Free The Consequence by Karin Tabke Page A

watched her and stalked toward her. Looking around, she didn’t panic. There were plenty of men nearby if she suddenly found herself under attack.
    “You lost the right to inquire about my business, Evan.” She yanked off her gloves and tossed them to a nearby bench. Grabbing her towel from the rack she had set it on, she wiped her face, then wrapped it around her neck and moved past him. His arm shot out and he grasped her, his fingers biting into her arm.
    He picked the wrong day to get physical with her. She jerked around and brought her free arm up then down on his forearm breaking the contact. “Touch me again, Evan and I’ll geld you.”
    “For a woman with everything to lose, you’re acting like a bitch.”
    She grabbed the ends of the towel around her neck because if she wasn’t holding something, she was going to punch Evan. “I’ve lost more than you can imagine, Evan. Because of you. I’d say I’ve earned the bitch title.”
    “I can give you back some of what you’ve lost, Katy,” he quietly said.
    She laughed in his face. “Evan, you have nothing I want.”
    “How about your boyfriend’s job?”
    “What are you talking about?”
    “ A little birdie told me your cop is chin deep investigating me for corporate espionage.”
    “If you’re referring to Captain West, he never was nor currently is my boyfriend.”
    “So you’re just fuck buddies?”
    His words cut her to the quick.
    “Considering how we met, we were destined for nothing more than sex, Evan. Another chapter in my life closed.”
    He shook his head tsk tsking. “Poor Katrina Winslow, always picking men who exploit her.”
    “Fuck you.”
    “I’d happily fuck you. That was one thing I never lied to you about, Katy. Even though I couldn’t get you off, you were a good lay.”
    Katy turned vicious eyes on him. “You were never man enough to get me off, Evan.”
    “But that cop was?”
    “You were there, you tell me.”
    “Oh, I remember vividly. In fact, I replay that moment in time over and over.” He laughed low, the sound mirthless. “You do know your knight in shining armor
wasn’t at the symposium hotel by accident?”
    She moved into his space. Was she the only person on earth who hadn’t known Simon was using her? “What did I ever do to you that was so horrible you insist on hurting me?”
    His face tightened, his hazel eyes sharpened. “Do you have any idea how it felt taking a back seat to the renowned Dr. Winslow? I’ve put in twice the lab time that you have and have nothing to show for it. You waltz in and in less than four years revolutionize code sequencing.”
    “So it’s my fault you’re a failure?”
    “Hardly. You’re the one who’s a laughing-stock with no lab.”
    Katy shrugged it off. She was a duck now. Given Simon’s apparent betrayal, nothing could hurt her now. It was all just running off her back. “Go away Evan.”
    “I’ll go away when you tell me what your fuck buddy has on me and Genomtec.”
    “Even if we were still fuck buddies, he’s never discussed his case with me and you are the last person on earth I’d do a favor for.”
    “You don’t need his permission. Find a way back into his bed and dig through his phone and his computer.”
    “No.”
    Evan pulled out his cell phone and moved to the nearest corner. “Remember our little game of truth or dare? That was no accident either. I saw the way you and that cop ogled each other in the bar. It also occurred to me that your usefulness was coming to an end but I’m a visionary, Katy, I looked ahead. I needed some insurance.” He tapped the screen. “My little policy.” He tapped the screen a second time and there in living color was her getting fucked from behind by Simon in her hotel room, while Evan watched. Her skin chilled when she heard Simon’s deep voice say, “Sweetheart, you’re so damn tight and wet, let me set the pace or I’m going to explode.” Jaw agape; she continued to watch as she came