Read Online Campaign of Desire (CSA Case Files 4) by Kennedy Layne - Free Book Online Page B

in total agreement with Kimmie’s statement. Lach was definitely all male, but that didn’t make him any less of an ass. His comment it is what it is had made her want to throw him out of that hotel window. Instead, she’d put on her public persona and handled it with what grace she could manage. She had her mother to thank for her calm nature. Unfortunately, Kimmie was a little too young to remember those lessons.
    “He didn’t run away like that ,” Phoebe corrected, twirling the stem of her wineglass. Even though she felt relief sharing this with Kimmie, it was still difficult to admit out loud that Lach hadn’t felt more than just something physical. She’d personally never experienced something so intimate before. “It was more of a change in his manner. He distanced himself immediately and it was obvious he didn’t want to take things farther than a casual encounter.”
    “Bad boys never do, although some just play hard to get.” Kimmie tilted her head as if she were studying Phoebe. “You always were too serious. Let me guess. It was you who ended up walking away, but you justify it as he was first because he didn’t say what you wanted him to say.”
    “I did what he wanted me to do.” Phoebe didn’t like where Kimmie was headed with this. Nine times out of ten her sister always took her side. “Trust me, there weren’t that many words exchanged. We dressed and then went straight to the airport. This afternoon was the first time we’d seen each other after we arrived back to the States.”
    “Oh man,” Kimmie said, shaking her head in regret, “if I’d known all of this beforehand, I wouldn’t have missed that meeting today for anything.”
    “You didn’t miss much. I tried to talk some sense into Dad, but as usual it was like talking to a totem pole. I waited until we were done and then told Lach that we needed to discuss some ground rules.”
    “Like what?” Kimmie leaned forward and set her bottle of water on the coffee table, not bothering with a coaster. Phoebe sighed, knowing she’d have to wipe the ring off of the wood in the morning if she didn’t get one. Right now, she was getting sleepy from the wine and a little depressed with how things had gone today. Regardless, she reached over the side of her chair and retrieved a thirsty stone, tossing it to her sister. Nothing had been resolved. “There really doesn’t seem to be a lot to say, Phoebe. It happened, it’s over, now move on. Let Lach do his job. Unless you’re still hoping for more?”
    “It’s not that simple.” Phoebe frowned and took another sip of wine. She tried to explain the situation again. “Lach runs hot and cold. Do you know what he said to me in Africa? He told me that I was a spoiled little rich girl. And then when he showed up in Iraq, he kissed me, which led into us having sex. Afterwards, he acted like it was an everyday occurrence and—”
    “ You are still attracted to him,” Kimmie said, interrupting with a smile on her face. “You want to lay down rules so that you don’t go falling into his bed the minute he smiles. Speaking of which, did you notice that none of the men seem to smile? Ethan did once, but that was only because Fallon texted him.”
    Phoebe downed the rest of her wine, knowing full well she wasn’t going to get Kimmie to understand the predicament she was in. Having Lach around as a reminder that she wasn’t good enough for anything more than casual sex wasn’t conducive to a good working relationship. Technically, it was the first time that she’d been the one placed in that position and she found that she didn’t like being dismissed. It was usually she who had to set limits, due to who she was or, more to the point, who her father was. Being with a U.S. Senator’s daughter came in handy for those men who aspired for a political career and needed a social ally. Kimmie had spent the majority of her adult life on campus, so she hadn’t yet experienced what Phoebe