Read Online Before by Nicola Marsh - Free Book Online

know how I got so good at reading people? Spend ten years in the foster system and you soon learn when arse-holes are lying to you or not.”
    Her expression softened. “What happened to your folks?”
    “Dad shot through when I was four, Mum when I was six. I was a rotten brat.” At least, that was the guilt trip Mum used to lay on me for the reason Dad left. What was her excuse?
    Sadness downturned Jess’s mouth. “I’m sorry.”
    She touched my arm and I tried not to flinch. I couldn’t have her touching me, not when I wanted to touch her so badly I ached.
    “I don’t need your pity, but maybe now you can understand why I want to know what happened at your college?” Unable to resist, I snagged a strand of her hair and wound it around my finger. “And I know it’s something bad by the way you completely shut down in the car when study buddies were mentioned.”
    “You’re very observant,” she said, her gaze transfixed on my finger as I wound her hair tighter and tighter before releasing it when I got too close to the tender skin above her ear.
    “Occupational hazard.” I scrunched up my face, pretending to think. “Having to keep the broccoli from bullying the beans, the squash from beet ing the pumpkin, get it?”
    Her soft laughter made me want to hold her. “That’s a woeful pun.”
    I touched her forearm and I swore I heard her sigh. “Tell me.”
    Indecisive, she nibbled on her bottom lip, and it took every ounce of my willpower not to do the same.
    “Jess?” I slid my fingers down her forearm to her hand, where I threaded my fingers through hers.
    I had no idea why I did it. I didn’t go for handholding. Not that I had girlfriends long enough to do it.
    “A guy I trusted, my closest study buddy, tried to rape me.” Her flat, emotionless monotone spoke volumes. She’d tried to block it out.
    I squeezed her hand so hard she yelped and I released her as rage consumed me. I wanted to beat the bastard to a pulp. Crush him without mercy. Kick his head in.
    “It didn’t get too far before I escaped, but the fact it happened in the first place?” She shook her head. “I’m such an idiot.”
    “No you’re not—”
    “I trusted that slime ball!” she yelled and Dundee sidestepped.
    “Sorry, fella.” She patted Dundee’s neck. “I thought I knew him and I didn’t know him at all, which really makes me doubt my own judgment.”
    Not only had this prick assaulted her, he’d made her question herself. I could definitely kill him with my bare hands.
    “Nothing wrong with your judgment.” I forced myself to relax, to allow my anger to dissipate. “You’re here with me, aren’t you?”
    She managed a small smile, just as I intended. “So now you know. Happy?”
    “Considering what I want to do to that fucktard for hurting you, I’m so far from happy it’s not funny.” I recaptured her hand. “But some good did come out of it.”
    “What?”
    “We’ve moved past the outdoor shower scene moment and have actually connected as friends.”
    The moment the words tumbled from my mouth I wanted to slap myself upside the head. We weren’t friends. We could never be anything more than passing acquaintances.
    But having her trust me with something so important made me feel closer to Jess than I had to anyone in a long time, if ever.
    “Friends.” She shook my hand like a buddy, her tremulous smile making my heart do a weird jive. “Who ride pillion.”
    I laughed. “Lady, you drive a hard bargain.”
    “Cookie, you have no idea.”
    “Cookie?”
    “My nickname for you. You cook, right?”
    I’d never had a nickname before and it touched me. “Plus I’m sweet and delectable.”
    She rolled her eyes.
    “And edible,” I added, determined to get back onto familiar territory, with the two of us sparring with an underlying hint of sexuality.
    Nicknames implied intimacy and closeness, two things I couldn’t afford to have with Jess. No matter how much I might secretly crave