Talent to Burn (Hidden Talent #1) Read Online Free Page A

after you before now because you didn’t have Talent?”
    Had to be some silver lining, right? The old resentment flared, deep down. “I used to think I was good at hiding. After Dad died, I came to realize they weren’t chasing me because I was useless to them. I stopped being so careful. And now I’m paying for it.” Time to change the subject. I didn’t need to explore my insecurities with a stranger, no matter how charming. “Tell me, what do you know about that blond guy who’s following me?”
    “Ryder.” A frown settled on Jamie’s face, and he leaned back, folding his arms. Now, that got me curious. I’d found something he didn’t want to talk about.
    “If that’s his name.”
    “That’s him. He’s a tracker, works for the Institute. Part of the reason for going back to Seattle is to throw them off the trail. He follows a scent, rather than finding someone like I do.”
    I almost gagged, tasting the residual burn of pizza sauce in my throat. “He can smell me?” And I thought he was creepy before I knew that.
    “Psychically, but yes. It’s no reflection on your personal hygiene.” No longer serious, Jamie laughed at me.
    I didn’t appreciate the show of levity. The smell thing made all the hairs stand up on the back of my neck. “There’s still something disturbing about that.”
    “There’s something disturbing about Ryder. He always manages to turn up when you least expect him. He’s also…cold.” The laughter had disappeared from his voice.
    “Have you been through this before?”
    “Seems like Ryder and I always want the same thing.”
    There was a story here somewhere, and to me it had the scent of a woman. “Who usually wins?”
    Jamie smiled slowly, and ran one long fingered hand through his dark hair. “Depends who you ask. But nobody’s keeping score.”
    I was pretty darn sure that was a big fat lie, but who was I to call him on it? I’d been a little careful with the truth myself.
    Shortly after that, I took a shower and headed for my bed, slightly less saggy than the one I’d slept in the night before, and free, thanks to Jamie’s credit card. I noted the card had a name on it that had nothing to do with either Jamie or the Order. Letting them pay suited me, and let me save my meager funds for another day. If they had untraceable funds, even better.
    Once in bed, I fell asleep quickly but peace eluded me. What felt like moments later, I slammed awake, shrieking and tangled in the sweaty sheets. Someone held me down. I screamed and fought to get free, half-awake.

Chapter Four
      At first, I didn’t know where I was, but then I registered hands on my shoulders, then strong warm arms around me, holding me, stroking my back, comforting my nightmares away. I rested my head on Jamie’s shoulder and sighed, and was then suddenly aware of bare skin against my face. His scent filled my nose, warm and headily masculine. I pushed myself back from him.
    “Dreams again?” He reached up and stroked the damp hair out of my eyes. He sat on the edge of my bed in his boxer shorts, his body long and curved with muscle, not much spare flesh on him. It looked like the kind of muscle you got from doing actual physical work as opposed to pointless workouts at the gym, and the whole package covered in smooth, lightly tanned skin.
    My previous guess that he probably had a couple of Celtic knot tattoos was incorrect. He did have tattoos, but they were more unusual. Not wanting to stare, I didn’t get a solid look, only the impression of writing across his chest.
      It did me no good. He caught me sneaking a glance and my face flushed with heat. I knew from experience that flush was deep, deep red on my pale complexion. As if I wasn’t uncomfortable enough already.
    “Are you okay?”
    “I’ll be fine,” I said, pulling my knees to my chest.
    He raised an eyebrow. “Perhaps you wouldn’t have such odd dreams if you didn’t insist on sleeping in jeans and a sweatshirt.”
    “I