Free The Truth About Love by Sheila Athens

to look out his window, away from her. Surely he could keep his libido in check long enough to talk to her about all the reasons Cyrus Alexander should stay in prison. They’d had no business kissing. It conflicted with her professional obligations and sure as hell wasn’t a good idea for him, either.
    But he’d known from her reaction—the way she’d pressed her body to his, the way she’d opened her mouth and let his tongue explore hers—that she’d enjoyed it as much as he had.

    Gina felt Landon’s gaze on her from the other side of the car. She’d seen his eyes flash both passion and annoyance—and she wondered what was in them now.
    But she was driving him home. Period. And doing her best to forget the fantastic kiss they’d just shared. She tried to force herself to think of him as the forlorn child in the crime scene photos and not the sexy-as-hell man whose hands had molded to her hips, urging them closer as his mouth devoured hers.
    That first kiss, more than a week ago, had been innocent. She hadn’t known who he was then. But this one—this one she’d asked for, knowing exactly who he was and how he was connected to one of the cases at Morgan’s Ladder.
    Just her luck, the car that pulled up when they were in each other’s arms would probably end up belonging to a Florida State Supreme Court justice. Yeah, right. Like they hung out at the Twilight on Thursday nights. The end of her legal career before it ever got started.
    She couldn’t believe she hadn’t been more careful, especially on the heels of the fiasco with Christopher. She’d dated the guy a year and a half, then caught him in bed with a girl he’d met at the pizza place that same day. She’d been humiliated. Heartbroken. And worse—she’d been made to feel like she was disposable. Their relationship had meant so little to him that he’d slept with a girl he’d met two fricking hours earlier.
    She’d promised herself that she’d be much smarter with guys after that. So why was she kissing Landon Vista again? And she’d been the one to initiate it.
    He grunted brief directions to guide her way. She turned into the driveway of the condo complex where he lived and pulled her car along the edge of the asphalt. A streetlight shone from above, creating a bright pool of light in an otherwise inky-black night.
    A tall, thin man stepped into the beam of the streetlight, one of his hands raised in greeting.
    Landon groaned. “You should just floor it now.”
    “And run over him?” Sure, he looked kind of scary in his faded T-shirt and wrinkled pants, but she had Landon Vista with her. Tallahassee’s answer to Superman.
    Landon got out of the car, slammed the door shut a little harder than necessary, and stalked toward the man. The guy was almost as tall as Landon, but much skinnier, in a sickly sort of way. The two exchanged words, then both sets of eyes turned to look at her.
    Why was she a part of their conversation? And who was this guy?
    She shifted into park and slipped out of her side of the car, eager to find out.

CHAPTER FIVE
    L andon stood in front of Gina’s SUV, frozen in place, dreading the introduction he would have to make as soon as she crossed in front of the car toward them.
    As usual, his dad ruined everything.
    Her questioning look moved from one man to the other, then back again. His dad ogled her like some drunk at a strip club, stopping far too long on those shapely breasts. Landon’s possessiveness kicked in again. Even more than usual, he was disgusted with his old man.
    “You’re not going to introduce us?” His dad’s voice sounded wolfish. Sinister.
    “This is Gina,” he said. “She gave me a ride home.”
    She shot Landon a questioning look, then stuck out her hand. “Nice to meet you.” Landon liked the way she didn’t shy away from someone who was obviously dirty and disheveled. He’d always believed people needed to help others. But this was his goddamn father. A man who didn’t even