Read Online Veiled Threat by Alice Loweecey - Free Book Online

face morphed into something plain and simple. Giulia loved that face. It was the face of the Frank Driscoll who first said hello to her when she was a barista in Common Grounds downstairs. The face disappeared when he learned she’d been a Sister of Saint Francis, but as they got to know each other, the face had become the familiar one she saw every day.
    “I wish I had a mirror for you to see yourself. Frank, the difference between you and me is which side of a problem we choose to see.”
    “Don’t get all sappy greeting card on me. The world is a darker place than you want it to be.”
    “It’s also a brighter place than you want it to be.” She scrunched up her face. “You’re right. That belongs on a sappy card. Not my style.” Her hands slipped out from under Frank’s. “I don’t agree that because the statistics about kidnappings skew negative, it automatically means this kidnapping will fall into the negative side.”
    “Christ help us, things will not come up sunshine and roses just because you want it to happen.”
    “Of course they won’t. That’s not what I’m saying. And please stop cursing.”
    “Sorry. You’ve got to be realistic about this. Jimmy might not call us in to help. Don’t pretend you aren’t hoping he will—I saw it in your face when he shook your hand. He likes you and he wants you to replace that manicured piece of fluff who answers the phones, but he’s not getting you.”
    “You don’t own me, Frank Driscoll.”
    “I know. It’s a figure of speech. I mean that even though he wants to hire you out from under me, he’s not going to do anything underhanded like bring you in on this case and feed you information to keep your hopes up.”
    “Do you expect me to lie to Laurel for the next three days?”
    “No, because I know you won’t. But you might want to hedge. Tell her that the police have all the information and that they’re keeping things to themselves. That’s how they usually work, so it’s not lying.”
    Giulia stood. “Sin of omission, Mr. Driscoll. No thanks.”
    Frank dropped his head into his right hand. “How do you manage to do this job so well without compromising your Franciscan-ness?”
    “I don’t think that’s a word.” She laughed, but it faded with her next breath. “Stop looking at me like I’m a plaster saint, because I’m not. I’m angry at Captain Jimmy and worried about Katie and disappointed in you. I’m going to prove you wrong. Before the timeline is up I’m going to hand Katie to Laurel and Anya and make you eat your words.” She made shooing motions at him. “Get out of my client chair. I have work to do. I wish I knew how I could want to yell at you one minute and kiss you the next.”
    He stood up and the next moment he was kissing her. Thoroughly. Angry Giulia flounced to the curb. The Giulia in Frank’s arms returned the kiss with all the frustrated passion of the last several barren weeks.
    When Frank broke the kiss, he said, “This is one of the times I don’t think you’re a plaster saint.”
    “About time,” Giulia said, and kissed him again. The empty office, the wind rattling the windows, the hum of the computer fans didn’t make a dent in the very pleasant shivers running through her body. Frank knew how to kiss. It more than made up for her inexperience.
    A door slammed downstairs and they jumped apart. No footsteps ascended the stairs, but Giulia didn’t return to Frank’s arms.
    “I need to fix my face,” she said, going into the bathroom behind her desk. The light makeup she used was intact; she hadn’t worn lipstick because of the weather. My hair’s mussed. So is my sweater. That man is dangerously charming. No, more than charming. He’s captivating. I need to be careful.
    The imp on her shoulder whispered, “Careful is for old maids. You’ve got years of celibacy to make up for.”
    The angel on her other shoulder didn’t reply. Giulia almost looked for it. She shook her head. My brain