Read Online The Lies That Bind by Kate Carlisle - Free Book Online Page A

tried to laugh. “No way. It’s all—”
    “It’s not all right.” He frowned. “How can I make it up to you?”
    “It’s not necessary.” I straightened my shoulders and smiled with purpose. “So, how are you? I didn’t realize you knew Layla.”
    Oh, God, I didn’t really say that. I just prayed I sounded nonchalant.
    “We’ve met,” he said flatly. “But I don’t know her.”
    I raised my eyebrows. “Oh, really?”
    “Yes, really. I hardly know the woman.”
    “Huh. It didn’t look that way from where I was standing.” Ack! What was wrong with me?
    “Ah,” he said, and a slow smile appeared.
    “Ah?” So much for nonchalance. I was livid. “What’s ‘ah’ supposed to mean?”
    As his grin widened, I wanted to bite my own tongue off. And smack him. Hard. And maybe punch him in the nose.
    “It means, my darling, that—”
    “Excuse me, please,” a woman cried.
    I turned and saw Alice running down the hall toward us. Derek yanked me out of her path just in time. She whipped past and disappeared behind the ladies’ room door. Whatever was wrong with her, I could relate.
    “Well, it’s been great running into you, Derek.” I patted his chest, a tad more forcefully than necessary as I tried really hard to be affable. “But I have a class to teach, so—”
    He grabbed my hand. “Easy, darling.”
    “Sorry.” I pulled my hand away.
    “I want to see you.”
    “That would be nice,” I said in a vague, noncommittal way. Damn, I was good. “I’m pretty busy, but if you’re hanging around BABA some evening, we might—”
    “Brooklyn, please,” he said, his voice edgy with frustration. “Look, I didn’t expect to include myself in this assignment.”
    I paused. “You’re here on assignment?”
    “Yes.”
    “What’s the assignment?”
    He paused as well, then finally said, “I trust you to keep this to yourself.”
    “Of course I will.”
    He waved away the statement. “Yes, of course you will. You’re as trustworthy as anyone I know.” He took a step closer and bent to whisper in my ear. “Gunther Schnaubel has received death threats. My team is guarding him.”
    “He’s in danger? Here?”
    “Yes.”
    I looked around, instantly on guard. Then I remembered Minka. “Are we all in danger?”
    “No.”
    “Are you sure?” I gave him a brief rundown of the attack on Minka. Although, I thought, there were any number of reasons someone might want to take Minka out, none of which had anything to do with Gunther. “The police warned us to be alert and not walk outside alone.”
    “That’s always a good idea,” he said, ever the security expert. “But Gunther’s threats came from an extremely jealous husband. I doubt the man would come here and start attacking women.”
    “So much for that theory,” I said, disappointed that we still had no clue as to who had attacked Minka. “But I can’t believe you brought an entire team here just to guard one artist.”
    “Unfortunately, that one artist was caught in flagrante delicto with the daughter of the prime minister of a small European nation that I’m not at liberty to name. It’s grown quite political and sordid and I wouldn’t be surprised if they sent one of their army battalions to do him in.”
    “Oh, I see.” I didn’t, but I also didn’t have time to force the issue. I was late for class. Besides, I was still angry. Yes, he hadn’t known he was coming to San Francisco until he was on the plane. But what was his excuse for not calling during the rest of the four weeks? And didn’t that make me sound like a shrew? “I’ve got to go.”
    “Wait.” His jaw clenched. “Damn it, Brooklyn, I wasn’t going to come to San Francisco.”
    I frowned. “You said that already.”
    “Yes, I guess I did.” He began to pace in front of me, gesticulating as he explained in a loud whisper, “Gunther Schnaubel is a royal pain. He doesn’t follow the rules. He’s asking for trouble and he’s going to get himself