Someone Like Her by Sandra Owens Read Free Book Online Page A

chest. She wasn’t his, could never be, but the foolish thing refused to believe it. Turning his attention to the food, he chowed down on his grilled chicken breast, corn, and pinto beans while thoroughly enjoying watching her. No matter her troubles, she could eat with enthusiasm. Considering what and how much she ate, it was beyond him why she didn’t weigh a ton.
    Jake stilled when she licked her fingers after cleaning the bone of her last wing. It was the way she went about it—her eyes closed as if she were in ecstasy as her tongue lapped each finger—that had him straining against his jeans. Jesus. He stood, knocking over his chair, and headed for another room. Didn’t matter which one as long as she wasn’t in it.
    “Logan left a message giving me until five to call him.”
    Well, that was as good as a bucket of ice water dumped over his head. Returning to the table, he picked up his chair and sat. He’d received similar messages from the boss. Kincaid’s antennae were definitely twitching. “Yeah, he’s left me several. Guess you’d better call him.”
    The smile that appeared on her face was one a woman used on a man when she wanted something, and he was pretty sure he knew just what. Although, if she kept looking at him like that, he’d probably agree to anything, a fact he fully intended to keep to himself.
    “No.”
    Her eyes blinked. “No, what?”
    “I’m not calling him first.” Her surprised expression said he’d guessed right. “I’ll listen to what you tell him so I don’t say anything I shouldn’t, but I won’t lie to him so give him the truth.”
    “I don’t know where my phone is.”
    Little liar. “No problem.” He slid his cell across the table.
    She stared at it for a few seconds, then chuckled. “It was worth a try. You know this is going to result in me being locked up for the rest of my life and you being killed for aiding and abetting me.”
    “I know.” And even knowing it, he would do it all over again if she asked.
    Her hair fell over her face as she lowered her head and punched in her brother’s number. As he listened to her talk, Jake studied the woman who’d fascinated him for so long and tried to understand what it was about her that called to him so deeply.
    Maybe it was just lust for a woman who was off-limits. It was the forbidden-fruit theory. That had to be it. If he could make love to her, he would get over it. Yeah, that was the problem, and one easily solved if she was agreeable, and he thought she was.
    The big question, however, was whether he was willing to face the consequences. Kincaid really would kill him, at the very least fire him. It just might be worth it. Yet, this was Maria. He would be the lowest of men if he took her to bed. She deserved better than to be one of Romeo’s numerous conquests.
    Jake stared at the phone Maria held out to him.
    “Logan wants to talk to you,” she said, concern in her voice.
    He thought he might rather handle a rattlesnake. Thankfully, she’d told Kincaid the truth about why she was at Fortunada’s. Jake took the phone and steeled himself, inhaling a big breath.
    “Yo, boss.”
    “Give me one good reason, Buchanan, why you didn’t tell me the something you had to take care of was my sister.”
    So much for pleasantries. Not that Jake expected any, but the calmness in Kincaid’s voice was deceiving. That was the thing about the boss, why they’d nicknamed him “Iceman” when he was their SEAL commander. The calmer the man got, the deadlier he got, and right now Jake was lined up in the Iceman’s sights. Not a place anyone in their right mind wanted to be.
    Jake glanced at Maria. She stared back with sympathy. Kincaid wasn’t going to like his answer, but it was the truth. “Because she wouldn’t tell me where she was unless I promised not to tell you, and she wouldn’t tell me what was going on until I got here. Would you have preferred I refused to help her, left her to handle this on her