No Escape From War (Trouble for Hire #1) - Cynthia Eden Page 0,35

immediately turned for the bedroom—War knew she was trying to shut him out. “I want to explain.”

She took two steps forward. Stopped. With her back to him, she said, “I think I can sum up. You lied to me. You said you were going to give me forty-eight hours, but, instead, you were working with the cops all along. Talking on the phone to Lynn right in front of my face because I am such a trusting idiot where you are concerned.”

“You are not an idiot.”

Her shoulders squared. “You’re right. I’m not an idiot. You’re just an asshole.” She strode for her room.

He surged toward her. He didn’t spare a glance for their surroundings. He’d been in her home plenty of times before. Rose always had things perfectly in place. The condo was top of the line with an incredible panoramic view of the gulf. But he couldn’t look anywhere but at her. His hand closed around her shoulder. “I didn’t have a choice!”

“Sure, you did. You could have told me the truth at any point. Instead, you let me believe you had my back. You let me believe I could count on you.” She huffed out a breath. “Would you stop touching me? I don’t want you touching me right now.”

All he wanted to do was touch her. Pull her into his arms. Make this shit right. But he instantly let her go. “Please, look at me.”

She didn’t.

“When you’re really pissed with someone, you don’t make eye contact.” He’d noticed that about her. “It’s like you can’t stand to look at the person.”

“You are not wrong.”

His jaw locked. “I want you to look at me.”

“I want to go to bed. Guess which one of us is about to get her wish?” Rose took four angry steps toward her bedroom door. Her hand pushed against the wood—

“Before I found you at Finch’s, I had already contacted Lynn. Or rather, she had contacted me.” He spoke quickly because he had to get this explanation out. He didn’t want Rose mad at him. And he hated the pain he’d glimpsed in her eyes. “I’ve worked with her on a few other cases. She knows I can get the job done.”

“How wonderful for her.”

“I knew you weren’t involved in the murders. You’re not a killer.”

“So…what?” Her hand still pressed to the door. “You took the case for shits and giggles? Because you just loved the idea of giving your ex a hard time as you shoved her at the cops?”

“I’m not going to pretend the initial image of you being at the police station didn’t appeal to me.” Because I’m an asshole. “I was mad. Hurt. But…shit changed fast. With you, it always does.” His voice roughened. “Guess you never realized just how easily you wrap me around your little finger.”

A bitter laugh slipped from her. “I don’t think so.”

“I do. I know so. When we were in that motel room, I knew right then that my plans were changing. That was why I walked out to my car and left you inside. I was trying to clear my head, but I was already a goner. You wanted my help? I was gonna give it to you. Then when I went back inside and saw that bastard attacking you…” A sight that would haunt him forever. “Nothing was going to stop me from protecting you.”

Her head turned slightly in his direction, but she still wasn’t looking at him. “How come you didn’t come clean right then and there?”

“You didn’t want to work with the cops. You still don’t. I was afraid if I told you everything, you’d run.” He swallowed. “Tell me I’m not wrong.”

“You’re not wrong.”

War blinked.

“Doesn’t mean I like it. In fact, I hate being lied to. I hate even more that I just fell for you so easily again that I let you do that to me and I—”

He lunged for her. Spun her around. “What did you say?” She didn’t want to be touched. Shit. His hands fell once more.

Her gaze was on his throat. She wasn’t meeting his gaze. Not even lifting her stare to his face.

“Rose. Look at me.”

“You hurt me.”

Her low voice was breaking his heart.

“I thought we were moving forward. That we could trust each other the way we hadn’t done before, but you were lying to me every moment.” She shook her head. “How is it so easy for you to lie?”

It hadn’t been easy. Nothing about this damn case had been easy. Being