Read Online Crazy in Love by Lani Diane Rich - Free Book Online Page B

we’d have so much to talk about.”
    Tink.
    “Actually, right this minute isn’t that great for me…” Flynn started, but was interrupted by what had to be the world’s loudest toilet flushing. If there was any doubt in her mind that Gordon Chase was the man Tucker had been warning her against, it was gone.
    Meanwhile, Gordon Chase ’s eyebrows rose an easy quarter inch.
    “ Oh,” he said, a look of confusion washing over his face for a moment. “I see. Well.” Tink. “Maybe some other time. Are you free for lunch, perhaps?”
    “ Oh, sure, why not?” Flynn said, just as an incredibly loud and unmistakably male belch emanated from her bedroom. She acted as if she hadn’t heard it. “Why don’t I meet you in the lobby at noon?”
    Gordon ’s smile faltered, then widened. “Perfect. I’ll see you at noon.”
    The second the door was shut, Tucker emerged from the bathroom, without even the slightest look of contrition on his face. He was amazing. She just wanted to sit and watch him for a while, like a zoo animal.
    “ Ready for that coffee?” he asked brightly.
    “ As soon as you tell me what that performance was all about.”
    He had the nerve to look surprised. “Performance? Oh, you mean the...” He trailed off, the picture of delicacy. “Sorry about that. Must have been the enchiladas I had for dinner last night.”
    Flynn watched him for a moment. “That was Gordon Chase. At the door.”
    Tucker nodded, and his face looked uncharacteristically tense. “I figured.”
    “ Yeah, I figured you figured. I didn’t appreciate the soundtrack, by the way.”
    “ Hey, sorry, I was just—”
    “ I don’t care what you were just,” Flynn said, advancing on him. “I don’t care what your agenda is, or what Gordon Chase’s agenda is. I came here to do a job, and I’m going to do it. And I won’t be target practice in whatever little pissing contest you’ve got going on with him. Are we clear?”
    Tucker let out a hard sigh. “I’m just trying to look out for you.”
    Flynn put her hand on her forehead and sighed. “At any point in our association have I ever asked you to look out for me?”
    He smiled smugly. “You mean, aside from last night when you needed a bodyguard to protect you from your dead aunt?”
    Flynn clenched her teeth until they hurt, her emotions evenly split between anger and embarrassment. Tucker lowered his head a bit until his face was in her eye line, his expression infuriatingly playful.
    “ One toke over the line, huh?”
    “ You know what?” She grabbed a fistful of his sleeve and guided him toward the door. “Go.”
    “ Because I did think about not pointing the ghost thing out, but you really left yourself wide open.”
    “ Goodbye, Tucker.”
    He shrugged out of her grip as they reached the door, then turned to face her. “So… what? Rain check on the coffee, then?”
    “ You still have your job,” she said, trying to keep any hint of amusement out of her voice, although it was hard not to smile a little. “Maybe now’s a good time to take stock. Count your blessings.”
    “ Okay. But just to let you know, firing me would be a huge mistake,” he said, leaning against the door. “I’m very popular here. Everyone loves me. It’d be hell on morale.”
    She yanked the door open, knocking him slightly off balance as she did. “I’ll take that under advisement.”
    He sighed. “Okay. Fine. Just...” His eyes met hers, and once again, they were serious. “Just watch your step with Chase, okay? I’m not sure he’s not dangerous.”
    Flynn stared at him for a moment. “What the hell does that mean?”
    Tucker shrugged and looked out the door, then back at her. “It means what it means. Look, if you don’t believe me, talk to Mercy. She’s your chef, and she’s a completely unbiased source of information.”
    She stared up at him, her anger and annoyance fading away under the warmth of his smile, and she was forced to admit the truth to herself.