A Bad Boy For Summer by Joanna Blake Read Free Book Online

incorrigible. He was as vocal as Jace was quiet.  
    “Because of your leg?”
    “No, because of my thir d leg.”
    I slapped my hand over my mouth in surprised laughter.  
    “I walked right into that one didn’t I?”
    He nodded and pulled two beers from his cooler.  
    “Uh huh. You did. Let’s see what else you can walk into.”
    He popped the top of the bottles and handed me one. I took a sip and closed my eyes. I wasn’t much of a drinker but the cold beer tasted perfect on a hot summer night.
    When I opened them again a girl was standing in front of me.
    Not a girl, a woman.
    She was looking me up and down with a sneer on her heavily made up face.  
    I realized I was doing the same thing to her, minus the sneering. Of course, she was hard not to look at. She looked like a model from a music video. Her jeans were skin tight and cut open on both sides, held together by black lace. The lace criss crossed up her long, thin legs ending in bows at her ankles.
    Her ripped t-shirt was cropped, barely covering her breasts.
    Actually you could see the bottom of her breasts.
    She definitely was not wearing a bra.
    For a moment I was totally intimidated by this spectacle. And then I realized how ridiculous she looked.
    I mean, stiletto heels seemed a bit much for the local race track.
    Everything about her was a bit much.
    “Oh hey Shannon.”
    The girl tossed her long blond hair over her shoulder.
    “I’m waiting for Jace.”
    My stomach did a little flip flop. Her… and Jace? How could I compete with that?
    “He’s busy tonight Shannon. But I am available.”
    He wiggled his eyebrows at her. It would have been cute if I hadn’t heard him say ‘busy tonight.’ The word literally echoed around my brain.
    Tonight… tonight… tonight…
    What did I expect though really? That he was a monk? I was the only freakishly inexperienced person in a hundred mile radius.
    “With her?”
    The blond’s incredulity stung, and not just a little.
    “You’re a little chubby for him, doncha think?”
    My mouth opened. I would have given a million dollars to have a good comeback line at that moment. Instead I just stared at her in horror. I felt it was fifth grade and I was Fat Frannie all over again.
    But then I remember who I was. Like Nevada told me over and over again. I was Frantastic, darn it.
    What a bitch.
    The shot rang out suddenly and the noise of the cars drowned out whatever bile Shannon was spewing now. Thank God for small favors.
    Very, very small favors.
    I watched the race through blurry eyes. Flannery put his arm around me, which warmed me up a bit. It was also the only thing keeping me from getting up and leaving.
    Not that I could walk home from here anyway.
    But I was seriously thinking about trying.
    I’d never been so humiliated in my entire life.
    The race was almost over by the time I started paying attention to it. Jace was in the lead, neck and neck with another car. They banged against each other, sending my heart to my throat.
    Even if he was just having fun with me, I didn’t want to see him get killed.
    Seconds later he screeched over the finish line, pulling ahead at the last moment.
    The crowd went absolutely berserk.
    I stayed in my seat, watching as Jace was swallowed up by a group of screaming fans. He waved at me as he was pushed toward the table set up with the money counters. He collected an envelope and grinned, holding it up in the air.
    That’s when Shannon kissed him.
    She actually threw herself into his arms and kissed him.
    Jace pushed her away just as fast. I saw him wipe his face off and say something to her angrily. He didn’t like it I guess.
    Maybe cheap blonds weren’t his type after all.
    He brushed past her, making a bee line for me.
    “Congrats man.”
    He nodded at Flannery, shoving the prize money into his hand.
    “I’ll see you later. You can give me my half then.”
    “Yeah okay. Goodnight Frannie. Very nice to meet you.”
    I was numb as Jace pulled me off the