Read Caught Up In You 3: Designer Love and Empty Things (Edgeplay) for Free Online Page B

taking a clunking step forward.
     Connor hops back to avoid a left cross and kicks out with his feet. A beep and a flash registers a direct hit to the robot’s sternum. He keeps on and on, weaving away from the advancing mechanical man, his body pure poetry in motion.
     I realize I’m holding my breath as I watch him. This man doesn’t need security protection at all. He’s a fierce warrior, a demigod so far above mortals that he has to do battle with machines.
     Connor lets out a fierce yell and charges the android. He hits it center mass and the thing crashes to the mat with astounding force. I’d hate to be pinned beneath it.
     “End simulation, report statistics.” Connor barks.
     A whirring sound and then a flat male voice answers. “Simulation complete. Opponent survives with seven percent injury rating. Fatality for bot, unlikely.”
     Connor nods and turns in my direction. I see the moment he becomes aware of my presence, because he goes still.
     “Hi.” I offer a wan smile.
     “Ms. Sinclair.” He doesn’t smile back.
     “I thought we could talk.”
     “I’m busy today.”
     “Beating up machines? Brings new meaning to the phrase pick on someone your own size.”
     “Bot, repair mode.”
     The metal man rolls over and gets up, before lumbering off to what looks like an upright metal coffin. It steps back and some whirring noise fills the space. It looks like the bot is plugging itself into a giant battery.
     “That is just too cool,” I murmur.
     “I think so.” Connor heads for a bench along the wall and picks up a towel to mop his brow. His hair is longer, looking more unkempt than the last time I saw it. I want to run my fingers through it, but I fear he will reject me.
     “Where did you get him?”
     “We built him. He’s a prototype for a defense contract my company is trying to land. Hand to hand combat training is all well and good, but it’s hard to practice kill moves when you don’t want your sparring partner to die. The bot is hard to take down, but can withstand anything short of a nuclear attack.”
     “So he’s your crash test dummy.”
     Connor tosses the towel down and reaches a bottle of water. “What are you doing here, Baily?”
     I want to tell him I’ve missed him, that I’m sorry for the things I said and the way I didn’t trust him. But he’s so cold, so ready to dismiss me.
     Luckily I have a plan B.
     “I owe you,” I say.
     “I don’t want your money,” he practically snarls.
     “No, not money. I promised I would help you try and retrieve your memories.”
     He stops, blinks as though he’s not sure he heard right. “You’re still willing to do that?”
     “A promise is a promise. That is, if you still want me.” The words sound suggestive to me and I hastily tag on, “For that, I mean.”
     He surveys me from head to toe. “Come with me.”
      That’s the plan, Snarkarella purrs.
     
     
     
     

Chapter Five
     
      C onnor dismisses the security team in the kitchen with a wave of his hand. Justin shoots me a quizzical look and I smile to reassure him. Connor’s glower grows darker and the men hurry from the room.
     “Where are they going?” I ask.
     “The property to the north. That’s my security headquarters.”
     “The horse farm? You bought it? I didn’t even know it was for sale.”
     “I convinced the owners to sell several of the neighboring properties.” When my mouth falls open he adds, “I like my privacy.”
     There’s a big, fat understatement. I try to imagine purchasing a huge estate and the ones around it just for privacy. Rosemont already feels like the middle of nowhere sometimes, and knowing that everyone for miles works for Connor seems ludicrous.
     “Ms. Harrison?” Connor calls out and the mousy new hire peeks around the corner. “Take off early today.”
     “But I haven’t finished—”
     “Go home.” Connor repeats with steel in his voice.
     She nods and retrieves