Read Online Left for Dead: A Maeve Kerrigan Novella (Maeve Kerrigan Novels) by Jane Casey - Free Book Online

breakfast.’
    ‘How did we not laugh at the time?’
    ‘We’re professionals.’
    ‘Elena wasn’t laughing,’ he said softly, and I started giggling again at the memory of the night manager’s expression when she saw the two of them.
    ‘I’m sorry. I think it’s leftover hysteria from last night. I was so scared it had happened again, and then to see
that
…’
    Gary waited until I had calmed down to start the engine, but instead of going out through the gate, he drove around to the back of the hotel and stopped the car again.
    ‘What are you doing? Why have we stopped?’
    ‘Because I had to do this.’ He leaned across the car, pulled me towards him and kissed me, taking me completely by surprise.
    I didn’t push him away. I didn’t even think of it. I was starting to see where he got his unshakeable confidence from, because he was an
awesome
kisser.
    When he moved back to his side of the car, he was smiling. ‘Sorry. I couldn’t help it.’
    I blinked. ‘You don’t look sorry.’
    ‘You got me. I’m not.’ He ran his thumb down the side of my face and across my lower lip. ‘You are irresistible.’
    I knew I should laugh it off, but I couldn’t.
    And I wanted him to kiss me again.
    ‘I’m amazed you have the ability to think about kissing anyone after the what we just saw in room twelve.’
    ‘They were not a turn-on,’ he admitted. Then, ‘But you are.’
    ‘Oh,’ was about all I could say.
    ‘Didn’t you guess?’
    I shook my head.
    ‘Probably just as well. You have no idea the things I’ve been thinking about you ever since I first saw you.’
    My heart was thumping. ‘God, Gary. I don’t know what to say.’
    ‘And I don’t know what to do. All I can think about is you.’
    With the tiny particle of common sense that remained to me, I shook my head. ‘We shouldn’t do this.’
    ‘Why not? Got a boyfriend?’
    ‘No. But the boss told me—’
    ‘What? That you shouldn’t get together with anyone on the team? She says that to everyone and no one pays any attention.’
    ‘Really? Everyone?’
    ‘Yeah. But she probably made you feel as if you’re the only one she’s ever tried to warn about it.’
    ‘That was the impression I got.’
    He shook his head. ‘She knows what she’s doing, that woman. And she’s one to talk – you know she shagged around on her husband, don’t you?’
    ‘Chris told me.’
    ‘Well, then. She’s just being a hypocrite.’
    ‘She told me she’d made all the mistakes already. She didn’t try to pretend she hadn’t done the same. She just wanted me to be aware that it hadn’t worked out very well.’
    ‘She couldn’t pretend she hadn’t done it herself because everyone knows. And everyone knows you can’t ignore how you feel about another person just because you work with them.’ He looked at me, his eyes full of longing. ‘You’ve been on my mind, Maeve. A lot. I’ve been keeping my distance but I can’t do it any more. And from the way you kissed me back, I’m guessing you feel the same way.’
    ‘I’ve never been able to resist a good kisser,’ I said, grinning.
    ‘You think I’m a good kisser? That’s a good start. Come here.’
    ‘No.’ I put my hand up to stop him. ‘Not sitting in the patrol car on duty. That’s just asking for trouble.’
    The sky was fading from pure black to inky blue, and the dawn chorus was tuning up. The city was about to begin its day and even though it was early, there would be people up and about – people who would like nothing better than to see two Met police officers doing something they shouldn’t. Gary knew that better than I did and he didn’t argue.
    ‘Okay. I won’t touch you.’ His eyes were all over me, though. ‘If we could find somewhere to be alone, though …’
    The possibility was dizzying. I shook my head. ‘I don’t think it’s a good idea.’
    ‘Just to talk.’
    ‘Talk?’ I raised my eyebrows. ‘We can talk now.’
    ‘All right. Not just to talk.’