Eve Vaughn Read Online Free Page B

through his hair. Damn, the woman was infuriating. Jack wished she’d make up her mind. First she wanted her space and now she was upset because she didn’t like how he worded his statement. Mixed signals like the ones Sydney was giving out were elevating his blood pressure to dangerous levels.
    “You’re right. I’m generally not a wishy washy person.” He took her hand and placed it over his heart. “We’ve only known each other for a short while, but what I do know about you I admire.”
    “Like what?”
    “You’re intelligent, giving, and loyal to those you care about. You try to mask the softer side of yourself behind a nonchalant façade, but your true self always shines through.” What Jack really wanted to do was kiss her but he knew it would go against their pact.
    She tilted her head back to meet his gaze. Her dark soulful eyes looked at him with such wonder. “I… I don’t know what to say.”
    “You don’t have to say anything, except that you’ll give us a fair chance.”
    “I can do that, but you have to be patient with me. I’m new to all this love stuff.”
    “And I’m not? I’ve never told a woman I was in love with her.” She plucked her hand out of his, and backed away from him. “I believe you, Jack.
    I guess this is all pretty hard for me to wrap my head around.”
    “Why is that?”
    “I feel we don’t have a right to a relationship when there’s already so much going on with the group and invading the city.”
    “It hasn’t seemed to stop your friends.”
    “Their situations are a little different from ours.”
     
    24
    “I don’t think so. They all seem to be making their relationships work somehow.”
    “I guess, but I’m not them. I’ve already told you before I’m not wired for the romance thing.”
    “Maybe you believe that because you’ve never found someone to be romantic with.”
    A small smile curved her full lips. “And you think you can be that man?”
    “Most definitely. And I think if you allow yourself to love, you’ll find it’s not as hard as you think.”
    “Okay, but you have to stop being so damned overprotective. I’m well aware of the dangers involved with these missions. All I ask is you treat me as you would any other team member. Yes, we may be more than that, but you’re going to have to separate business from pleasure.”
    He opened his mouth to protest but the quelling look she shot him made him bite back the retort on the tip of his tongue.
    Sydney softened her expression and took his hand in hers. “Please, Jack.” When she looked at him with such longing, it was hard to deny her anything, even though his heart screamed no. “Okay, but I don’t have to like it.” She smiled, baring white even teeth. “I can live with that. Shall we continue our walk?”
    He nodded, not wanting their time together to end any time soon. They continued the rest of their walk in silence, holding hands.
     

Chapter Three
    “I can’t believe you embarrassed me in front of everyone like that. People were actually snickering behind their hands.” Holly loved Chase dearly, but right now she wanted to strangle him. Though she thought it sweet of him to want to protect her, it was unfair of him to make such a big deal about it in front of a room full of people.
    “Did you expect me to smile and pretend I’m okay with you risking your life?”
    “You’re my lover, Chase, not my father. And yes, that’s exactly what I believed would happen. If you had any objections, we should have talked about it in private.” He raised a dark blond brow. “Isn’t that what we’re doing now?”
    “Ugh!” Holly threw her hands in the air, her frustration making her heart rate speed up. “You’re missing my point. Why in the world would you make your objections known in front of the rest of the team the way you did? You made me look like some incompetent ninny.”
    Chase moved closer and wrapped his arms around her waist. She wanted to push him away, but