Read Online Hot on Her Heels by Susan Mallery - Free Book Online Page A

asked. Izzy had said Nick had been emotionally devastated by what had happened and blamed himself. Did Garth?
    â€œI didn’t set out to kill them, if that’s what you mean.I’m sorry it happened. We made an honest mistake. Knowing what I know now…” he hesitated “…it would be different, but life isn’t that tidy. We don’t get a do-over.”
    â€œDo you want a do-over with Nick?”
    His gaze sharpened. “The question of the day.”
    Garth had used his best friend to get to Izzy. Nick hadn’t known what was going on and when he figured out he was being played, he had been furious.
    â€œYou have to have regrets,” she said. “Nick was your best friend.”
    â€œI made a tactical error.”
    â€œStop being such a guy,” she snapped. “It wasn’t an error. You set up Nick to hurt Izzy. Then you completely miscalculated the fact that they were falling in love with each other. You expected Nick to side with you instead of Izzy and when he didn’t, you got angry. You lost a friend. A good friend.”
    â€œYou don’t need me here to have this conversation,” he told her. “You’re doing fine all on your own.”
    â€œMore guy-speak. You lost Nick and now you’re sorry. Was it worth it?”
    â€œWhat do you think?”
    His expression was unreadable, but she could feel his pain as if it were her own. He was strong, powerful and dangerous. But he was also alone. He had no one. His mother was as much of a responsibility as a small child. He’d set himself on a course to destroy his father and alienate his sisters. It was a battle of one against the world.
    A battle he could never win, because even in winning he would lose.
    Oddly enough, that made her want to go to him. Part of her wanted to tell him that everything would be all right. Which made her stupid, or at the very least confused.
    â€œI suppose you’ll ignore me if I tell you to apologize,” she said. “That saying you regret what happened might go a long way to healing things with Nick.”
    â€œI might listen if you tell me naked.”
    She rolled her eyes. “Do you really think a comment like that will distract me?”
    â€œIt’s worth a try.”
    â€œYou need a better game plan. I’m not your average bimbo.”
    â€œI don’t date bimbos. Marly was a Rhodes Scholar.”
    â€œThen what was she doing with you?”
    â€œUse your imagination.”
    â€œDoesn’t being on the defense all the time get exhausting?” she asked.
    â€œI’ll answer that question when you do.”
    Oh. Right. That was kind of her thing.
    They looked at each other. He’d taken off his jacket when he’d first walked into the penthouse. Before dinner he’d rolled up the sleeves of his white dress shirt. Now he pulled off his tie and tossed it onto the table next to him.
    The act was nothing. His fingers unfastened the knot at his throat, then he pulled the length of fabricfree and threw it to the side. Yet the movement was unbelievably sexy and masculine. It made her think about undoing buttons and hands on bare skin. It made her want to squirm and reach and get lost in whatever magic Garth possessed. It made her want to be taken—an ironic longing considering she never allowed herself to lose control. To be taken, one had to surrender. Something she would never do.
    â€œDana?”
    She blinked slowly. Time for another subject change. Dining with the man was not particularly restful.
    â€œIzzy’s serious about her plan,” she said. “Whether you’re willing or not, she’s determined to have you in the family.”
    â€œLet me guess. They’re going to love me into submission.”
    â€œIf that’s what it takes.”
    â€œIs that what happened with you?”
    â€œThey’re my friends and my family. They have been for years. There are worse places