Read Online Deception by Carol Ericson - Free Book Online Page B

“Why’d you come back to the motel? How did you know he was here?”
    “I noticed the motorcycle in my rearview mirror. A motorcycle with a silent engine.”
    “So you knew it was one of your old friends.”
    His back stiffened and he chewed his words. “They’re not my friends. Never were.”
    “I know that.” Soothing fingers trailed down his arm. “Just trying to lighten the mood a little so I don’t crawl into the bed and pull the covers over my head.”
    “I’m sorry.” He caressed her neck, and her silky hair tickled the back of his hand. “I brought that guy here. He came down here because of me and must’ve followed me.”
    She leaned against his touch for a minute before springing up from the bed. Bracing her shoulder against the wall, she peeked out the curtains. “They’re gone. What are they going to do with him?”
    “Probably turn him over to his parole officer. He’ll be heading back to prison, since he just violated about a hundred terms of his parole.”
    She let the curtain fall back into place and squared her shoulders against the wall. “Will there be more?”
    “Maybe.” He reclined on the bed, propping himself up with his elbows. “They’re not going to kill me or anything—that hit would be too high profile, even for the Lords.”
    “But they might continue to harass you…and those close to you.”
    He eased up from the bed and sauntered toward Mia, still holding up the wall. He braced his hands on either side of her head. “Are you close to me?”
    The little bow between her breasts on the sundress trembled with the pounding of her heart. Her tongue swept across her lips, moistening them to a glossy pink. “W-we’re old friends.”
    He studied her long, dark lashes fluttering over her eyes and bent his head to brush his lips across her mouth, still tangy from her twin margaritas. The tantalizing chasteness of the kiss sent a jolt of desire through his core, making him hard.
    He’d avoided falling under the St. Regis spell when he’d been a hormonal teen, and now that he was a seasoned adult that spell was dragging him along like a tidal wave.
    Leaning her head against the inside of his arm, she sighed. She’d had a rough day—the rock, the parolee—he didn’t want to strike while her defenses were down.
    He lifted a strand of her hair, rubbing it between his two fingers. “You’re tired. You need some sleep.”
    Her eyelids flew open. “I need…sleep.”
    He avoided the temptation of tweaking her nose again to put them back on familiar footing. Maybe a little unsteadiness was what they both needed to figure this out.
    Dropping another kiss on top of her head, he said, “Lock up, and don’t open the door for anyone. Didn’t you look out the window first when you opened the door to that thug?”
    “I thought it was you. I thought maybe you’d forgotten something.” Her dark eyes softened, and he knew if he made a move now he’d find fertile ground for his advances.
    “Watch yourself, Mia. I’ll try to check up on you tomorrow. And don’t go out to that house by yourself anymore.”
    She nodded. “Thanks for taking out that guy.”
    He grinned. “Sounded like you were doing a pretty good job of that yourself.”
    She closed the door behind him and he listened for the deadbolt. Maybe the Fifteenth Street gang member was behind the brakes and even the rock. The doll? Not the Lords’ style.
    With Vick locked up, Mia should be safe. Unless she had her own enemies in this town…enemies who pretended to be friends.
    * * *
    T HE FOLLOWING MORNING , Mia stopped by the motel office on her way to her new rental car. She poked her head in the door. “You okay, Gladys?”
    “I’m okay.” She glanced up from her gossip mag and slid her glasses down her nose. “Are you?”
    “Couldn’t be better.” Especially after that smooch from Dylan last night. It didn’t count as a full-fledged kiss, but lip-on-lip had to count for something.
    “I’ve never seen so