Janet in front of Rocco but she wasn't sure if the
message got through. Probably he just thought she was coming on to him.
    "You know these cops?" asked Rocco.
    Lucy withdrew her arm and started down
the steps. "Not very well. It's been a pleasure, Gentlemen, but I have to
go."
    "I'll walk you to your car,"
said Nick, taking the arm Rocco had just released and steering her away from
the steps.
    "I can walk on my own thanks." She
jerked her arm away but regretted the loss of his touch immediately. Stupid
pride. If she wanted to get this man into bed—and oh, did she want to do that—then
she should let him take the lead. It was good for his ego. And giving a man an
ego boost was the surest way to get him to do what she wanted. "I'm
assuming you're not being chivalrous."
    "No. I want to find out what the
hell you're doing here." They reached her car and he stood in front of her
door, arms crossed. He was big and burly and didn't look like he was going to
budge any time soon. Fine with her. She could play his game for a little
longer. "If I find out you're interfering in this investigation—"
    "Relax, Nick." She leaned in
close, drew his woody scent into her lungs. Mmmm, heady. One of those scents
that made you want to taste the source, like coffee or freshly baked bread. "I
was paying my respects. But I'd appreciate it if you didn't tell Rocco that I
was doing a job for Janet. He thinks I'm just a friend."
    Nick glared down at her. "Yeah, I
could see how friendly you were being."
    "Jealous?"
    He made a humphing sound. "Don't
push it, Lucy. We called a truce remember."
    "That was then," she leaned in
further, pressing her breasts against him, "this is now." Something
zinged between them in that moment of touching, something electric and hot,
something dangerous.
    But it didn't last. He shifted and
gripped her arms. His breathing was heavy and she bet if she looked down,
there'd be tent pole in his pants.
    "Don't. I'm not in the mood."
    "Are you ever?"
    "Not with you."
    "Ooh, them's fightin' words. I love
a challenge."
    He moved away from the car door. "Too
bad you won't get the chance. The body of Annabelle Smith turned up in the
Yarra River last night. She fits your description of Mollino's girlfriend
perfectly. Once you give us a positive ID we can cross her off our list of
suspects. Which means you won't be required anymore. So," he smiled smugly
down at her, "since O'Connor can take you to the morgue, it looks like
this is goodbye, Lucy Hudson."
    Goodbye? Oh. Not words she was ready to
hear yet. Not where he was concerned. Not when her appetite needed quenching
and the only man to do that was Nick Dante.
    "Right. Goodbye then." She
smiled and tried to sound chirpy but her heart felt dead. It was too sudden. She
wasn't ready to never see him again. Why the hell he affected her like this,
she didn't have a clue.
    He moved around her then stopped,
glancing back at the house. "He's watching us. I think he's the
jealous one."
    She turned around. Rocco stared at them,
ignoring O'Connor. She gave him a finger wave and he waved back.
    Nick glared at her, dark eyes flashing. If
she wasn't mistaken, he was jealous. "One more thing, stay away
from the Mollinos for a while. I don't want you interfering."
    "I told you, I was paying my
respects."
    "Liar. You were interfering." He
glanced at Rocco again. "And I don't like your methods."
    Lucy managed to keep her temper in check
by biting the inside of her cheek and counting to ten. "Well, that's too
bad," she said through clenched teeth, "because I can't change my
methods now."
    He stared down at her for several beats,
his narrowed eyes and thin scar giving her every reason to run in the other
direction. But damned if she'd let him intimidate her. They both knew