The Art Of Deception, Book Two, Stolen Hearts series, Romantic Suspense by Kate Kelly

decision.
    “Sophie." Gage grabbed her arm as she exited the airport, but she yanked it out his grasp and continued toward the line of taxis parked in front.
    She edged back from the curb when he planted himself between her and the taxi. The vein in his forehead was throbbing again. Not a good sign.
    “Don’t give me a hard time. Not now."
    Sophie considered arguing with him, but noticed the lines of stress carved into his face. They were both strung tight, not to mention hungry.
    “Damn you." She started walking toward his truck in the parking lot. After a minute, Gage caught up to her and took her arm again. As they moved from one pool of light into another, skirting puddles left from the rain, his tight grip loosened, and he slid his hand down to entwine his fingers with hers.
    She glanced sideways at him and saw his anger had been replaced by a hint of amusement as if he were laughing at himself. Or maybe at both of them.
    For a minute–just a minute–she wondered what it would be like to love a man like Gage. To have the time and the right to discover the whole man–the good and the bad.
    “Will Raphael get out tomorrow?” As she waited for him to unlock the passenger door to the truck, she rubbed her arms against the late night chill.
    The door groaned on its hinges when he tugged it open. “Don’t you ever wear a coat?”
    “I forgot.”
    He took his jacket off for a second time that evening, wrapped it around her and helped her up into the truck. She sat on the edge of the seat, facing him, his hands lingering on her waist.
    “I have to confirm if the painting is authentic or not." He moved as if to touch her cheek, but at the last second pulled his hand back and placed it on the roof of the truck. “It’s my job, Sophie. I’m not going to apologize."
    She hadn’t expected less from him. But it had cost him this time. She heard the suggestion of a plea, and his vulnerability, as small as it was, brushed against a corner of her heart and settled there.
    Oh help. She wasn’t really going to fall in love with Vince Gage, was she?
    “I’m starving." She pushed him back and grabbed the door handle. “I know a great greasy spoon where all sorts of freaks come out at night. Let’s go there. Or you can drop me off if you don’t want to stay.”
    He glared a not-a-chance-in-hell look, closed her door and walked around the truck and climbed in the driver’s side.
    “You know I’ve changed my mind about you being a SUV man. This old truck suits you. Practical and trustworthy." She bared her teeth in what she hoped was a grin. So she lusted after the man. Love and lust didn’t necessarily go hand in hand.
    “When I get my driver’s license back, I think I’ll sell my MG and buy a truck. Just like this one, maybe. Are you going to sell yours soon?”
    Gage draped his arm along the back of the seat and cocked his head to one side as he watched her unravel. She tried smiling again, but everything inside felt stretched too tight. Something was going to crack or snap or break.
    “We should go. I’m hungry." She’d said that already, hadn’t she?  She bit her bottom lip, turned and looked out the side window.
    “You didn’t have anything to drink at the airport, did you?”
    “Coffee." The night was so black, she could see his reflection in the window. A normal man would have been exasperated by now, but Gage looked genuinely curious.
    His hand settled on her shoulder. “Coffee affects you the same way wine does?”
    A caffeine high. Why hadn’t she thought of that?  She opened her mouth to agree, but lying had never been her strong suit, and with Gage it was near impossible.
    “It’s not the coffee." She looked at him, looked back to the window. “I think I’m on overload. It’s not every day someone stashes dope in my refrigerator, and my brother gets set-up to take....”
    Her gaze zapped back to Gage’s face. Dammit, he knew and he hadn’t mentioned a thing. She shrugged his hand off