More Than Jamie Baker (Jamie Baker #2) Read Online Free Page A

shot Teodoro my best “drop it” look. Thankfully, he seemed to get the hint.
    Ryan has no idea what really happened between Becky and Mike. Becky never told anyone the truth besides me, and that was only because I’d guessed. As many times as I’d tried to talk her into it, she never went to the police. She was embarrassed about what happened and since there was no proof, she didn’t want to go through some awful he said/she said trial and become “that girl.” She was afraid people would treat her differently if they knew what happened, and she just wanted to forget everything.
    She had especially never said anything to Ryan about what happened. He just assumed that Mike had dumped her and she was more than willing to let him keep on believing that. Ryan would be destroyed by the truth. He’d probably also tear Mike apart with his bare hands. If Mike wasn’t dead already, that is.
    I swallowed a lump in my throat. “He was alive when they took him to the hospital,” I said gently, “but it was really bad. We can go over there right now, if you want.”
    Ryan nodded and looked to Becky. “You want to come?”
    “That’s okay. You and Jamie go ahead. You guys probably want the alone time, and I’ve got some homework to do, anyway.”
    I felt awful, torn between my two hurting friends, yet dealing with my own selfish needs, too. I hated to leave Becky alone tonight, but Ryan needed this and I needed Ryan.
    Teodoro cleared his throat and smiled at Becky. “I’m still up for going out, if you are.”
    “Oh!” Becky started to panic. “Oh, um…”
    “She’d love to.” I ignored Becky’s glare and pulled her close to me. “It’s not really a date,” I whispered. “Just coffee in a public setting. He’s really nice and super cute.”
    “But Jamie—”
    “You can do this,” I promised. “I have absolute faith in you. Keep your cell on, and call if you need me.”
    Becky took a deep breath and then nodded. “Okay,” she said quietly. “Sure, Teodoro. For a little while.”
    While Becky gave Ryan another hug, I walked Teodoro to the door. “That was nice of you.”
    “It’s my pleasure.” And there were those dimples again.
    We both glanced back at Becky, who was still soaking up Ryan’s comfort.
    “Look,” I said in a low voice, “I’m not going to pretend you don’t know what she’s been through. You heard what she said earlier.”
    That accidentally came out sounding dangerous. Teodoro looked startled. “Yes,” he said, surprise evident in his voice. “You don’t need to worry. I would never hurt her.”
    “She needs this,” I said, “but she needs you to keep your distance, too. Do not touch her. At all. Just being out with you alone will be hard enough.”
    “No problem,” Teodoro promised.
    My eyes narrowed on the guy in front of me. While he didn’t seem intimidating at all, he did strike me as the type of person who knew how to get what he wanted. I was sure there were a lot of brains underneath all that hair.
    I tried not to say anything, but I couldn’t help myself. “If you do anything to upset her, and I mean anything —intentional or not—you won’t just regret meeting her. You will regret ever being born.”
    His eyebrows flew up at my threat, disappearing beneath his dark, shaggy bangs. His mouth twitched with amusement. “You’re awfully protective.”
    “There aren’t many people in this world I really care about. The list of people I trust is even shorter.”
    Teodoro raised his hands up in surrender, flashing his dimples as if he knew they softened people’s defenses. “Hopefully soon you’ll be able to add my name to that list.” His eyes glinted with humor. “If you can remember it, that is.”
    He sobered up suddenly and gave me a very sincere smile. “I’ll take every caution with your friend tonight, and I’ll get her back safely. You have my word.”
    It was enough. I believed him. “Thank you.”
    Ryan gave me a suspicious look once