Here’s a sneak peak of Redline Lover. I think I first posted a snippet of this (different snippet) two years ago. This has been on the back burner for a while. Hopefully will have a date for this soon.

REDLINE LOVER
copyright 2009
Charlene Teglia all rights reserved

When you’re running in the redline…you’re riding the edge

“That makes twice Maggie’s joined you for lunch,” Pete said, leaning over the engine compartment of the truck Adam had been working on when she arrived. “I guess you’re not scared of a girl.”

Given the nail marks she’d left up and down his spine, it might’ve been smart to be afraid. Or at least wisely wary. But all he felt was the deep sense of well-being that came from having a fundamental need satisfied. Adam made a non-committal sound and checked the battery connections.

“I’m glad,” Pete said. The serious tone made Adam look up. “You deserve to have something more than work to look forward to.”

This sounded like dangerous ground. “There’s nothing wrong with work.”

“Not as long as that isn’t all there is.” Pete jerked his head towards the office. “Speaking of which, you have a package to deliver.”

A rush of adrenaline fueled his body. “It’s enough for me.”

“If you really believe that, you’re dumber than I look.”

“I have what I need.”

“Uh-huh.” Pete gave him a skeptical look. “You do now. Let me know if you feel the same way when she leaves your ass cold a second time.”

“It doesn’t matter how I feel.” Adam felt his face harden, felt lead in his center.

“The hell it doesn’t.”

Adam shook his head. “It doesn’t, and that’s why.” He made a gesture in the direction Pete had first indicated. “You know what she’s doing while she’s back here? Trying to get a story.”

“So give her one.”

“I can’t do that.”

Pete gave him an exasperated look. “Not the whole story. Just enough truth to make her believe that’s all there is.”

“And then what?” Adam felt the urge to tighten his hands into fists and deliberately relaxed them instead. “Live with the lies?”

“It’s not lying. It’s withholding information on a need to know basis. She doesn’t need to know.” Pete shrugged. “It’s the Washington way. She grew up here. Half her friends’ dads couldn’t talk about what they did for a living. It wasn’t that long ago that the NSA still pretended to not exist.”

“She’d think I was lying about something else,” Adam bit out. “She’d find out I was gone when I was supposed to be at work, and she’d connect the dots. They’d be the wrong dots, but I wouldn’t be able to tell her the truth. You think she won’t leave my ass cold when she thinks I’m cheating on her? I’d rather she walked away now and left us both with the memories.”

“Memories should be real comforting. Let me know how that works out for you.”

“Shut up, Dr. Phil. I have a package to deliver.”