Read Online Hero - The Ambush: Special Forces Romance by M. S. Parker - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: M. S. Parker
Tags: Romance
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breakfast, San Diego?
Damn him! Why the hell should I sit around here, waiting for him after he left me with some half-assed note? I needed to leave. It'd serve him right if he came back and found me gone. It was my turn to leave him, and I even considered leaving him a note.
Thanks for just enough to get me back on my feet. I don't need anything more from you.
As I grabbed my purse and headed out to my car, I considered a couple other different wordings, each more vindictive than the last. I sat for a moment in the driver's seat and imagined how great it would be to careen past him as the gates opened, giving him a little wave and a smile. If I left now, I'd be on the PCH and in traffic before he even knew what happened. I adjusted the rear view mirror, then put my key in the ignition.
A cold shadow fell across my shoulders as my mind jumped back to Haze's panic yesterday. I frowned. I'd never confronted him about it, too distracted by Ian's announcement. There'd been something strange in the way he'd been so adamant about getting me to safety. Haze wasn't prone to paranoia. Was there a threat against me?
Now the questions he'd asked the last few days came back to make me wonder. Haze had wanted to know if anyone disliked me. At the time, I'd assumed it'd been his way of teasing me, but now I wasn't so sure. He'd seemed on heightened alert and had questioned my routine. Was there anywhere I went on a regular basis? Did I often run into the same people at the same time?
With that on my mind, I decided I'd skip my regular coffee shop and get an espresso at Paris' favorite hotel. I'd heard she was back in town, and if anyone could help me demean a one-night stand down to nothing, it was her. Still, I held my breath as I started the car and wondered what Haze knew that I didn't. Then again, if anyone wanted to harm me, was it better for me to know or live in blissful ignorance?
The car roared to life, and so did my rebellious streak. Who cared if some crackpot thought I needed to be taken down a peg. Who the hell was going to get to me as locked down as I was? A part of me almost hoped there really was someone after me because Haze would shit a brick when he got back to the house and found me gone.
Maybe it's a Machus family trait, I thought as I gunned the engine and tore into traffic. If Ian could be so cavalier with his life, why couldn't I?
I paused with one long leg out of the car so the valet could look his fill. When his eyes finally met mine, I winked. He flushed as he gave me a breathless smile.
“A little help?” I asked, holding out my hand. I couldn't hold back a little smirk. I did love the rush having power brought with it. Power that had less to do with my name or my bank account and more to do with who I was. At least, the physical me. I wasn't foolish enough to think that anyone wanted the real me.
“Oh, yes, sorry Ms. Machus,” the valet stammered, the red of his skin deepening even more. “We're so glad to have you back at the Four Seasons again.”
I tugged on his hand, brushing too close to him as I exited the car. I chuckled at his sharp intake of breath. A quick glance down told me that the poor guy would need to take a few minutes to collect himself before he'd be presentable again. Nothing made me feel better, stronger, than a little heartless flirting.
“I do love it here,” I purred before stepping around him. His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed hard.
I could only imagine how he would've reacted if I'd been with Paris. Once she realized how embarrassed he was, she would've kept going, pushing as far as she could. She was like that, sensing another person's weaknesses and going after them with a vengeance.
I knew it was ridiculous to think seeing Paris would do me any good. Perhaps it was still the recklessness I felt that drew me to my unreliable friend.
After all, what was the worst she could do? She'd already slept with Ricky and all but bragged about it to my face. Right
Damn him! Why the hell should I sit around here, waiting for him after he left me with some half-assed note? I needed to leave. It'd serve him right if he came back and found me gone. It was my turn to leave him, and I even considered leaving him a note.
Thanks for just enough to get me back on my feet. I don't need anything more from you.
As I grabbed my purse and headed out to my car, I considered a couple other different wordings, each more vindictive than the last. I sat for a moment in the driver's seat and imagined how great it would be to careen past him as the gates opened, giving him a little wave and a smile. If I left now, I'd be on the PCH and in traffic before he even knew what happened. I adjusted the rear view mirror, then put my key in the ignition.
A cold shadow fell across my shoulders as my mind jumped back to Haze's panic yesterday. I frowned. I'd never confronted him about it, too distracted by Ian's announcement. There'd been something strange in the way he'd been so adamant about getting me to safety. Haze wasn't prone to paranoia. Was there a threat against me?
Now the questions he'd asked the last few days came back to make me wonder. Haze had wanted to know if anyone disliked me. At the time, I'd assumed it'd been his way of teasing me, but now I wasn't so sure. He'd seemed on heightened alert and had questioned my routine. Was there anywhere I went on a regular basis? Did I often run into the same people at the same time?
With that on my mind, I decided I'd skip my regular coffee shop and get an espresso at Paris' favorite hotel. I'd heard she was back in town, and if anyone could help me demean a one-night stand down to nothing, it was her. Still, I held my breath as I started the car and wondered what Haze knew that I didn't. Then again, if anyone wanted to harm me, was it better for me to know or live in blissful ignorance?
The car roared to life, and so did my rebellious streak. Who cared if some crackpot thought I needed to be taken down a peg. Who the hell was going to get to me as locked down as I was? A part of me almost hoped there really was someone after me because Haze would shit a brick when he got back to the house and found me gone.
Maybe it's a Machus family trait, I thought as I gunned the engine and tore into traffic. If Ian could be so cavalier with his life, why couldn't I?
I paused with one long leg out of the car so the valet could look his fill. When his eyes finally met mine, I winked. He flushed as he gave me a breathless smile.
“A little help?” I asked, holding out my hand. I couldn't hold back a little smirk. I did love the rush having power brought with it. Power that had less to do with my name or my bank account and more to do with who I was. At least, the physical me. I wasn't foolish enough to think that anyone wanted the real me.
“Oh, yes, sorry Ms. Machus,” the valet stammered, the red of his skin deepening even more. “We're so glad to have you back at the Four Seasons again.”
I tugged on his hand, brushing too close to him as I exited the car. I chuckled at his sharp intake of breath. A quick glance down told me that the poor guy would need to take a few minutes to collect himself before he'd be presentable again. Nothing made me feel better, stronger, than a little heartless flirting.
“I do love it here,” I purred before stepping around him. His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed hard.
I could only imagine how he would've reacted if I'd been with Paris. Once she realized how embarrassed he was, she would've kept going, pushing as far as she could. She was like that, sensing another person's weaknesses and going after them with a vengeance.
I knew it was ridiculous to think seeing Paris would do me any good. Perhaps it was still the recklessness I felt that drew me to my unreliable friend.
After all, what was the worst she could do? She'd already slept with Ricky and all but bragged about it to my face. Right
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