Free Cajun Spice by Desiree Holt Page A

you did your little thing to get me checked in early? What was that all about?”
    Marc rubbed his hand over his jaw. “You won’t like it.”
    “I don’t like any of this,” she pointed out, “so let’s have it.”
    “Craig had cancelled the credit card you gave me. My boss called and got it reinstated.”
    Daisy frowned. “But—” Then a light dawned in her head. “That wasn’t just for my convenience. You wanted to be able to track any time I used it. In case it had something to do with Craig. If I was running errands for him.” She could barely control her anger.
    “You’re right and I’m sorry, but I was just doing my job.” He moved forward and reached out to her again. “You have to know that after I got to know you I hated deceiving you that way.”
    She held up her free hand. “Don’t come one step closer. Let me tell you a few things for your report, Mr. FBI Agent.” She blew out a breath. “The condo we lived in was in Craig’s name, and I’m assuming when I get back to New York, I’m homeless. Finding a place to live will be a problem because my boss fired me after your friends left the office. I had given Craig some of my money to invest, and I can kiss that good-bye. At least I have a tiny nest egg I held back for emergencies. I’d say this constitutes one for sure.”
    Marc was stunned. His boss had been so sure Daisy Karr would have some kind of lead for them. Yet here she was, broke and homeless, scammed by the snake the way Myers’ clients had been.
    “I’m sorry, chere. I—”
    “Don’t call me that.”
    “Two things.” He knew he was running out of time with her. “One, I never for a minute, after I’d spent a tiny bit of time with you, believed you were involved in Myers’ scheme at all. And two, none of this was an act. All of it has been 100 percent real. Guar-on-damn-tee it.”
    “Is that it?” Pain shimmered in her eyes.
    “No, that’s not it. I fell in love with you, Daisy. I’m not going to let you get away from me.” He swallowed hard. “I fell in love with you, Miss Daisy Karr. I want to be in a relationship with you. Build something together.”
    “Build something together?” Her eyebrows shot up. “On a foundation of lies? No, thanks. I’ve been lied to enough for this year.”
    “Don’t do this, chere. Don’t walk away from what we’ve got here.”
    “What we’ve got? She clutched the sheet even more tightly. “We have nothing. Nothing at all. I’m done with lies and I’m done with me.” She shook her head. “What an idiotic fool I’ve been. I must have left my brain on the side of the road.” She glared at him. “I’m a college graduate with a master’s degree, yet I let not one but two men completely fool me. Well, I’m done. No more. My life is my own, such as it is, and it’s going to stay that way.”
    “Daisy—”
    “I’m going to get dressed and go to my room and try to forget we ever met.”
    She grabbed her clothes then paused for a moment. Yanking the chain with the daisy on it from her neck, she tossed it at him “Here. You can buy a different flower for your next target.” Then she walked into the bathroom and closed the door. Hard.
    Marc paced as he waited for her to come out, wondering how in hell he’d managed to get himself in such a mess.
    By doing your job.
    Because he’d never expected to meet a woman who swept his feet out from beneath him.
    He made one more attempt when she came back into the room, but she ignored him, grabbed her purse, and opened the door.
    “At least let me give you a ride to the airport,” he pleaded. “And pay for your reservation switch.”
    “I don’t want anything from you. Not anymore.”
    Then she was gone, leaving Marc with a hole in his heart and a sick feeling in his stomach. Grabbing his cell, he punched speed dial for his boss.
    “Talk about late calls,” Larry said. “You have something already?”
    “Yeah, but it’s nowhere near what you expected.”
    In a