Page 32 of Legacy of Lies
Serious now, his cold stare raked up and down her body. “You’re looking ... healthy as usual.”
It would be so much easier if he didn’t hide behind this polite veneer, despite the fact his voice was like sandpaper across an open wound. Even when they’d been dating, he always made backhanded compliments about her body. Some things didn’t change. But she couldn’t very well slap a guy making seemingly pleasant conversation, could she?
And no, she would not tug at her clothing. Instead, she jammed her foot under the inner edge of the door, preventing it from opening any farther.
“Did you come here to insult me, Hank, or do you have some purpose to this visit?”
“Insult you? Why would I do that, Sarita? You’re such a special woman.”
Steam must be coming out of her ears by now. Her full name always slithered out of his mouth. He’d never said her given name in a positive way, ever.
As for “special”? The only way she’d be special was if she grew a third eyeball.
“Cut it out, Hank.”
“Anyone tell you how defensive you are?” His attempt at a handsome, innocent expression never reached his eyes. Those brown eyes remained cold and dull, like mud.
Damn his emotionless face. Damn his platitudes. “Good night, Hank.”
When he stopped the door with his hand on the casing, her heart pattered against her ribcage, but she stood her ground.
“I’m not done.” He flexed his grip on the wood, shoving the door back open. All with a blank smile on his face. If anyone were out on the street, they would hear nothing more than polite chitchat on his part.
While she came across rude and angry.
Was he drunk? She inhaled. He didn’t smell like booze. Hank was 100 percent stone cold sober. He stared like he could slice her in half with his gaze.
And he was calm. Too calm.
Holy Christ.
“Friendly warning, Ms. Lopez.”
Every inch of her skin turned to ice.
“Youwillstay away from Garrison Taggart and his family.” His voice crawled over her like a lover’s whisper gone all wrong.
“What’s Garrison to you?” It took all of her courage to resist taking a step back.
“Shut up and listen.” He rapped his knuckles on the door casing, and she jumped. “Pay attention!”
The air caught in her throat as she focused on the man in front of her. Hank scooted his foot into the foyer.
The hammering in her chest reverberated in her ears.
“You like your job?” He smiled.
“What?”
Stars crowded the corners of her vision. Her job, the students she loved, her loan repayment. Forget the money. Could her career recover if she got fired only a year out of school? Probably not.
“What?” she whispered.
He grinned and shifted a hip into the house, leaning on the doorframe. “My brother’s your boss. He’ll do what I tell him. And I hate the Taggarts. You hear me?”
“Yes.”
“So, if you get involved with anything to do with the Taggart family, including that giant dickhead Garrison, you can kiss your career good-bye. I will personally see to it.”
