Die for Me: A Novel of the Valentine Killer Read Online Free PDF Page B

watching me.
The tension in her belly told her that.
    “I was thinking that we could rent a cottage at the beach for a few days,” Trent said, his voice with that smooth, perfect tone thatno doubt lulled many of his patients. “It would give us a chance to get to know each other even better.”
    Can’t, Trent.
The instant denial sprang to her lips, but she managed to bite it back.
My serial-killer ex might be in town.
    She also choked back the slightly hysterical laughter that rose within her.
    “Uh, Kat?”
    She flinched. “Katherine. Not Kat, remember?” Because whenever someone called her Kat, she heard Valentine’s voice in her head.
    Trent blinked.
    Great. Now she was being a bitch to her date. Trent didn’t deserve that kind of treatment. She forced a wan smile. “I’m sorry, Trent, but I’m just not feeling well tonight.” She should have canceled the date.
    His handsome face immediately crinkled with concern even as he inched back from her. The instinctive response of a guy who was preparing for something he didn’t want to hear. Then he cleared his throat and asked, “What can I do?”
    She rubbed her throbbing temples. “I think I need to go home.” Too many people were there. Watching. So many eyes had been on her after the Valentine case exploded.
    So many people, judging her.
    As she sat there, Katherine still felt like she was being judged. “Please,” she whispered. “I want to go home.”
    “Of course.” He reached for her hand, and she had to fight the instinct to recoil. His touch felt cold, clammy.
    What would Trent do if he knew who she really was? Would his eyes look so caring? Or would he start to study her with that clinical detachment she’d seen in the eyes of his partner, EvelynKnight? She’d gone to Evelyn to get help. To try to stop the nightmares and the paranoia.
Someone’s watching…
    But from the very first, Evelyn had made her feel tense. Her questions had been designed to rip right through Katherine’s skin.
    I’ve already been filleted enough, thank you
.
    “Trent…” She reached for her bag but kept her eyes on him. This needed to be said. His grip was making her tense, and his eyes…they were looking for too much as he stared at her. “I don’t think it’s going to work between us.”
    His lips tightened a bit. “But we seem so compatible.”
    Compatible.
    She knew Trent was used to women falling at his feet. He was handsome. Smart. Charming. The perfect gentleman. Pity she wasn’t the perfect lady for him.
    When he touched her, she didn’t feel anything. She hadn’t realized that was really a problem. For three years, she’d existed in that void, not truly
feeling
anything.
    Then Dane Black had touched her. He’d been full of anger. Determination. Humming with wild energy.
    And she’d wanted him. For the first time in three years, she’d actually felt something other than fear at a man’s touch.
    She’d thought Trent might be able to make her feel something tonight.
    No dice. And he deserved better than to be strung along by her. “You’re a wonderful guy, Trent, but trust me on this, I’m not the right girl for you.”
    A muscle jerked in his jaw. “You’re just not feeling well,” he said dismissively as he rose to his feet and signaled the waiter. “We’ll talk about this after you’re back to your old self.”
    “I’m sorry, Trent.” She rose as well, and a few moments later, they were leaving the restaurant.
    Trent might think all would be different in the morning, but nothing was going to change for Katherine. She knew she wouldn’t be carrying through with her plans to sleep with him.
    She couldn’t. She just didn’t want him, and she couldn’t
make
herself want him.

    The date had ended too soon. When Trent and Katherine had come hurrying out of the restaurant, Dane had tensed.
    Then they drove right back to her house. They’d gone fast, maybe too fast, as he carefully tailed behind them.
    Hell.
He understood what that