Seized (Hostage Rescue Team Series, #7) Read Online Free PDF Page A

what had happened?
    “Sure.” Tuck handed him a set of keys and followed the others out of the building.
    Then Sawyer half turned in his seat to shift his attention to her.
    Before he could say anything Carmela grabbed her purse from where she’d slung it over the back of her chair, and stood. “I’m going too.”
    She’d catch a cab back to the hotel. She had no desire to sit here like a fifth wheel and watch her brother bask in true love’s bliss while she was totally miserable and the object of her unrequited love was right next to her, rubbing imaginary salt into her invisible wound.
    Sawyer surprised her by reaching out and grasping her forearm gently. “Wait.”
    His touch froze her. Made every muscle in her body tighten.
    She stilled, swallowing at the invisible sparks that shot up her arm and made her nipples tighten against the cups of her bra. The sexy black lace push-up bra she’d worn purposely beneath the dress she had on, the one that pushed up her girls and showed off her best physical...assets. If she had to see Sawyer tonight, she’d wanted him to see exactly what he was missing. Not exactly mature of her, but there it was. And he could plainly see she was still wearing his necklace.
    “Don’t go,” he said.
    Gathering her nerve, she forced herself to meet his gaze. “I should leave. I’m tired.”
    His grip tightened a little. Not so much that it hurt, but there was a definite command to it. And maybe a plea as well. “Carm. Stay a while longer.”
    She raised an eyebrow, refusing to cave to the earnestness on his face. “Why?” She wasn’t going to make this easy on him.
    He knew she’d been into him and he’d not only played with her emotions, something she’d never imagined he’d do, but then cut all contact afterward. No, she hadn’t contacted him either, but in light of how things had ended, he should have been the one to reach out. She wasn’t going to put her heart out there so he could stomp on it a second time.
    “Because it’s been too long since we’ve seen each other,” he said over the music, then added, “and because we need to talk.” To his credit, he didn’t look away as he said it.
    She hadn’t expected him to be so direct.
    She opened her mouth to say that’s the last thing on earth she wanted to do, but that look on his face stopped her. He might be over six feet and be built like an NFL linebacker, but he had an inner softness to him that turned her to mush whenever he let her see it. Right now those dark brown eyes reminded her of a puppy dog’s. And in that moment she remembered all the times he’d spent with her and her family in Miami, when he and Ethan could get the time off.
    Christmas. Easter. Her last birthday when Sawyer had surprised her two days later by showing up at her door with a cupcake he’d grabbed at the store, a pink candle burning in the center. Trips to the beach together with Ethan. Going to a Dolphins game together. Staying up way too late and laughing together while they all played poker or Risk as a family. Special times that forged a bond she couldn’t ignore, let alone forget.
    Dammit, she thought with a sigh. Upset as she was, she didn’t have the heart to say something nasty just to hurt him back and then walk away. She couldn’t do that to him.
    “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” she told him instead over the music. At this volume, they couldn’t have a meaningful conversation even if she’d been willing to.
    He scooted his chair closer and swiveled it to face her fully, his knees almost touching hers. She would have backed up but he still had hold of her arm. “We need to talk,” he told her.
    He was right, but she wasn’t in the mood for this conversation right now. I’m sorry, Carm, I never should have kissed you. Can we still be friends?
    No thank you. She sent a longing glance toward the front doors.
    His long fingers wrapped around her wrist now, and he leaned in until his mouthwatering scent