Free Burning Hunger by Tory Richards Page B

her
two-timing her supposed fiancé told her a lot about his
character.
    She followed him. “If I didn’t know better,
Mr. Evans, I’d say that you are jealous.” She decided to call it
like she saw it. He stopped short, and she plowed right into
him.
    “More like disappointed,” he barked, glaring
down at her. “And we don’t have time for this.” He turned and
continued in the direction of the living room.
    It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him
the truth, but his indifferent dismissal grated on Val, and her
anger went up a notch. “Well, I have all the time in the world
because I just decided that I’m not going to the Keys.” She slapped
her hands onto her hips, wondering what his reaction would be to
that.
    “Good. Because we’re not going to the Keys
now.”
    His comment took her totally by surprise.
“What? Why? I told you Craig won’t say anything.”
    “I’m not willing to take that chance, Val.
Just as easily as you slipped up, so could he. You’re safety is a
priority.” He picked up the phone that was on top of his duffel bag
and flipped it opened. “Do you mind fixing coffee while I make some
calls?”
    “Sure.” It was obvious that he didn’t want
her around. Why, Val wondered. If it had anything to do with her,
she had a right to know. If we’re not going to the Keys, then where
are we going? She doubted they would remain in her apartment all
weekend.
    As she pulled out the items to make a pot of
coffee, she turned on the small TV that was on the kitchen counter
to listen to the news. Maybe there would be something on Hal
Cramer.

Chapter 8
     
     
    Chaz was steaming inside, as he made the
necessary calls to cancel their flight, and hotel accommodations in
Key West. He wasn’t angry about having to make new plans, he didn’t
care about that. He was furious that he’d let himself get involved
with Val in the first place. He should have kept his libido in
check, and his cock in his pants. He’d never gotten involved with a
client before, but he’d known as soon as he got the call from her
father that things were going to be different with them.
    Meeting her for the first time at his
brother’s house a month before had whet his interest in her from
the start. Instinct, and the way she avoided his gaze, revealed she
was just as attracted to him. That evening had been the beginning
of a lifestyle change for Chaz, though he hadn’t recognized his
reason for it at the time. All of a sudden, his usual variety of
women didn’t seem as appealing to him anymore.
    Sighing heavily, he sank down onto the sofa.
He should have told her father that he was busy. But the truth was
Chaz had been eager to see Val again, to see if the chemistry was
still there or if it had dulled with time. It hadn’t, and now that
he’d had a taste of her, it wasn’t about to go away. The time
following his first meeting of Val had been spent thinking about
her, and included waking up in the middle of many nights with a
hard-on.
    Hell, I’m falling for the lady.
    “How do you like your coffee?” she called
from the kitchen.
    “Black.” For the first time Chaz realized he
was sitting there with his phone open. He pulled up his contacts
list and hit Doug’s name. It barely rang twice before he heard the
gravely voice of his long-time friend.
    “Yeah?”
    “It’s me.”
    Doug’s laugh sounded like sandpaper. “Let me
guess, you’re not going now.”
    “Sorry, guy, if I’d known earlier I would
have called. Have to come up with a new plan.” Chaz glanced up when
Val walked into the room, and accepted the cup she held his
way.
    “Trouble?” Doug asked.
    Chaz’s gaze met Val’s. “Big trouble,” he
agreed, watching her sit on the arm of the chair close by.
    Doug laughed again, and this time Chaz
detected humor. “Sounds like woman trouble, man.”
    “Nailed it right on the head,” Chaz
responded. He took a sip of his coffee. “Right now I’m trying to
make up my mind if she’s worth it or