Read Online Lust by Francine Pascal - Free Book Online

but they both looked embarrassed in that last scene. Like they didn’t want to be there any more than I wanted to be watching them.”
    â€œThe romantic comedy,” Gaia said. “Boy meets girl,boy loses girl, girl comes to her senses . . . boy and girl get paycheck.”
    They both laughed. It wasn’t that funny, but the flight was long, and they still felt a little uneasy with each other.
    â€œWe need to come up with our cover story,” Oliver said.
    Gaia was relieved to have something businesslike to talk about. “Yeah, I guess we can’t announce to customs that we’re there to rescue my secret agent father from kidnappers.”
    â€œEspecially since we don’t know how deep this goes. Anyone we meet could be in on this. We don’t know who has him, exactly, and the government of Siberia could be involved.”
    Gaia hadn’t thought of that. “Do they know we’re coming?”
    â€œI don’t think so, but we have to be prepared for anything. When we go through customs, we should say we’re all one family. The passports have the same last name, so we should be all right.”
    â€œSounds like a great plan. I’ll try to be very sisterly toward Jake.”
    â€œIt shouldn’t be hard. You two seem like good friends.”
    â€œI guess we are. And it shouldn’t be too difficult for you to play my dad. You’re his twin—it’s not exactly a stretch.”
    Oliver became quiet. His face blurred into an expression Gaia couldn’t quite read. “What’s wrong?”
    â€œOh, nothing.”
    â€œSomething. What is it?”
    â€œIt’s just—” Oliver shook his head. “When you said that, I had such a clear memory of you as a baby. At about four months old. You know, that’s when babies start having real personalities.”
    â€œI wouldn’t know.” Gaia grimaced. “Babies.”
    â€œOh, but you were a wonderful baby,” Oliver told her. “You always had this wise expression. This wide-open smile. You woke up with that smile, like you were excited to see what the world had in store for you. My adoration for you was only obscured by my envy for my brother.”
    This reminiscence made Gaia’s skin crawl. By the time Gaia was born, Oliver had been forbidden from visiting her parents’ home. The only way he’d have had any idea what she was like as a baby would be if he had seen her behind her parents’ back. This minor detail had obviously slipped Oliver’s mind just then. But it reminded Gaia that the man she was dealing with was both twisted and tragic.
    â€œThat was my biggest mistake,” Oliver continued. “Instead of tormenting myself with envy, I should have made my own life. Though I wouldn’t have been able to have a child. And even if I could have . . .” He shot an embarrassed smile at Gaia. “Well, I just don’t see howshe could have been more wonderful than you.”
    It was difficult for Gaia to reconcile this kind man with her image of the serial killer formerly known as Loki. On the other hand, he clearly loved with the same frightening intensity that he’d hated with. And the last thing Gaia needed right now was more intensity.
    â€œOliver, come on. Don’t you think we should catch up on our sleep?” Gaia asked gently, hoping that her suggestion wouldn’t be taken as an insult. The irony of the scenario could have blown her mind if Gaia had let it. Here she was, protecting the feelings of the very man who’d taken her mother’s life in cold blood. But now wasn’t exactly the time to contemplate life’s little curiosities.
    The plane hummed though a bank of clouds, and Gaia put her headphones on and closed her eyes. She looked over at Jake, who was passed out and drooling. At the moment she could think of nothing more appealing than joining him. Something told her there