Read Online Barely Breathing by Lacey Thorn - Free Book Online Page B

head home?” Griff pushed his chair back
and stood, holding his hand down to her. She felt her heart catch at his
careless use of the word home. It was his home. But the way he’d said it had
made her think just for a minute about something else entirely. Something that
couldn’t be.
    “I’m not having sex with you again right now.” She flushed
when she heard someone clear their throat by the door. She looked up and
cringed as she noted Jack standing there.
    “We’ll talk again later. See what we can find out between
now and then. I was going to tell you to stay off the computer. I’m guessing
Griff will take care of that.” With those words Jack turned to leave, firmly
shutting the door behind him.
    Honor cringed, closing her eyes with a groan. Griff just
laughed. His arms wrapped around her and pulled her close. She was damned if it
didn’t feel almost perfect.
    * * * * *
    Jack sat behind the desk in his office and punched in the
number on the paper in front of him.
    “Midnight. I was expecting to hear from you earlier.”
    “She’s still in my office building as we speak.”
    “So what’s going on?”
    “About twenty-five years ago a member of your team lost his
wife while he was gone. Giordano. Ring a bell?”
    Silence for a few beats and then a weary sigh. “She was
gunned down. Wrong time, wrong place. He swore it was a hit because of his job.
I checked. Double checked. Triple checked. It wasn’t.”
    “They had a son.”
    “Shit.”
    “Yeah. Seems like the son has a hard-on for you. Blames you
for his mom’s death. And thought Honor was the perfect way to get revenge.”
    “That’s why she didn’t call me.”
    “She’s trying to protect you.”
    “My little girl loves me.” There was pride in the voice.
    “Yeah, she does. Not sure why. You’ve always been a bastard
as far as I’m concerned.”
    A chuckle flowed over the phone. “Takes one to know one.”
    Jack smiled. “She asked me not to call.”
    “Sometimes lies are inevitable.”
    But it still made Jack feel badly. Honor made him think of
his daughter, Moira. And that was why he’d called Zach.
    “I’ll keep her here, busy, while you take care of it.” He
wasn’t going to tell Zach about the little bit he’d overheard at the conference
room door. Or the fact the sparks between Honor and Griff had made the meeting
earlier damn uncomfortable.
    “I’ll call when it’s safe.”
    “She won’t go back to the cabin.”
    “It’s compromised.” Zach echoed Jack’s thoughts. “I’ll find
her a new one.”
    Jack didn’t say anything. If the sparks he’d seen ignited,
he wasn’t sure Honor would be leaving anytime soon. Threat or not.
    “Call my cell.”
    “Take care of her.”
    The line went dead and Jack looked at the picture on his
desk. Moira had just had it taken. It was a portrait of her and his
granddaughter. They were stunning. She’d had it done for Gil, but she’d given
her dad a copy too. Looking at her, he knew he’d done the right thing by
contacting Zach immediately. It was what dads did.
    He stood up and pocketed his cell phone. He’d pick his wife
up for lunch and see if he could talk her into a compromising position. Or two.

Chapter Seven
     
    Honor paced the floor. All this downtime was driving her
crazy. Chetan had stopped by and asked to see her laptop. She should have known
better but she’d given it to him. The bastard had taken it and smiled, actually
smiled at her. Told her to enjoy her free time then had the gall to grin at
Griff before leaving. Men could be such jerks.
    Griff had done his best to keep her entertained. He’d
ordered Chinese and made a picnic on the floor. They’d watched two action
movies. He’d held her against his chest and kissed her but not pushed for sex.
Maybe that was half the problem. She expected him to bring her back to his
apartment and take her straight back to bed.
    “Do you want to have sex?”
    Griff looked startled at her blunt question. But she