Read Online Framed: A Psychological Thriller (Boston's Crimes of Passion Book 2) by Colleen Connally - Free Book Online Page B

too many coincidences, which added up to a story. He needed only to take one layer off at a time. One thing was for certain—he had a great deal of hard work in front of him and he needed Riley’s help.
    Right now, though, he was hungry.
    * * * *
    The aroma of coffee filled the air, along with the sound of bacon sizzling. Riley rounded the corner of her hall and saw the culprit.
    “I thought you were gone.”
    “Without a shirt?” he asked in a light, casual voice, as if it were the most natural thing in the world to be cooking breakfast in her kitchen. “Sit.” He pointed to her breakfast nook. “My cooking skills are limited at best, but I think it’s edible. Hope you like scrambled eggs.”
    Riley contained her protest and complied with his demand, mainly because she just realized she was starving. He gave her an easygoing smile and sat a glass of orange juice in front of her.
    “You smell of gardenias.”
    He didn’t give her a chance to reply, but turned on his heels and went back to the stove. She took a small sip of her juice, but couldn’t take her eyes off her shirtless chef. In the bright morning light, she was awestruck by his broad shoulders and ripped stomach.
    She had convinced herself in the shower that this morning on the couch had been an anomaly, but she had been foolish to think it would have been so easy to forget. The memory of his kisses lingered; she shivered on the remembrance.
    Portioning the eggs out on the plates, he added a couple of pieces of bacon with a slice of toast. He looked up as he rounded the kitchen counter with their breakfast. “I think it’s time we had a heart-to-heart.”
    She sighed. “Really, I don’t know what we have to say.”
    He laughed, a light, easy laugh. “I will confess talking isn’t what I would like to be doing, but for right now, it’s probably best we lay out some ground rules.”
    She watched him sit beside her. So sure…so arrogant with his damn potent sensuality. She fought the urge to run. He invoked feelings she thought she would never feel again. It frightened her.
    “Yesterday when I met you, I was trying to tell you that I’m looking into the Harrison Taylor case,” he explained. His voice altered. The flirtation was gone, turned serious and firm with purpose. “Being a journalist, I don’t lean one way or another. I let my story take me. It took me to Mrs. Barlow’s door.”
    His words took her aback. Kincaid had found a connection to the Ashcrofts. Something told her he wasn’t letting go, whether or not she helped him.
    “What do you want from me?”
    “I need to know as much about Harrison Taylor as I can. You admitted you knew him.” He placed the picture of her father and a young Harrison down in front of her. “Tell me his story from your point of view.”
    “I don’t like to talk of that time in my life,” she replied with brutal honesty. “It’s hard for me.”
    “I know.” He gave her a small smile and took her hand in his. “I heard the pain in your voice last night…saw it in your eyes.”
    Suddenly, emotions overwhelmed her. Lord, what was wrong with her! She was never like this. Wiping back a stray tear, she shrugged, uncomfortable again.
    “Trust me, Riley. I’m not going to hurt you.”
    She looked into his eyes and saw his determination and focus. She withdrew her hand. “I don’t need you,” she said under her breath. “I don’t need anyone. Understand that. You would do well to heed Walter’s warning. I am an Ashcroft. You got me at a low point last night, Mr. Kincaid.”
    “I realize that witnessing that horrific scene must have brought back memories,” he said gently, ignoring her attempt at distancing herself from him. “Riley, one thing I’m not trying to negate is this…attraction between us, but I need to look into the possibility that Harrison Taylor was framed. It’s my job. My instincts tell me that you could help.”
    The truth of his purpose resonated within her. Wasn’t