Deceptions and Desires by Melinda Di Lorenzo

Author:Melinda Di Lorenzo
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781460380222
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2015-10-14T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

For a second, Leo didn’t think Jane had even noticed that Ignacio Abruzzi was gone. Her eyes were glued shut and her breathing was shallow. He watched her inhales and exhales, knowing she must’ve recognized the man’s voice, just as he had.

He could only imagine what thoughts were racing through her head at the idea of encountering him. Iggy was nothing to Leo. A small-minded man with a literally small mind, Leo had never worried what the other man thought, simply because he wasn’t sure he did think. He was all instinct and brutality. If not for the Abruzzi name, he would never have surpassed the ranking of enforcer. In actuality, if Leo gave it any real consideration, Iggy was probably lucky he wasn’t dead already.

As far as Jane was considered, though…

Iggy had never made any secret of his hatred for his sister-in-law. All someone had to do was look askance at his chewed-up eye and the man would launch into a bitter tirade.

Jane’s so-called death had done nothing to assuage it. Leo knew why now, of course.

But there was no chance in hell that Leo was going to let Iggy anywhere near her. He’d promised her he’d leave her alone as soon as he had her somewhere safe.

And the only place she’s safe is somewhere with me, he decided.

The kiss had sealed it. It was the kind of sweet, exploratory kiss she deserved. The kind he’d always wanted to give her.

In the silence, a plan formulated in Leo’s mind.

“Jane?”

Her eyes opened. Their brilliant blue just a few inches from him. “Yes?”

“There’s a car in the motel garage,” he said softly. “It belongs to the manager. It’s old and uninsured, but it runs.”

“And you know this because…You water the motel cacti, too?”

Leo was glad to hear her make a joke. He relaxed just a little bit and smiled at her.

“What can I say? My loose morals include both plant life and closets.”

“Hilarious. Yet again.”

“Speaking of hilarious…What did the snail say while riding the turtle’s back?”

Jane indulged him. “I don’t know, Leo. What?”

“Weeeeee!”

“Nerd.”

But her eyes actually sparkled, and Leo had to rein in an urge to kiss her again. He knew if he did, he’d be hiking up that little black dress and taking her again, right there.

“So,” he asked, his voice carefully devoid of his sudden image of Jane’s legs wrapped around his waist. “You want to take a classic car for a cruise?”

“We really shouldn’t borrow a car from anyone you know,” Jane told him. “It’s too risky for them. And for us.”

Leo liked that she’s said “we” and “us,” but he wasn’t going to draw attention to it.

“Which is why I asked you about that wavering moral compass of yours,” Leo replied.

“Meaning?”

“How opposed are you to grand theft auto?”

She offered him a sideways shrug and a little smile. “Give me the screwdriver and show me the ignition tumbler and I’ll do it myself.”

Leo grinned. “I hope someone’s told you before that there’s so much more to you than a pretty face.

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