Free His Wicked Pleasure by Christina Gallo Page A

chair, he sat down and thought for a moment.
     
                  “What’s wrong?” asked Paul with concern.
     
                  “I was looking forward to seeing my little Barbie Doll later on.”
     
                  “I’d told Lorie that I’d meet up with her tonight,” said Paul running his hands through his hair. “We may not have them when we get home. It’s not like we can call them now and try to explain things.”
     
                  “Damn,” Declan slammed his fist onto the desk in front of him, which caused everyone in the room to look over at him. “What was I thinking? I should have been honest and up front with her right from the start.”
     
                  “They don’t remind me of the type of girls to sit at home and wait for us either. Once they don’t hear from us, I’m sure they will move on,” Paul said as he shoved his food away from him in anger.
     
                 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Eight
     
                  Kristie stood up and leaned against the back of her chair as she practiced her media speech.
     
                  “No, do it again,” said her uncle when she was finished. Tossing a file at her, he said, “Take a look at this. I had George do an entire investigation of your company. Look over everything he highlighted.”
     
                  Kristie sat down, opened the file, and began reading everything in it. Each time she read a sentence, her mind somehow pictured Declan standing in front of her with his jet black, wavy hair blowing in the wind. His delicious masculine scent wrapped around her and made her feel safe and excited all at once. Swearing she could still smell him, she squeezed her eyes shut and refocused on the report in front of her. She read everything over and once she had a clear picture painted in her mind, she stood up and stretched. She was ready to face the world.
     
    ~*~*~*~
     
    Declan pulled out his cell phone and sat there staring at it as his men worked around him.
     
    “Call her,” Paul broke into his thoughts after he watched his best friend battle invisible demons.
     
    “I want to so badly but don’t know what to say,” said Declan groaning as if in agonizing pain. “I can’t lose her. I know this sounds crazy but she is the one for me.”
     
    “Pull yourself together,” growled Paul between clenched teeth. “This is not the time nor the place for you to fall apart. Send her a text and let her know you care but will be out of town on assignment.”
     
    Declan sat there debating on what he should say. He typed out a message, erased it, typed it out again and then erased it. Tossing the phone across the desk as if it burned his skin, Declan growled, “It’s pointless. I have no idea how long I’ll be gone and don’t want her upset.”
     
    “So you’re not sending her a message?” asked Paul looking at his phone for a moment. “I’m going to call Lorie and explain things.”
     
    Declan watched Paul’s look of disappointment as he put the phone down. Sighing, he asked, “What’s wrong?”
     
    “Her phone must be off, it went straight to voicemail. Try to call Kristie,” Paul aid anxiously.
     
    Declan called Kristie and let out a low growl when her phone also went to voicemail. “It’s hopeless.”
     
    “We’ll try again later.” Paul gathered up his garbage and tossed it into the trashcan. He nodded towards Declan’s food, “Finish eating and let’s hear your plan for this mission.”
     
    Declan nodded. It wasn’t like him to be indecisive so he finished off his lunch before he attempted to call Kristie again...no answer. The third call had the same luck. Turning off his phone, he put it into his pants pocket and turned to his team. Kristie would have to wait, he thought as he went over his plan, making sure to include every detail and every