Read Online Obsessed by G. H. Ephron - Free Book Online

me. He ground his knee into my back. I couldn’t move, never mind argue with him. It felt like I had a two-hundred-pound gorilla sitting on me.
    He had me by the collar now and was lifting me up. “Get your fucking hands off me,” I said, gasping as I scrambled to my feet. His fist connected with my face and I staggered back.
    I was coming at him, ready to punch him out when Emily came running across the parking lot.
    â€œKyle!” she shouted. “Leave him alone!”
    Kyle? I wondered if this guy, who looked like he could play fullback for the Pats, knew that Emily referred to him as her “ex”-boyfriend.
    â€œI caught him in the act,” Kyle said. “Lousy sonofabitch.”
    â€œYou idiot,” Emily said. She stood in front of Kyle, her hands on his chest. “Take it easy. Time out.” She touched his face.
    I’d never seen anyone hypnotize an alligator, but this must be what it was like. Kyle went from tense and raging to calm and docile in about ten seconds. The guy was handsome in a frat-boy kind of way, dark wavy hair that was beginning to recede, broad shoulders, and a strong chin and jaw that was starting to grow jowls.
    â€œI know you think you’re protecting me,” she said, “but I don’t want you hanging around anymore. This has to stop. I mean it.”
    â€œBut he was…” Kyle gave me a hard look.
    â€œKyle Ronan, this is Dr. Peter Zak. He’s my supervisor at the Pearce.”
    â€œAt the Pearce? But I thought…aw, shit,” he said. I wondered what he’d expected. “I’m sorry.” Kyle started straightening my jacket. I pushed him away.
    â€œYou thought I was stalking Emily?”
    â€œYou followed her.”
    â€œHer taillights were out,” I said. “And I smelled gas. I thought maybe someone punctured her gas tank, too.”
    â€œWhat?” Emily said, turning pale. She walked back to her car. “They’re not broken.”
    â€œOpen the trunk. Let’s have a look,” I said.
    She opened the trunk. I felt around inside. There were loose wires.
    â€œWires have been yanked.”
    â€œLet me see that,” Kyle said, pushing me aside.
    â€œBut it’s a brand-new car,” Emily said, her voice trembling.
    Kyle was down on his hands and knees, looking under the car. “I don’t smell any gas leak,” he said. “Still, you should get the rest of the car checked out. You never know what else he might have screwed around with.”
    â€œGoddammit,” Emily said. “This isn’t going away.”
    â€œNow we know why I’m here,” I told Kyle. “Why were you skulking around in the shadows?”
    â€œGive me a break,” he said, getting back to his feet. “I wanted to catch the bastard.” Kyle gave Emily a sideways look, as if gauging her reaction. She looked exhausted as she tucked back a strand of hair. “Double-lock your door, babe. You know where to find me if you need—”
    â€œI’m not going to need you,” Emily said wearily. “Not now. Not ever.” She turned on him, her eyes blazing. “And if you keep creeping around, I’m going to get a restraining order.”
    Kyle took a step back.
    â€œI’m not kidding. Stay away.”
    Kyle’s mouth turned down and his expression turned ugly. “Ungrateful bitch,” he muttered, and slammed his fist into the side of the car. Then he turned on his heel and strode over to a black Range Rover. He climbed in. The engine roared to life and he took off.
    â€œYou okay?” Emily asked.
    â€œI’m fine,” I said. I brushed the dirt off my pants and tucked in my shirt. Then I took off my tie and stuffed it into my pocket. I took a deep breath. It felt as if I’d been run over by a truck, but nothing seemed broken. “Promise me you’ll get your car checked out before you drive it again.”
    Emily