Read Online Fractured Innocence (#2 IFICS) by Julia Crane - Free Book Online
Authors: Julia Crane
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to say. Why was this so hard for her?
Lucas came to the rescue. “Harrington said there was food?”
“Right this way.” Nick led them down the short hallway to a spacious kitchen that was set off to the left. A rough granite tabletop was the focal point of the room. Kaitlyn ran her fingers along the uneven texture. Everything in the kitchen was dark grey. The only splash of color came from the yellow curtains above the sink where light filtered through. Even the refrigerator was an unusual brushed metal. Whoever designed the house had great taste. Somehow, they managed to bring the feel of the outdoors inside the home.
“Hot chocolate?” Nick asked.
Kaitlyn perked up despite herself; chocolate had a way of doing that to her. “Marshmallows?”
Nick grinned. “You’re in luck.”
Lucas placed his arm around her waist, but Kaitlyn pulled away. It was obvious by the way his eyes clouded over she had hurt his feelings. Once they were alone, she would have to explain being here was no different than when they were at work. He should know better.
Kaitlyn pulled out a stool, while Nick heated up the milk, cocoa, salt and sugar in a pan. Lucas sat down next to her, but kept more distance than usual between them. Maybe she wouldn’t have to broach the subject.
A few moments later, Nick set the mug down and Kaitlyn cradled the cup in her hands before closing her eyes to take the first sip of the warm liquid. When the sugar hit her tongue, a soft moan of pleasure escaped her lips. Even better than she had expected. So many simple pleasures in the world. She looked up and gave Nick a curt nod.He grinned crookedly.
Lucas nudged her arm while wiping the napkin across his face. “You gotta little something on your lip.”
A chocolate mustache, as Quess would call it. Kaitlyn smiled and took another sip before wiping her face. She would have to ask Nick to tell her his recipe, because his hot chocolate was quite possibly the best she’d ever tasted.
Erik and Ace strolled into the kitchen laughing. Kaitlyn studied them and found she envied their bond. Erik appeared so at ease and happy. In all the time she had known him, this was the first time she’d heard him laugh.
Kaitlyn stiffened and gave him an impatient look. He looked at her a little puzzled, but didn’t acknowledge it. She tore her gaze from his face.
“Catching up?” Lucas asked.
“Ah, the stories I could tell about this one.” Ace pushed Erik’s shoulder back.
Erik flashed him a look as if telling him to keep his mouth shut.
Kaitlyn took a sip of the hot chocolate, watching the exchange with interest. She wondered what sort of stories he was talking about. She debated asking, but Ace spoke up first.
“Kaitlyn, Erik tells me you’ve been working closely together?”
Kate glanced at Erik and then back at Ace. “That’s true.”
The room lapsed into an awkward silence.
Kaitlyn finished her drink, stood up and placed it in the sink.
“Thank you for the hot chocolate, Nick.”
“Yeah, thanks, man. Hit the spot,” Lucas added.
“No problem.”
Kaitlyn could feel their eyes on her as she walked out of the room. Lucas stayed a couple more minutes before joining her.
As they walked down the hall, she extended her hearing range, invading privacy or not she wanted to know what they were saying.
“That chick is hot but odd as all get out. Kinda creepy the way she just sits there,” Ace mumbled.
“Say what you will, but you wouldn’t stand a chance against her. She’s the best I’ve ever worked with.”
Ace laughed loudly. Then after a pause he said, “No shit?”
“No shit,” Erik replied.
That was the last Kaitlyn heard before they entered their assigned room. It shouldn’t bother her what a stranger thought, but for some reason it really did. If Ace saw her as odd then others must as well.
At least Erik thought she was a better operator than Ace.
But she already knew that to be
Lucas came to the rescue. “Harrington said there was food?”
“Right this way.” Nick led them down the short hallway to a spacious kitchen that was set off to the left. A rough granite tabletop was the focal point of the room. Kaitlyn ran her fingers along the uneven texture. Everything in the kitchen was dark grey. The only splash of color came from the yellow curtains above the sink where light filtered through. Even the refrigerator was an unusual brushed metal. Whoever designed the house had great taste. Somehow, they managed to bring the feel of the outdoors inside the home.
“Hot chocolate?” Nick asked.
Kaitlyn perked up despite herself; chocolate had a way of doing that to her. “Marshmallows?”
Nick grinned. “You’re in luck.”
Lucas placed his arm around her waist, but Kaitlyn pulled away. It was obvious by the way his eyes clouded over she had hurt his feelings. Once they were alone, she would have to explain being here was no different than when they were at work. He should know better.
Kaitlyn pulled out a stool, while Nick heated up the milk, cocoa, salt and sugar in a pan. Lucas sat down next to her, but kept more distance than usual between them. Maybe she wouldn’t have to broach the subject.
A few moments later, Nick set the mug down and Kaitlyn cradled the cup in her hands before closing her eyes to take the first sip of the warm liquid. When the sugar hit her tongue, a soft moan of pleasure escaped her lips. Even better than she had expected. So many simple pleasures in the world. She looked up and gave Nick a curt nod.He grinned crookedly.
Lucas nudged her arm while wiping the napkin across his face. “You gotta little something on your lip.”
A chocolate mustache, as Quess would call it. Kaitlyn smiled and took another sip before wiping her face. She would have to ask Nick to tell her his recipe, because his hot chocolate was quite possibly the best she’d ever tasted.
Erik and Ace strolled into the kitchen laughing. Kaitlyn studied them and found she envied their bond. Erik appeared so at ease and happy. In all the time she had known him, this was the first time she’d heard him laugh.
Kaitlyn stiffened and gave him an impatient look. He looked at her a little puzzled, but didn’t acknowledge it. She tore her gaze from his face.
“Catching up?” Lucas asked.
“Ah, the stories I could tell about this one.” Ace pushed Erik’s shoulder back.
Erik flashed him a look as if telling him to keep his mouth shut.
Kaitlyn took a sip of the hot chocolate, watching the exchange with interest. She wondered what sort of stories he was talking about. She debated asking, but Ace spoke up first.
“Kaitlyn, Erik tells me you’ve been working closely together?”
Kate glanced at Erik and then back at Ace. “That’s true.”
The room lapsed into an awkward silence.
Kaitlyn finished her drink, stood up and placed it in the sink.
“Thank you for the hot chocolate, Nick.”
“Yeah, thanks, man. Hit the spot,” Lucas added.
“No problem.”
Kaitlyn could feel their eyes on her as she walked out of the room. Lucas stayed a couple more minutes before joining her.
As they walked down the hall, she extended her hearing range, invading privacy or not she wanted to know what they were saying.
“That chick is hot but odd as all get out. Kinda creepy the way she just sits there,” Ace mumbled.
“Say what you will, but you wouldn’t stand a chance against her. She’s the best I’ve ever worked with.”
Ace laughed loudly. Then after a pause he said, “No shit?”
“No shit,” Erik replied.
That was the last Kaitlyn heard before they entered their assigned room. It shouldn’t bother her what a stranger thought, but for some reason it really did. If Ace saw her as odd then others must as well.
At least Erik thought she was a better operator than Ace.
But she already knew that to be
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