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

but no more than that. He’d hurt her, plain and simple, and hadn’t done a damn thing to rectify that. She wasn’t willing to pretend they were still friends, not even to avoid Ethan’s wrath if he suspected something was up between them and started digging until he found out why.
    Fortunately he was still too busy making googly-eyes at his fiancée at the moment to be paying any attention to her. Or anyone else at the table, for that matter.
    “So, what brings you to Seattle?” Sawyer asked, the deep timbre of his voice making her belly flip-flop.
    “Alaskan cruise with my mom.” For appearance’s sake she gave him an abbreviated version of what she’d told Ethan and left it at that, glancing around the table so she wouldn’t have to look at him any longer than necessary. Oh yeah, she definitely needed a holiday, time to put aside the sadness that had been hanging over her like a little black cloud these past months.
    “Oh, wow, that’s good. When does it leave?”
    There was no way he didn’t notice her disinterest in talking to him. He was pressing because he wanted her to stop freezing him out. Why? Because he couldn’t stand the thought of her being mad at him? Too bad, buddy. You do the crime, you do the time. She wasn’t a woman willing to allow any man to treat her the way he had. “Saturday afternoon.”
    In her peripheral she saw him nod. “I’ve always wanted to take that trip. Been to Alaska for mountain training before a couple times, back when I was in the Army. Not the same as having a vacation there though.”
    She realized he was extending a verbal peace offering, even put a smile in his voice. Trying to mend the damage he’d done, wanting to just pretend it had never happened and carry on as if everything was normal.
    Well too bad for him, because it had happened. And dammit, she hated that he’d been totally unaffected by that kiss when she’d been just the opposite. The moment his lips touched hers, the entire world had shifted on its axis for her, a year’s worth of pent-up longing exploding in a single moment of pure bliss. It had taken her only a moment once he’d lifted his head to realize it was anything but the first kiss she’d fantasized about sharing with him.
    “No, I guess not.” She grabbed her sparkling water and took a few sips, but it didn’t ease the dryness in her throat. Why had she let Marisol talk her into coming down here?
    A taut, uncomfortable silence spread between them. They both focused on other conversations going on around them but didn’t join in, and the awkwardness grew until it was nearly unbearable.
    She shifted in her chair, her entire body stiff. God, she couldn’t do this, pretend she didn’t care and didn’t still want him.
    She breathed a sigh of relief when the band on stage started up at last, filling the tense void with music. A solid rock and roll beat pulsed through the bar, drawing couples onto the dance floor, including Ethan and Marisol.
    Carmela watched them for a minute and tried to suppress the pang of envy she felt. Watching her brother dance with the love of his life, both of them smiling and lost in each other, only emphasized how much she craved the same and how she’d dreamed of finding it with Sawyer. Which only made her feel even more stupid.
    A few minutes later, several of the guys stood up and waved their goodbyes to her. It was still early evening but apparently they had other plans because Tuck, the team leader, came over and bent to shout at Sawyer over the loud music, his dark blond hair glinting in the overhead lights.
    “We’re heading out. You coming?”
    Sawyer shook his head. “Nah, think I’ll stay for a bit. I’ll catch a ride back with Cruzie later.”
    A ball of dread formed in Carmela’s stomach. If he’d just leave, she’d be able to relax and try to enjoy the rest of the night without having her stomach in knots. Surely he didn’t expect her to just hang out with him like old times after