F-Stop

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Book: Read F-Stop for Free Online
Authors: Desiree Holt
She deliberately switched topics.
    He took a long swallow of his drink. “Anything.”
    “Did your reluctance to…pursue something permanent have anything to do with, how shall I say it, my so-called gift?”
    A strange expression flitted across his face. “Funny you should ask that. Two years ago I might have been a little squeamish about it. The paranormal wasn’t exactly in my field of vision. But now…”
    “Now what?” she prodded. What had happened to make him change his outlook?
    She lifted her wineglass with both hands and took a steadying drink.
    “Three of my partners are married and all of their wives have some kind of psychic gift. In fact, Mark never would have been rescued without Faith’s telepathy and a vital piece of top secret equipment would have fallen into enemy hands without Mia’s visions. Rick’s wife even has a psychic dog, if you can believe that.” Kat laughed, as much at the look on Mike’s face as at the realization that he’d had to come to terms with something he didn’t believe in. “You forget. Nothing’s too absurd for me.”
    “All right, you want honest, here’s honest.” He leaned forward again, his eyes locking onto hers. “I don’t even know if we can go anywhere with this but like I said, the minute I saw you again I knew I wanted to try. Can we at least test the waters? I promise not to leave you hanging again. To tell you what I’m doing if I can.” His mouth turned up in a rueful grin. “And not to be an asshole. I hope.” She felt something inside her that had been wound so tight begin to loosen.
    It bothered her that she was ready to give in so easily. Especially with everything going on in her life.
    Oh no. I can’t do this again.
    But he looked so appealing, so earnest. And this time there was something in his eyes that hadn’t been there before. The distant look was gone, replaced by heat and desire. And need. Strange, because Mike D’Antoni had never needed anyone or anything.
    “Maybe…” She let her voice trail off. No, no maybes. Tell him, Katherine. Tell him you can’t do this again.
    But then his words overrode her thoughts.
    “Maybe’s a good start. A very good start. Let’s order, okay? The food here is excellent.”
    As relaxed as Mike seemed while they ate, Kat was equally as tense, on edge, waiting for the next verbal axe to fall. She had to make him understand that they couldn’t just go back and start over.
    “Mike, listen,” she began, but her words seemed to fly over his head.
    He just winked at her then glanced at his watch. “Look. I have a meeting this afternoon with two of my partners and a potential new client.”
    “Go ahead,” Kat said. “I have something I have to do today too. Thanks again for lunch.”
    “Whoa, whoa, whoa, just a minute here. You aren’t getting away that easily. How about dinner tonight? There’s a great new restaurant on the Riverwalk. Tell me where you’re staying and I’ll pick you up at seven. If that’s all right,” he added.
    “This great new restaurant wouldn’t happen to be at your hotel, would it?” She said it only half-jokingly but she wouldn’t put anything past him. And she definitely wasn’t ready for that yet.
    Mike grinned at her. “That would be just a little too obvious, even for me. No, I’m going to be on my best behavior. Scout’s honor.”
    Kat sighed. “Okay. I’m probably making the biggest mistake of my life but I’ll have dinner with you.” She pulled a small notepad from her purse, wrote Mari’s address on it and her cell number. “Do you need directions?”
    Mike folded the paper and stuck it into his pocket. “Nope. I know the area.”
    “Call me on my cell if anything happens to change your plans.”
    “Trust me,” he told her, signaling for the waiter. “Nothing’s going to happen.” Chapter Three

    Eli Wright’s head throbbed and his throat burned but he forced himself to lie quietly as he tried to assess the situation. His hands and

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