Page 35 of Hart of Redemption
“I thought we had something.” She came over and yanked a towel out of her bag on the chair next to mine.
I tucked the envelope in the front pocket of her gym bag. “We do, but the only thing to come from us being together is me killing any guy who dares to touch you or look at you. Do you know that I would’ve pulled the trigger last night if you had more than that surface wound on your head? I’m not good for you.”
“It’s probably best anyway. I have a habit of not staying in one place too long. I usually run when a guy wants a serious relationship.”
She had me pegged wrong. I didn’t do serious either. Maybe we should just have one night together then part ways. Yet I was lying to myself if I thought I would allow her to leave after one night.
13
FALLYN
ALIAS: JOY
Later that day, dressed in running gear, vest, scarf, earmuffs, and gloves, I was jogging from my studio apartment to meet Gwen. After the little trysts with Duke in his bathroom and in the gym, I needed to blow off some much-needed tension. My mind was bloated with so many conflicting thoughts and emotions that I was afraid I might forget who I was supposed to be and blurt out the truth of who I really was.
There was no doubt that the lives of Fallyn and Joy were beginning to blur. All because of one freaking kiss that might’ve started a potential train wreck. If Grace Hart had her way, Duke and I would be locked in a bedroom or walking down the aisle to say, “I do.”
That couldn’t happen.Never. Never. Never.
Take away the criminal and peel back Duke’s layers, and I would be certain he had some wonderful qualities. So far, he’d shown a side of himself with Grace that warmed my heart, but that was the conundrum. I couldn’t allow that sweet side of him to overshadow the deadly side of him—the criminal mastermind, the one who dealt in illegal weapons.
I ran faster, trying to clear so many things from my head. His damn erection had had me blurting out that we should sleep together. Not to mention his kiss and the way he smelled—his sweat mixed with that Sauvage cologne was an aphrodisiac. The war between what was right and what was wrong was becoming shadowy all of a sudden.
He’s forbidden. He’s the enemy.
A horn jolted me out of my stupor as I crossed a street.
“Watch where you’re going!” the driver yelled at me.
“Sorry.” I slowed to a walk as I approached Boston Common, trying to catch my breath.
I rubbed the stitch of pain on my waist, taking in the streets teeming with traffic and pedestrians out and about.
Gwen was sitting on a bench along the wide stretch of road for pedestrian traffic, bundled in a black beanie and a winter jacket, with coffee in hand.
I dropped onto the cold seat beside her as couples strolled by. Others were walking their dogs, and joggers were out for their daily workouts.
“Sorry about the urgent meeting,” she said. “We might have a problem. I wanted to be sure you were informed immediately. What happened here?” She pointed at my temple.
“You can thank that dude you sent in to give me a message.”
“Why did he rough you up?” She sounded appalled.
“The dude thought if he tried to kiss me, I would knee him in the balls. He would be right. Anyway, he strong-armed me just to be safe. It’s nothing. I should thank him too. That little incident caused Duke to make the first move.”
“No shit. Tell me more.”
I would if it weren’t for the fact that I wasn’t ready to tell any of what had happened during the last twenty-four hours between Duke and me. One, I was afraid it would become real if I did. Two, she would relay the info to the team, including my father, and I didn’t want Dad to worry. Finally, I wasn’t there to dish about my hots for the enemy. She had something urgent to tell me. However, I could throw her a bone.
“He’s training me in self-defense after that incident.”
She lowered her sunglasses on the bridge of her nose. “Nothing more?”
“Absolutely not. I’m not going down that road.”Liar. Only a few hours ago, I told Duke that he and I should fuck. Well, I blamed that suggestion on my body. My inner voices are continuing to have a grand old time.“But if Grace has her way, Duke and I will be dating shortly. She invited me to Thanksgiving dinner with the Harts.”
“Huh. You’re really settling in. Good job. The team will be pleased.”
“I don’t have any intel yet. I mean, I’ve met Brian McCauley. He’ll be at Thanksgiving dinner.”
