Web of Lies by Candice Owen Read Free Book Online Page A

volumes.  He shifted his weight, putting as much distance between them as he could and waited until the police showed up.  He wanted to yell, to punch something, and to kiss her senseless.  It was the longest fifteen minutes of his life. 
     
    He let her make her statement, answered the questions asked of him, and watched her sort out the towing.  Just before the tow truck hoisted her car, he walked over and asked, “What about your luggage?”
     
    She turned away and spoke to the tow truck driver again. Then, her voice tight with frustration and something else he couldn’t name, she said, “I’ll transfer it to your truck, if you don’t mind, since I assume I’ll be coming with you now.”
     
    She couldn’t have sounded more regal had she been the Queen herself. The part of him that he could not keep aloof from her smiled in amusement and pride.  She was such a unique one, she was, and he liked every part of her that she revealed to him.  Like this part, where he sensed she hated that she needed him, yet she still wanted to be with him.  He felt good about that.  It certainly matched his own confusing emotions around her.  It was good not to be the only one at odds and ends here.
     
    As they drove off, Jack made a mental note to watch her more closely for any signs of bolting.  Now that it appeared clear that she was being targeted, he knew going cross-country might be more dangerous than flying.  However, he figured he’d better tackle one problem at a time.  Eventually, he hoped to persuade her that flying was the best decision she could make. If she needed time before she met her father’s crew, he’d make sure they stayed away until she said otherwise.
     
    He kept a steady pace, and stopped for lunch when he thought she ought to be hungry.  She opted to eat on the go, and since he had no problem with that, they hit a Mickey D’s.  His order was a guaranteed clogged artery, and he was secretly amused that she ordered a salad and water. 
     
    They ate in silence, and he watched her tidy up after herself and dump her trash into the bag the food had come in.  She set it neatly at her feet and looked out the window.  He knew she didn’t want to talk to him, and he was okay with that.  She needed her space to grieve, anyway. When he finally spoke, she would have no choice but to answer him.
     
    She fell asleep after another fifty miles of driving, and he listened to her gently snoring.  He thought about the sleeping arrangements for their little road trip, and although he knew she would object if he took only one room, he didn’t intend to let her out of his sight again.  As the sun set, he decided it was time to feed her again and stopped at a diner in a small town.  She had been awake for a while but had remained silent.
     
    “I figured you’d like to stretch your legs a bit and have dinner before we go on.  I plan to drive for another few hours before stopping for the night.”
     
    She looked at him silently before nodding.  Inside, she walked off to the ladies room while he ordered for them. As they ate, he answered the questions she asked about Grant.  She told him a little about her job and her foster family.  All carefully worded and impersonal. 
     
    Neither looked the other in the eye.  It was too soon after that kiss that he had no excuse for planting on her.  That kiss she had no excuse for returning.  He ate his apple pie and ice cream and wondered why he was so powerfully attracted to a woman he had only known a few days, a woman who wanted nothing to do with him.
     
    She sucked on the milkshake she had ordered and licked her lips.  He turned his eyes to the window immediately.  He didn’t need his thoughts wonder where that tongue and those lips would take him, if he let them loose.
     
    “Ready?” he asked gruffly, standing.  I’d rather she think I’m an insufferable jerk than have her know how she is affecting me , he thought .   “We’ve got a