Tell Me No Spies Read Online Free PDF Page A

right. I saw you in the truck with
him. He was so rough with you, and it looked like you were fighting
him.”
    His face darkened, and
I did my best not to wince as he added almost under his breath, “At
first, anyway…” He frowned at me. “I didn’t know whether you needed
help or not.”
    “No,” I said quickly,
hoping to end the conversation there. “I was fine…”
    I fumbled for
something smooth and tactful to say, failed, and gave up as heat
rose in my cheeks again. Nothing like going out with one man and
ending the evening by making out with a different one. Talk about
cheesy. Even though I hadn’t technically been on a date with Tom.
And dammit, making out with Kane hadn’t been my idea. And…
    Tom leaned across the
table and took my hand, interrupting my internal rationalizations.
“Aydan, if he’s making you do things you don’t want to do, you can
tell me. Let me help you.”
    I looked into his
earnest face and sighed. “Tom, thanks, but I’m fine. John doesn’t
have any hold over me.”
    I saw the disbelief in
his eyes and pulled my hand away to rub my aching head. God, I’d
been up for less than ten minutes, and I had a headache already.
That must be a friggin’ record. I was too tired to come up with any
convincing lies, so I went with as much of the truth as I could
tell.
    “John and I… we have
a… complicated relationship, that’s all. We’re attracted to each
other, but he wants a more serious relationship than I can give
him. It makes things tense between us sometimes. That’s all.”
    “So he was forcing
you.” His sky-blue eyes turned to ice. “That dirtbag. Aydan, I’m so
sorry, I should have…”
    “No!” I clutched a
couple of handfuls of hair and tugged, trying to salvage an
explanation that would reassure him. “Nothing happened between us
last night, he… I think he just wanted you to see he was staking a
claim…” I shut up, realizing I was reinforcing the ‘deranged
stalker’ label. I tried again.
    “There actually was
some urgent stuff at work. We drove over there, worked until nearly
three, and then he brought me home. That’s all. He would never
force me or hurt me.”
    “That’s what you said
about Hellhound, too, and I don’t believe that, either.” He frowned
at me across the table. “Aydan… You deserve better. Why are you
wasting your time with these violent men?”
    I swallowed a groan.
“I know you’re trying to help. But just let me be your dumb flaky
neighbour who makes bad relationship decisions, okay? Just let it
go. Please?”
    His eyes narrowed as
he searched my face. “I know you’re not dumb or flaky. And when
Kane’s not around, you’re happy and relaxed with me.” He took my
hand again. “Tell him it’s over. Tell him you’re with me now. Let
me deal with him.”
    “Tom.” I met his eyes
squarely and hardened my heart. “Let it go. I told you months ago
there can’t be anything between you and me, and that hasn’t
changed. If we can still be friends, I’d like that, but that’s all
it can be. You need to let me make my own mistakes with Arnie and
John and anybody else I choose. You can’t protect me.”
    He leaned back in the
chair and regarded me with obvious frustration. “I can’t protect
you if you won’t let me. Why…”
    The sound of
scattering gravel made us both glance out the window to see Kane’s
mean black BMW motorcycle skid to a stop outside.
    Tom’s brows snapped
together. “He’s watching you constantly, isn’t he? Aydan, you don’t
have to live like this.”
    Kane’s heavy footsteps
thudded on the veranda and a moment later he burst through the door
without knocking, wearing an expression as black as his leather
jacket. Tom shot to his feet and the two men eyed each other,
Kane’s stormy grey to Tom’s icy blue.
    Kane gave me a look
from under lowered brows. “Aydan, we need you at the office again.
Urgent.” His gaze raked over Tom. “Sorry, you’ll have to leave
now.”
    Tom’s