Read Online Taken by the Con by C.J. Miller - Free Book Online Page B

he asked.
    Lucia shook her head. “I don’t want too many meds in my system. I’m returning to work Monday.”
    Cash dimmed the lights and turned on the wireless speakers connected to her music player. Soft instrumental music piped through the room. “Did you make an appointment with the Bureau’s shrink?”
    “I sent him an email,” she said. “How about you?” They were both required to be assessed by the Bureau’s psychologist before returning to work.
    “I’ll talk to him Monday,” Cash said.
    “You like this music?” she asked. She wouldn’t have guessed he was a fan of orchestral music.
    “It relaxes you. You need to relax. It will make your leg hurt less.” He handed her a plate.
    She reached for the food and flinched when the movement pulled at her stitches.
    “Let me help you get more comfortable.” He wrapped his right arm around her waist and shifted her. Intimacy zinged between them and Lucia turned her head at the same moment he looked down at her. Their gazes connected and Lucia felt her body melting into Cash’s. Heat burned a path where their bodies touched. The ache in her leg was a dim sensation compared to the sultry hum of anticipation that pricked at her.
    “Lucia—”
    “I don’t think—”
    They’d both started speaking at the same time. Cash nodded at her to continue. When he said her name, it had communicated he had feelings for her. Either that or he was manipulating her and doing it well.
    He said nothing and watched her with soulful eyes.
    “I don’t think we should do this.” She pulled away from him and felt the immediate loss of pleasure.
    “Ignoring what’s happening between us won’t make it go away,” Cash said.
    “I’m not ignoring it,” Lucia said. “I’m just hungry.”
    “Then you feel it, too?” Cash asked.
    Lucia took a long drink of her water. What should she say? Being blunt could diffuse some of the sensations or could open the door to others. Playing relationship games weren’t her strong suit. “I didn’t say that.” She’d hedged and she was disappointed in herself. Being blunt and honest were traits she admired.
    “I’m looking for a new place to live,” Cash said.
    Glad he had changed the subject, Lucia relaxed. “That’s great.” She was happy to hear he was moving out of that dump.
    Events of the past couple of days had forced her to reevaluate her initial impression of Cash. Though she hadn’t once seen it in other ex-cons, maybe Cash was reformed. Maybe he wouldn’t return to his old ways. Most felons found it too easy to return to their lives of crime. Operating in the legal world required skills and sacrifice and some offenders couldn’t understand how to assimilate.
    “Hard to believe, but I won’t spend any more time in the place I’m living than I have to. I’ll move as soon as possible. Maybe by the end of the month.”
    Lucia shifted away. Being close to him was like being too close to a fire. Beautiful and bright and captivating, but she’d be burned if she wasn’t careful. “I wanted to thank you for what you did at the scene and at the hospital.”
    His brow pleated. “I did what any partner would do.”
    He had a sense of commitment and dependability she hadn’t expected. For the first time in a long time, she felt like someone had her back.
    Cash put some food on his plate. “I hope you don’t mind. I called Benjamin to check in. He thinks it might be a good idea for me to call Georgiana and see if I can pull anything more out of her about Hammer’s assistant, Kinsley. They reviewed the interview with Georgiana and it wasn’t helpful.”
    Imagining Cash with Georgiana bothered her immensely. “Are you sure that’s a good idea? We don’t know how she’s involved with this.”
    “You think Georgiana set the bomb?” Cash asked, appearing to consider it.
    The woman didn’t seem like the type who could wire a bomb. She barely seemed capable of performing her duties as a glorified secretary. They