Read I Spy a Wicked Sin for Free Online Page A

manage to learn that so fast when she just got there?”
    “She walked in on me and one of my models practicing the big six-nine. To say she didn’t take offense to my lifestyle is an understatement.”
    His friend burst out laughing. “Jesus, you’re a piece of work. You know Geneva and I simply must meet her, right?”
    “Oh, I figured it wouldn’t take you long to get around to that suggestion, considering,” he said, lips curving wickedly.
    “How well you know me.” In the background, Jude heard Dev flipping pages. “Crap, we’re booked solid until next Friday. Dinner, followed by giving Lily a quick tour of the gallery, then a nightcap at our place? What do you say?”
    “Dinner in public? I don’t know, Dev. . . .” But he wasn’t as adamant about avoiding going out as he’d been in the previous weeks, and Dev seized the opportunity to push the matter.
    “You can’t stay indoors forever, shut away like a bat in a belfry. Time to start living again, Jude.”
    “I . . . all right. Yes, let’s do it.” His stomach flopped just from imagining the ordeal.
    “Great! You know we’ll be there for you every step of the way. This is going to be fun!”
    Jude chuckled, his friend’s enthusiasm overshadowing his nerves. “It will, but I won’t push Lily into a scene she’s not ready for. If she’s the least bit apprehensive—”
    “You wound me, buddy. We’ve never forced anyone to play and we won’t start with your Lily. You know me better than that.”
    “I do. Sorry.”
    “No problem,” he said, good cheer unfazed. “Next Friday, then. Eight o’clock?”
    “Perfect. We’ll swing by and pick you two up.”
    “Geneva and I will look forward to it.” His friend hesitated a moment. “So . . . how is Liam these days?”
    His friend’s odd tone gave him pause. Liam played with Dev and Geneva occasionally, same as himself. The couple adored him. They’d even commissioned a nude painting of Liam for their gallery last year, which hung on proud display. But what was this concern? Where was it coming from?
    “He’s fine. Same old happy Liam, you know?”
    But was he?
    “Oh. Well, that’s good.” Dev cleared his throat. “Just wanted to ask after him. Geneva thinks the boy is all that and a bag of chips, so she told me to ask. Give him our best, will you? See you next Friday, then.”
    They said good-bye and disconnected. As Jude tucked away his phone, he put the last part of their exchange out of his mind and realized his mood had lightened considerably. Lily’s arrival had helped, and the plans with Devon and Geneva had put him over the top. He looked forward to next Friday—it had been far too long since he’d enjoyed his friends’ company.
    He had a sneaking suspicion Lily could show the voracious couple a trick or two.
    A knock on the common door between his and Lily’s suites interrupted his musings.
    “Are you ready for lunch?” she asked, the door squeaking on its hinges.
    “Starving,” he said, getting to his feet. He grabbed his cane, squelching the pang of discomfort at having to eat in front of someone he’d just met. Wasn’t that a laugh?
    Sex with and in front of strangers? He wasn’t uncomfortable in the least. Enduring the mechanics of feeding himself in front of those same people? There was a load of stress he could damned well do without.
    But Dev was right—he couldn’t hide indefinitely.
    He’d consider the next few days as rehearsals for next Friday night. No need to panic. He’d survived far worse.
    On the heels of that thought several images assaulted him.
    Sitting at a ratty desk in a shitty motel room. Anxious, flicking the lid on his antique Zippo lighter. Fear like acid on his tongue.
    “Jude, is something wrong?”
    Belatedly, he became aware that he’d come to a dead stop in his route to the door. His skin felt cold. Clammy. “What? No, I just got distracted thinking about something I have to do later. Shall we?”
    If she heard the lie, she