Free Desperate Measures by Fern Michaels Page B

It’ll never happen again. Annie, I would never, ever hurt you. You know that. I’m ... What I am is ... jealous. Yeah, I’m jealous. I wanted to be the one to put that sappy expression on your face. Me, not some guy I don’t know.... Or do I know him? Forget it, forget I said that. It’s none of my business.”
    Annie turned. “For every action, Pete, there is a reaction. I reacted. Look, I can’t—won’t—go to bed with you because ... because I care about you. If I need a bodily release, I can find it anywhere. Why are you looking at me like that? You guys talk like that all the time. I won’t . . . I will not muck up our friendship. If you think so little of it, then maybe you and I should just . . . go our separate ways. I’m sorry for my part in this. I have to get to class.”
    â€œAre we studying tonight?”
    â€œI don’t know,” Annie called over her shoulder.
    He was more confused than ever. Love was love. Love. In love. Love. Out of love. This confused, euphoric, gut-wrenching feeling had to be some kind of love. Son of a bitch. He remembered a feeling that was similar the day Barney said he’d come for him. That was love. When Leo came for him, that was a kind of love too. The first time he had sex, he thought it was a kind of love. “Shit!” he said succinctly. He jammed his hands in his pockets. “So fuck you too, Annie Gabriel,” he muttered as he turned and walked in the opposite direction.
    Back in his apartment, Pete paced, up and down, over and around. Damn Annie Gabriel. He couldn’t let it go on like this. God, the look on her face, it was so terrible, he’d made it back just in time to puke up his guts. He had to make things right with Annie. The only problem was, he didn’t know how. In a fit of something he couldn’t define, he called his uncle Leo. He blurted out the past hour’s happenings. “I want to do something, but I don’t know what. Do you have any ideas, any advice?” he asked hopefully.
    â€œI have an idea, Peter. I’ll need thirty minutes or so. I just need to know one thing, can you manage a few days off, your friend too?”
    â€œHow many days is a few? Annie won’t have a problem. It’s me, I’m not the quick study she is. Four, tops.”
    â€œSounds good to me. Five would be better, though. I’ll get back to you in half an hour or so.”
    Pete waited. He paced again, up and down, over and around. When the phone rang forty minutes later, he caught it in midring. “Yeah,” he bellowed.
    â€œI have it all set up. Pick up your friend and take a cab to Logan Airport. There’s a charter waiting for you. Your destination is Paris. Your hotel has been booked. First-class all the way, Pete. Your pilot will have all the details. Sometimes you need to do something completely... what I mean is, you need to act on impulse on occasion. I’m happy to be of help. I think it sounds like both of you need some getaway time before those hallowed halls close in around you.”
    â€œParis as in France?” Pete said, his jaw dropping.
    â€œThat’s the only one I know. Have a good time, Peter.”
    â€œYes, sir, I will, sir,” Pete said, but he was talking to a dead phone. Jesus Christ, Paris, France, with Annie. His fist shot in the air. Pack a bag or not pack a bag. Hell no, he’d charge everything on the Visa card Leo gave him that he’d never used. He’d buy Annie a Paris creation.
    â€œYeahhhhh.”
    Fifteen minutes later Pete was in the back of Annie’s classroom. He tiptoed down the aisle to her seat and hissed, “Come with me right now. Now , Annie.”
    Annie didn’t question the order. She gathered up her books and followed Pete from the room. “What’s wrong?” she asked fearfully.
    â€œLook, don’t ask any questions, just follow me. Nothing is wrong. That’s