Read Online Hot Toy by Jennifer Crusie - Free Book Online Page B

bad.”
    â€œGreat. That’s what this is about, some damn promotion? Knock a helpless woman to the ground and steal her little nephew’s Christmas present?”
    â€œThe ‘helpless’ is debatable,” Nolan said as they went past the cabbie, who was dabbing at his bleeding nose and glaring at her. “You owe Alex an apology.”
    â€œHe attacked me.”
    â€œHe was trying to get you into the cab so he could get you away from here,” Nolan said. “He’s one of ours.”
    â€œHe was trying to take the doll, so he’s not one of mine,” Trudy said, and then she saw the woman they were moving toward. She was wearing a red and green bobble hat, but she didn’t look like a Christmas shopper anymore. “Who the hell is she?”
    â€œMy boss,” Nolan said.
    Trudy waited until they were in front of the woman, and then she said, “Is this guy really an NSA agent?”
    â€œYes.” The woman spoke without any expression whatsoever, which only made Trudy madder.
    â€œWell, he groped me in that warehouse,” Trudy said.
    â€œI’m not at all surprised,” the woman said, and held her hand out for the Mac.
    Nolan gave it to her.
    â€œYou bastard, ” Trudy said.
    â€œTrudy, it’s national security.”
    â€œNo, it isn’t,” Trudy snapped. “You got the codes when you got the instruction sheet, and then you got the USB key when you got the silencer. You don’t need the doll. You don’t care that a little kid is going to wake up tomorrow and know that everything in his world is a lie, that doesn’t bother you—”
    â€œTrudy,” Nolan said, misery in his voice.
    â€œâ€”as long as your work gets done.” She wrenched away from him, her hands still cuffed behind her. “You guys, guys like you and Reese and Prescott, you don’t care about anything as long as you get what you want. Well, fine, you got it. Now take these handcuffs off me, because you know damn well you’re not going to arrest me for anything.”
    â€œYou have to promise to stop hitting people,” Nolan said.
    â€œFine,” Trudy said. “I promise.”
    He unlocked the cuffs and she kicked him in the shin. He said, “Ouch,” and grabbed at his leg.
    â€œYou promised me,” Trudy said. “You said I could trust you, and I was as dumb as Courtney, I believed you.” She turned back to his boss. “You need me for anything else or can I go home to my devastated family?”
    â€œWe have questions,” the woman said, and gestured to the car. “We’ll have you home in a couple of hours.”
    â€œFine,” Trudy said, refusing to look back at Nolan. “I’ll tell you anything you want as long as you give me back the Mac.”
    â€œUnfortunately not,” the woman said.
    â€œHere’s your Twinkletoes,” Nolan said, holding out a shopping bag. “I found it in the warehouse.”
    Trudy took the bag. “Rot and die,” she said, and walked toward the car.
    â€œTrudy, be reasonable,” he said, following her. “This is national security —”
    She turned around and he almost bumped into her. “You didn’t have to kiss me and tell me I could trust you. You didn’t have to make me believe in you again. You had the NSA out here, you were always going to get that damn doll. You could have left me my dignity, but no, you had to sucker me in.”
    â€œThat’s not fair.”
    She stepped closer. “That’s why I hate you. That’s why Leroy’s going to hate his dad and his mom and me tomorrow, because he knew there was no Santa, but we all said, ‘Trust us, Santa’s gonna come through for you.’ We hung that kid out to dry. He’s going to be right to hate us. And I’m right to hate you.”
    She turned to get into the car, and he caught her arm and said, “Trudy,