Read Online If Cooks Could Kill by Joanne Pence - Free Book Online

black sofas with a couple of black and gray checked throw pillows on one of them, the gray loveseat. She lightly fingered thebig screen HDTV, the audio and video entertainment systems, and the entire wall filled with a variety of video game systems and monitors, the usual Nintendos and Playstations, plus more sophisticated arcade equipment. “Still into toys, I see,” she said, her voice curling around him, as husky as he remembered it.
    His chin tilted upward. He was glad she could see how far he’d come, but smarted at her criticism. “So? No harm done.”
    â€œYou’ve done well,” she said abruptly. “Extremely well. Almost…suspiciously well, I might add.”
    â€œDon’t worry—it’s all legit. From football. Not everyone’s like you, Veronica.”
    â€œYou had me worried there for a minute, but I should have known better.” She laughed aloud as she sat down on the sofa and opened up the onyx cigarette box on the chrome and glass coffee table. “Cigarettes? That’s all?” The mocking tone in her voice grated. Lifting out a Benson and Hedges, she held it between long red nails. “You aren’t the man I used to know.” She put the cigarette in her mouth and waited for him to pick up the lighter.
    â€œI don’t even use nicotine now. That’s all I keep in the house, and they’re for company.” He held the flame steady as she drew on the cigarette, then sat down across from her. “I’m a respectable member of the community, in case you didn’t know.”
    Her deep, throaty laughter rumbled inside him, made him want her in his bed. In the past, it had nearly cost him his career.
    â€œOf course you are, lover.” Her head dropped back and she slowly blew smoke high into the air. He eyed her long, smooth neck, the lightly throbbing pulse at the base of her throat.
    â€œHow did you find this house?” His words turnedclipped and dry. “I figured you’d phone when you got out.”
    â€œWe have a few mutual friends,” she said coyly, “whether you want to remember that little fact or not.”
    â€œI remember,” he said with a frown. “So, when did you get out?”
    â€œToday. Or, considering the hour, yesterday.” She took a deep drag and let the smoke billow around her.
    He inhaled it, remembering. “You didn’t waste any time getting here.”
    â€œWhy should I? I’ve waited for this a long time.”
    He smirked. “For me? I should have known.”
    Her red lips slanted into a look that was half-grin, half-derision. “You’re such a sick bastard. You know what I’m here for. It’s time to hand it over.”
    He raked his fingers through his hair and wished he were dreaming. She was more than he could bear. “It’s not that easy, Veronica.”
    â€œWhat the hell are you talking about?”
    â€œI got bills. Lots of them. My career…things…aren’t quite as good as they were earlier.”
    â€œI sat in jail three years—”
    â€œI know, but it’s been tough. The economy is going south. My contract isn’t getting renewed.”
    Her face hardened. “What are you saying?”
    â€œI need the money a lot more than you do.”
    She jumped to her feet. “Max Squire put you up to this, didn’t he? You two bastards think you’re going to screw me again!”
    â€œNo! I haven’t even seen him.”
    She pulled a gun from her handbag and pointed it at him. “Where’s Max?”

Chapter 5
    Connie woke up to a raging headache and black circles under her eyes.
    Most of the night she’d lain awake berating herself for having been such a sucker. When she saw Squire lying on the street two nights ago, she should have called the cops and had him arrested for vagrancy! How far would he have gotten trying to steal out of their wallets, hmm?
    When she finally