Lie to Me Read Online Free PDF Page B

idyllic days, Kella shook the memories aside.
    “Are you holding anything for him now?”
    “A butane lighter.”
    He smiled, and her stomach executed a funny roll.
    “Excellent.” She feared this wasn’t an excellent moment for her. “You are my new best friend, Miss Ellason.” They’d been best friends once—before he’d betrayed her and bought her like cattle. “Might be easier to sell if you’re my lover instead.”
    “Pardon?” No way she’d heard him correctly. She’d escaped being his lover once before, she wasn’t about to jump back into that particular frying pan.
    “No one would believe you were friends with a woman.” James remarked. “Not with your reputation.”
    Like James’s reputation was any better. These two kept the scandal sheets in business with their exploits, either drinking, sex, or fights. How Stone found time to manage his Quadrant, she had no idea. Either way, these two were meant for one another.
    Seriously, what were the odds of Stone walking into her shop so far from their home? No... his home .
    “She’s not what I normally hook—”
    “Hold up.” Kella slashed her hand horizontally through the air over her desk, halting Stone’s words. Under normal circumstances it’d be a gutsy move since he could lock her up for disrespect, but all her clear thinking had just flown out the window. “I’m not a for-hire dating service. I’m an archeologist. If you need a date, take your ass through that door”—she pointed to the one behind James—“turn left, walk two blocks, and you’ll find yourself in front of the only bordello in town.”
    James chuckled and swaggered toward them. He perched his burly frame on the edge of her desk. She glared at him. The nerve of him defiling her desk with his ass. The piece was a classic for God’s sake, she’d refurbished it herself, and she didn’t want it tainted.
    “She’ll do just fine for what you need, Stone.”
    Kella ground her teeth together at James’s comment.
    Before she could collect her fury and reply, Stone spoke up. “Miss Ellason, I understand your reluctance.”
    “It’s not reluctance, but a flat-out no.”
    The corners of Stone’s mouth quirked up. “I need to locate Mark Evans as soon as possible, and you’re my best chance.”
    “Posing as your new fuck toy—” James gave a full belly laugh, and Stone grinned. “—will raise eyebrows in the Quadrant, Regent.” Thank goodness her voice remained steady as she voiced her lie. “Since I’m a lesbian.”
    That cut off his bodyguard’s humor, but Stone’s consideration narrowed on her. Stone made a weird gesture of sucking on his teeth while he ruminated over her confession.
    While both men assessed her or processed their next stupid move, she ventured into the muck of the conversation. “Does Mark Evans and Kris Stoddard know you’re looking for them?”
    “I don’t think so.”
    “But you can’t be certain?”
    He shrugged and snagged the wind-up toy off her desk.
    Praying he didn’t turn it over and see the inscription on the bottom of the toy, one he’d given her, she continued as if not nervous by his perusal. “Why don’t you use your vast Regent resources and have him tagged?” That could be done with the press of a button.
    “I require discretion.”
    That easily translated into a couple of different scenarios. At the heart of his dilemma was that he didn’t want anyone to know he tracked the man. It also meant Mark Evans wasn’t a fugitive. He’d be easier caught as a fugitive. But the Director definitely had something on Stone Emmerson. An interesting idea and one she wanted the details on to secure her own safety. Or Mark Evans had something of Stone’s he didn’t want others to know about. Probably nothing illegal since Regent’s made the law to suit their needs.
    “I’m not a very discreet person, Regent Emmerson, so—”
    “I know everything about you, Miss Ellason, so I know you’re lying. You’ll give me what