Read Online Guardian Angel by Leanne Banks - Free Book Online Page B

me?”
    She picked up her purse and stood. “You’d never believe me.”
    He stood too. “Try me.”
    That was the problem, she thought. She’d like to try him in all the ways a woman tries a man. Intellectually, emotionally, sexually. She was tempted to tell him what his brother had done to Kevin, but something stopped her. She sensed how disillusioned Trace would be when he learned of Philip’s lies, and a deeply embedded sense of fair play she’d never applied to the Barringers before kept her silent.
    She felt an aching sense of loss for stopping their relationship before it started, but it wouldn’t work. Tears leaked from her eyes. Mortified at such an emotional display, she swiped at them. How could her heart feel ripped in half when she hadn’t given it away yet?
    â€œWhy don’t I tell you?” she repeated shakily. “I guess because I don’t want to be the one to hurt you. And if you have an ounce of integrity or family pride, if you love your brother half as much as I love mine, when you hear the truth, you’re gonna hurt like hell.”
    With that, she fled to her car.
    Â 
    The following week passed in a blur of expended energy. On those rare moments when Talia’s carefully erected shield of activity crumbled, her thoughts turned to Trace and she waged a furious internal battle against the memories of the way he’d touched her body and mind.
    Touched, she berated herself, was an apt description. Touched, as in mentally ill.
    It didn’t matter that he made her heart race and her blood heat as no man had before. It didn’t matter that he made her feel precious. It didn’t matter that by word and deed he made her believe she was the most beautiful woman in the world.
    It didn’t matter, because it couldn’t matter.
    Trace had called her three times that week asking to see her. Each time she’d forced her mouth to say “No,” while a small voice inside her whispered, “Yes.” At least she’d been honest when she’d turned down his invitation to dinner Saturday night. She’d told him she had other plans, and she did. A hot date with a guy with mischievous blue eyes, curly blond hair and a fun personality.
    At seven o’clock Saturday night, Talia found herself surrounded by the sound of bells, laser guns and simulated jet engines. “Jason, isn’t there something else you want to play tonight?”
    â€œNo,” her four-foot-tall companion insisted. “I’ve been looking forward to playing the Reptile Renegades game all week. Aw, shoot! I keep getting phaser-dazed.” Jason turned and fixed his pleading eyes on her. “May I please have another quarter?”
    She fished another coin from her pocket and put it in his hands. Realizing she’d run out of quarters, she pulled out a few dollar bills too. “Here you go, sport. I’m going to get some more change. I’ll be right back.”
    She turned and was heading for the change machine, when a pint-sized tornado whirled into her legs, yelling, “Reptile Renegades!”
    The boy began to fall, and she instinctively reached for him, steadying his little body.
    â€œRobby,” a familiar male voice called over the roar of the arcade. “I told you to stop running.”
    Talia stared into the boy’s green eyes. Her heart turned a somersault as she looked at the smaller version of Trace. She had no time to steel herself against the effect of Robby’s father before he was standing in front of her.
    â€œRobby,” Trace began, then broke off when he recognized her. “Talia?”
    Darn. Darn. Darn. Her gaze locked helplessly with his for a timeless moment until Robby began to wiggle. Talia dropped her hands.
    â€œLook, Dad, they’ve got Reptile Renegades. Can I play?”
    Talia could practically feel Trace tear his gaze from her, and was glad she had a moment to get her