Zeph Undercover Read Online Free

not going to be—” She gulped and took a deep breath to steady herself. “—the romance of the century doesn’t mean we can’t still be friends. Friends help each other.” Her hands shook too much to go back to eating so she folded them in her lap. Pathetic. A pretend romance with Zeph had her engines revving even though it was the last thing she should want. Correction—the last thing she did want.
    “So it’s really going to be pretend? I wouldn’t mind courting you, but you made it plain you weren’t interested.”
    Hannah raised her hand.
    “What?” Allie snapped.
    “Did you dump him?” Hannah bristled and glared at her.
    “I thought you were going to stay out of the line of fire.”
    “Not if you’re doing stupid things. How could you? And you didn’t even tell me.”
    Allie turned away from Hannah. Unfortunately, that brought her face-to-face with Zeph. At least his expression didn’t broadcast triumph. She might have hit him it if had. His face showed no expression at all, and he ignored Hannah. He must be a terrific poker player.
    “Thank you, Allie. This is very generous of you. And your help will make a big difference.”
    “No problem. Always glad to help justice prevail.” Allie waved one hand, trying for airy unconcern.
    Zeph frowned, glanced at Hannah. Looked back at Allie. “Are you—” He swallowed and began again. “You sure it’s going to be pretend? I—”
    “No.” Might as well keep saying that. She reminded her heart of the hot and cold running women in his Los Angeles house. Also the noise and smog and crowds. “We’re just friends.”
    “But in Stone’s Crossing, we’re lovers.” Zeph put his hands on her shoulders, pulled her close, and kissed her.
    Her heart raced and she had to fight to keep from melting against him.
    “Well, that’s more like it,” Betty said. “I’ll just stand here holding these hot plates until you’re done.”

Chapter 2
    Zeph leaned against his Carrera, more relieved than he wanted to admit. Allie had gone for it, thank God, because he didn’t know how he could have worked here without her for cover. This could be the most important case of his career. When he nailed the honcho of what could be one of the biggest scams in the state, he’d get a partnership in the firm, and he wanted that like he wanted air to breathe.
    He hadn’t expected to be so disturbed by seeing Allie again. She’d made a guest appearance in his dreams every night since he’d last seen her, but still... Focus on the job, Granger.
    At least she had agreed to the plan. The sudden lack of tension after he’d worried all the way from L. A. left him ready for a beer or a fast game of handball or... No, not that. No women. Not while he pretended to court Allie. Unsettling thoughts squirmed in the dark recesses of his mind, images of happiness and forever and other scary things. Images that didn’t seem so scary when Allie starred in them.
    Concentrate, damn it. She’d be a help, a big help, no matter why she’d agreed. And being around her wouldn’t be a hardship. Maybe he’d even get her to change her mind about the pretending.
    She walked away, the trim back view and tight jeans raising his temperature considerably. Now all he had to do was succeed without losing his head over her. But Jeeee-zus, she made him hot.
    His mother had liked Allie’s voice, thought answering the phone to tell her all was well had shown good character. And had suggested his near-obsession was only because Allie hadn’t fallen into his hand like a ripe plum.
    Ridiculous. Although...he wasn’t used to women ignoring him, especially in favor of horses, for God’s sake, and the first time he’d seen Allie she’d been so excited about her baby horse that she hadn’t even noticed him. So maybe that was it. Or maybe Allie really had something special.
    She climbed into a big, muscular-looking truck and started the engine. He hurried to follow her to the clinic. They had a lot to