Read Online Careful What You Kiss For by Jane Lynne Daniels - Free Book Online Page B

wobble. She loosened her fingers, as numbness began to set in, and shifted her gaze to the cat. “What?” she asked Gemini, who turned and left the room with an annoyed switch of his tail.
    Tensley braved another look at Max. Her fingers, now that they had regained feeling, longed to touch the curl of dark hair below his ears. She remembered how it used to wrap perfectly around her index finger.
    “You know, though, I have to say, Ten. When I saw you … ” He leaned back against the sofa, drumming his fingers on one jeans-clad leg.
    Her inner roller coaster ride began another steep ascent of hope as a clock she hadn’t noticed ticked off the seconds. Loud seconds. Keep talking, Max. What had happened when he saw her? He’d realized what he’d thrown away, that he’d never stopped loving her? Or maybe he’d thanked his lucky stars for a narrow escape when he saw what he thought she’d become. Okay, don’t talk.
    A sharp rap on the apartment door jolted Tensley from ticking off the possibilities. She jumped, looking at the door and then back at Max.
    “Do you need to get that?” he asked, when she didn’t move.
    “No.” Nothing good could be on the other side of that door.
    Another knock, more insistent this time.
    “Ignore it,” she said. She drew a steadying breath as the roller coaster crept upward. “You were saying?”
    He looked puzzled for a second, but then leaned forward, deep blue eyes focused on her. “When I saw you last night, I couldn’t believe — ”
    The apartment door screeched open and a heavy footstep sounded in the hall.
    Tensley turned, picturing herself in a slow motion suicide leap toward the intruder, the word n-o-o-o-o-o roaring from somewhere deep inside. No more surprises. No more terrifying revelations into a life that wasn’t hers. No more.
    “Babe! What’s the deal? Why didn’t you answer the door?” A man moved into view. A short, muscular man with huge, tattooed arms. He was wearing a sleeveless tank top. In October. Jeans with a hole in one knee. And a grin that showed even, white teeth.
    The man’s expression changed to a frown that settled into deep creases between his dark brows. He looked to be in his thirties. He looked to be someone who lifted weights full-time. And he looked to be … not very happy. “Who’s this joker?” He jabbed a stubby finger in Max’s direction.
    Max stood. “Just an old friend.”
    “Old friend.” Thunder clouds formed in the man’s eyes.
    Tensley also stood. Combat yoga, anyone?
    “From years ago.” Max’s tone was smooth, unruffled. “We ran into each other and were catching up. My wife and I went to high school with Tensley.”
    That stopped her. His wife. Is he lying to muscle man … or me?
    “We were talking about getting together for dinner sometime soon,” Max went on. “Tensley told me she had someone special she wanted to bring.” He aimed a questioning look at her. “I’m thinking this must be him.”
    Her mouth opened, but all she could do was stare at muscle man, at Max, and back again.
    Uncertainty flickered across the other man’s face, but then, after appearing to make a decision, he stepped toward Max. “Name’s Razor,” he said. “Razor Burns.”
    Seriously? Razor Burns? This wasn’t happening.
    “Yep, I would be her someone special.” Razor dipped his chin toward Tensley. “That’s my girl.”
    And the roller coaster, having reached the top, plunged straight downward, Tensley screaming silently until her lungs ached. She did not have a boyfriend named Razor. Razor Burns.
    “Nice to meet you.” Max extended his hand, barely flinching when Razor did his best to crush it. “I’d better get home. It was great to run into you, Tensley.” He flashed a smile at her. “Rhonda will be excited. I’ll have her call you to set up dinner.”
    Rhonda? As in Rhonda the Skank? What the fuck. Of all the names he had to pull up for a fake wife, he picked Rhonda?
    “Yeah. Great,” she choked out.