Read Online Kilty Pleasure by Shelli Stevens - Free Book Online Page A

damage.
    “You sure? I hear you and Colin spent some time together recently.” Curt leaned down, his cigarette breath feathering over her face. “You’re not fucking the nice little deputy?”
    “No.” And Colin was hardly little.
    “Good. Because I don’t think that’d make me very happy.”
    “Curt.” She tried to keep her voice steady. Rational. “We’re not together anymore. You need to leave here or you’ll get in trouble.”
    “Do me a favor. Keep making nice with the McLaughlins, Hailey.” He didn’t even acknowledge her words. “Your little friendship may be useful to me pretty soon.”
    “Did you listen to anything I just said? We’re not friends and your ass needs to leave.”
    Curt’s hand shot out so fast she didn’t even see it. He caught her jaw in a ruthless grip she knew would leave bruises.
    “You watch how you talk to me, bitch.” He moved his head closer to hers. “Or maybe you need a little reminder on the definition of respect.”
    Shit, this is exactly what she was afraid of. The violence inside him that could erupt so easily. She was seriously considering kneeing him in the balls when a sharp knock at the door had his grip easing.
    “You expecting someone?”
    “Tanesha.” And thank God for her perfectly timed arrival. “One of my coworkers.”
    “Well. I guess I’ll just have to let you two visit then.” He released her and stepped away. “I’ll see you soon.”
    She drew in a shaky breath and jerked her robe tighter around her. Anger, frustration and helplessness had her scrubbing tears from her eyes.
    And of course Curt would pass Tanesha while leaving, and that was going to leave her flummoxed on how the hell to explain who he was.
    He swung the door opened and her heart froze. Tanesha wasn’t standing on the other side of the door. Colin McLaughlin was.
     
    Who in the hell was this wanker?
    Colin held the surly stare of the man who’d answered Hailey’s door.
    For a moment he was tempted to double-check the address and make sure he had the right house, until his gaze slid beyond the stocky man and landed on Hailey.
    Her dark hair was wet and in waves around her shoulders. She wore her bathrobe. Clearly she’d just come out of the shower.
    Now what had preceded that shower was the question circling in his head.
    His stomach soured at the realization that this man had to be Hailey’s lover. The way the other man glared at him showed a proprietary warning that someone would have to be blind to ignore.
    The man looked like the type of punk Colin dealt with often while patrolling on the job.
    “Evening.” Colin gave a curt nod. “I was just dropping by to have a word with Hailey.”
    “Really? I don’t see any tits on ya’, so I’m guessing your name’s not Tanesha.”
    What the fuck kind of game was this guy playing? “No. It’s Colin.”
    “I know who you are, McLaughlin.” The man gave an unfriendly smile and stepped past him. “Keep your hands off my girl.”
    Well didn’t that just put them on uneven playing fields? Narrowing his eyes, Colin watched the man leave and just barely restrained himself from commenting further.
    Only when the prick had climbed into the beat-up truck and driven away did Colin glance back at Hailey.
    He was used to her meeting his gaze head on, but right now her eyes were downcast and her fingers were clenching around the lapels of her robe. Something was off, and whether he wanted to or not, it worried him a little.
    “Nice boyfriend you’ve got there.” He stepped into the house and shut the door, not even waiting for her reply. “Might’ve been good to know you were off the market before our little hot and heavy session yesterday.”
    Now her gaze jerked up, and he was glad to see the flash of anger in them.
    “Hey, I didn’t ask you to put your tongue in my mouth, asshole.” She hesitated and then gave a hard shrug. “And he’s not my boyfriend.”
    Why that relieved him, he couldn’t say. Only the idea of