Read Online Pass Interference by Desiree Holt - Free Book Online Page B

heard in her voice when she called? She was such a fucking good actress, she could be playing a scam on him, for whatever reason. Maybe she was pissed off because except for the one tiny lapse, he gave her a wide berth. Of course, that little lapse—the kiss that had scorched his balls—was giving him trouble, too.
    There was a possibility this could just be kids making expensive mischief, but Rafe had a feeling that wasn’t the answer. Tyler certainly had enough losers who’d passed through her life that one of them could be seeking revenge now. Whoever this was, he didn’t think they wanted to harm her. Not yet. This was more about frightening her. Maybe driving her back to him, whoever him was, where he could offer safety and protection. And exactly who would that be? Not the losers she picked up in bars, a string of one-night stands he was sure was longer than the ticket line at Southern Bank Stadium. Anyone investigating this would definitely have a full-time job.
    He had to figure out the best way to approach this. It was important to let Tyler know she had to take precautions, that she needed to make drastic changes to her lifestyle. The viciousness of the act made Rafe think this was not the first time this asshole had reached out to her. What else had happened? Would she tell him if he asked? Someone had to find out what was going on and take the proper steps with her and for her. He sure as hell didn’t want it to be him. Not when that one kiss was an indication of the sexual chemistry waiting to explode between them
    Shit.
    A headache brewed as he felt himself getting sucked into the whole thing.
    He was still standing in the driveway, trying to organize his thoughts, when the front door opened, and he looked up to see Tyler standing there. Immediately he felt an unexpected and certainly unwanted punch to the gut that just looking at her gave him. Big problem.
    She blew out a breath. “Pretty bad, isn’t it.”
    He was struck by the fact there was none of the usual bravado in her voice. Oh, no , he told himself. Don’t let sympathy take over here. She is what she is, no matter what. And that spells trouble. He needed to wear his matter-of-fact cloak.
    “But fixable,” he assured her. “All it takes is your plastic to pay for it. Right? You didn’t need me. You could have called a garage to tow it.”
    She jerked as if he’d slapped her. Her entire posture changed. She hugged her arms around herself as if in protective mode. “You think I called you to help me get new tires? Listen, I guess this wasn’t such a good idea after all. Go on back to your own little world. I’ll handle this.”
    Well, jackass, could you be any more hostile or insensitive?
    She was his boss’s daughter. No matter what he thought of her and her lifestyle, he needed to be courteous at least. Besides, he could see how shaken she was by this, even though she was desperately trying not to show it.
    With a deliberate effort, he softened his tone. “Tyler, listen, I’m—”
    “Never mind.” She bit off each word, her chin lifted defiantly even as a semblance of something resembling pain flashed across her face. “You’re absolutely right. I’m probably making too much out of nothing. I’ll take care of it like you said. I apologize for interrupting your evening. You can just go on back to whatever you were doing when I called.” She paused. “And whoever you were doing it with.”
    Guilt washed through him. Yeah, jackass was the right name for him.
    “I’m sorry, Tyler.” He tried to make his voice reassuring. Pleasant, even. “Really. I didn’t mean that the way it came out. Just that you’re lucky the tires are all that got damaged. That there was an immediate solution for it.” He swallowed. “And I’ll be happy to help you with that.”
    She didn’t move, just looked at him for a long moment. Her defensive posture was so easy to read. In a minute, she’d tell him to go to hell just to protect