Free Tainted Love (Sweetest Taboo #2) by Eva Márquez Page A

what I wanted to say. How did one ask a question without actually asking the question?
    “I’m fine, and you?” he answered. “Are you back in DC already? That seems like a quick trip.”
    I glanced at the clock, realizing suddenly that I hadn’t thought about that at all. I’d told my parents that I was flying back to DC to start my internship right away. “Well I don’t like to waste any time, you know,” I answered quickly. There was no use lying to him about being in DC if he’d just seen me – it would just get me in more trouble. “What’re you up to?”
    There was a long, pregnant pause on the other line. “I’m out of town at the moment, actually. Came up to Westlake to do some shopping for the house.”
    I bit my lip. We were in Westlake right now. This was a direct admission, then, that he was in town. But would he have said that if he had actually seen me? Wouldn’t he mention the fact that I should know where he was, since I’d just seen him? Or was he playing coy, waiting for me to get myself in trouble by asking the wrong question?
    Tony and I hadn’t been as close as some siblings when we were younger, but we’d never played games with one another. And we’d always stood up for each other when necessary. If he’d seen me, he’d have told me. I was sure of it.
    “Well then I won’t keep you,” I said quickly. “Don’t want to make you forget anything! I just wanted to call and let you know that I got here safely. Give me a call when you’re free, okay?” I hung up the phone without waiting for a response and threw myself back in the seat, heaving a sigh of relief.
    “So?” Tom asked, waiting for my report.
    “I don’t think he saw me,” I answered quietly. “He would have told me if he had. Launched right into a lecture, no doubt. I think we’re safe.” I looked up at him, the start of a smile on my lips. “I’m starving, let’s go get some dinner and then go back to the B&B.”
    Tom grinned and stood, reaching out to help me from my chair, and we strolled out of the café and toward the Mexican restaurant.
     
    ***
     
    I hit the ‘end’ button on my phone and looked at the screen for a moment. Izzy hadn’t been able to get off the phone with me quickly enough, but I couldn’t blame her. She’d definitely seen me, and she’d called to find out whether I’d seen her. I’d lied, of course, and played stupid, but that would have been what she was expecting. Or hoping for. We’d always stuck up for each other when we were kids, and she’d think this was no different. If I’d seen her, she’d probably expect me to give her a lecture right there over the phone.
    I hadn’t, of course. I’d let her get away with it. After I saw her, I’d stalked toward a local bar and had three beers in quick succession while I thought about the situation. I had a couple of choices, really. I could call her and tell her what I thought of the entire situation, including the rumors about Mr. Stevens. Or I could call my mom and dad and just tell them, which would – in the end – break their hearts. Or I could call the cops. The last choice, which I would have gone for when I was younger and more naïve, would actually have been the worst – it would have hurt everyone involved, and I was able to acknowledge this when I calmed down enough.
    Isabel was making a mistake, a big one, and I knew it. Anyone would be able to tell her as much. Mr. Stevens had taken advantage of her, and the rumor was that he’d been taking advantage of other girls since his affair with Izzy. In the end, she’d find out about that and be hurt. But this was her mistake to make, and I didn’t think I could protect her from it.
    I could, however, make sure that she found out about Mr. Stevens and his little obsession sooner rather than later. Izzy probably wouldn’t listen to me if I tried to tell her about the rumors. But she’d listen to other people, and I didn’t think it would be hard to find old