Read Online Deadly Secrets, Loving Lies by Cynthia Cooke - Free Book Online Page B

but he knew she intended it to be an insult.
    “Some of us take our responsibilities seriously,” he said, sharply. A lot sharper than he’d intended. He looked her square in the eyes. “Some of us don’t run away.”
    She didn’t say anything, just turned and watched the ferry approaching. After a few moments, she turned back. “If it’s any consolation, I didn’t run out on you for no reason. I had to leave and stay gone. I had no choice; otherwise I would have been there. For you in the hospital. For Becca’s funeral.”
    He stared at her, his gaze hardening in disbelief. “Really? Because the Genie I knew wouldn’t have let anyone keep her away from something she wanted to do.”
    “I guess you could say I was following orders myself.”
    He jetted out a clipped breath. “Since when are you the good soldier?”
    The ferry’s arrival cut off anything she might have said. She turned and silently strode away from him toward the gangplank.
    He wished he could believe that she’d had no choice. He really did. But more than that, he wished he could give her what they both wanted—to turn around, go back to the bird and leave her the hell alone. But as much as he wished he could, he just couldn’t seem to let himself walk away. Instead, he stalked after her up the gangplank and onto the ferry. Unable to help himself, he grabbed her and turned her toward him, pushing her back against the railing. “I think I deserved more than you disappearing without a trace.”
    She closed her eyes, refusing to look at him.
    Frustration surged through his veins. “We were. . . you were important to me.”
    Still she didn’t say anything. Wouldn’t engage. Wouldn’t even look at him. After all this time and she was still shutting him out, still running.
    Coward.
    “Dammit, Genie! I’m not going to let you hide from me, not anymore.” He pressed his body against hers. Her legs were trapped between his, her soft breasts pillowed against his hard chest.
    Her eyes shot open. “What are you doing?” She gasped, eyes wide, her silken lips parted with shock.
    It was too much to resist. Not in this volatile a mood.
    “What I should have done earlier,” he growled. He pressed his lips against hers, hard and unrelenting, kissing her until her stiff, tentative tongue softened, warmed, and slipped into his mouth. She tasted hot and sweet and utterly intoxicating. His blood rushed through his body, pulsing in his ears as she wrapped her arms around his neck, finally falling into the kiss, losing herself, her fingers twining in his hair and sending little shockwaves through his body.
    God, yes, he missed her. He missed this. He missed her touch and her taste and the overwhelming way he could drown in the feel of her. He missed working with her during the day and sleeping with her at night. He’d shared everything with her. She had been his whole world.
    And yet, he didn’t have a clue who she was. He still didn’t know.
    He pulled back, stepping away from her, unsteadily wiping her off his lips with the back of his knuckles.
    “What was that?” she asked, trying to catch her breath. Annoyed? Upset? Aroused?
    “Johnny said you were the same old Genie, I guess I just wanted to see for myself.”
    “And?” she asked, bringing a trembling hand to her lips.
    He leaned toward her. “Honest to God, Genie. I don’t have a damn clue.”

Chapter Five
    Genie stood stunned at the bow of the ferry, reeling from the unexpected kiss Kyle had planted on her lips. It hadn’t been just any kiss. It had been a knock-you-out-of-your-pants kiss. One that had worked quite effectively on her in the past. And had been almost as effective right then, too.
    His boldness brought all kinds of thoughts to mind. Thoughts and memories and the uncomfortable realization that she hadn’t been touched by anyone in any capacity since the day he’d carried her out of that warehouse.
    She rubbed her arms, trying to soothe the goose bumps breaking out all