Man Shy Read Free Page B

Not really. Though I did drop a few hints about covert operations. ” She winced in preparation for his reaction.
    “ I ’ m supposed to be CIA? ”
    She chuckled. “ Actually, I pictured you more as a soldier-of-fortune type. Have bazooka, will travel. ”
    Brody grinned at the image of himself in Rambo getup. “ Does that mean I get to wear a headband and camouflage paint to the wedding? ”
    She shuddered. “ Not unless you want everyone in town to think you ’ re GI Joe. ”
    GI Joe was what the newspaper had dubbed the rapist who ’ d attacked several Brunswick-area women in the last two months. The only lead the police had to his identity was that he dressed like a combat soldier. Of all his current cases, it was the one Brody was most anxious to solve.
    “ I guess that wouldn ’ t be such a great idea. ” He turned to face Mallory more directly. “ Do I have a name? ”
    Once again color flushed her cheeks and she refused to meet his gaze. “ I was thinking of it more like a nickname. ”
    “ What? ” he asked, his imagination supplying several possibilities. “ Viper? Satan? Numero Uno? ”
    “ Nothing quite that colorful. Just c Hunter. ” She fell silent for a moment, her fingers busily pleating and unpleating the hem of her shirt. “ It ’ s almost like fate, huh? ”

TWO

Mallory arrived home Friday evening after a marathon session at the gym to find Evan ’ s Lexus filling her parking spot. What does he want? she wondered, and waited for the familiar twist of pain. It didn ’ t come. Curiosity, yes. A mild irritation, yes again. But pain? No. She breathed deeply of the chill night air, smiling to herself in the darkness. Life goes on.
    The porch light lit up seconds before the front door flew open. “ Mallory, where have you been? I ’ ve been waiting for hours. ” An unaccustomed frown knit Lindsey ’ s brow. She advanced on her sister, her high heels clicking like castanets on the wooden boards of the entry deck.
    “ At least you didn ’ t have to wait outside. ” Mallory frowned. “ The funny thing is I don ’ t remember leaving the door open. ”
    Lindsey had the grace to look embarrassed. “ You didn ’ t. “ I —”
    “ Found my spare key under the flowerpot. ” Mallory sighed. “ I ’ ve got to come up with a better hiding place. ”
    “ Where have you been all this time? ” Lindsey demanded, remembering her grievance.
    “ Well, maybe if you ’ d warned me you planned to stop by c”
    “ Mallory? Hellooo? What did you think I meant when I called this morning to see if you were busy after school? ”
    Oh, yeah. That call. “ Sorry. I joined some fellow staff members to celebrate the official beginning of spring break, then headed straight for Aerobics Plus, where Hootie, the sadistic monster, tortured me in the name of physical fitness. ” Every muscle in her body ached. “ By the way, could you have Evan move his car? He parked in my spot. ”
    “ Evan ’ s not here. I borrowed the Lexus. I ’ ll move it in a second, okay? I need you to do me a favor. ”
    Another one? I already handed you my boyfriend on a silver platter. What more do you want? “ Lindsey, I ’ m whipped. It ’ s been a long day. ” Wearily, Mallory climbed the steps. All she wanted to do right now was take a shower, slip into her robe, and eat about six Symphony bars. The ones with toffee chips.
    “ But this is important! ”
    Mallory shot her sister a sharp sideways glance, alarmed at the quaver in her voice. “ What ’ s wrong? ”
    Lindsey ’ s sophisticated facade dissolved in tears. “ It ’ s Evan, ” she wailed, loud enough to set every dog within a ten-block radius barking.
    Wincing, Mallory ushered her inside, where Lindsey immediately threw herself on the sofa and burst into noisy sobs.
    Mallory sighed in relief. If her sister was still indulging her flair for the dramatic, things couldn ’ t be too serious.
    Mallory tossed her jacket at the coatrack, then sinking