Always Yours by Kari March Read Free Book Online Page B

to the next level?"
    Shay and Kyle had been together since high school and although they fought like cats and dogs they were somehow perfect for each other. They were nothing alike, but in its own messed up way, it worked. Shay's bubbly and outgoing personality always overshadowed Kyle's quieter and reserved ways, which I found hilarious, since his job required him to socialize. Owning your own gym and being a personal trainer wasn't usually something an introverted person would normally do, but Kyle was an exception to normal in every aspect of his life, even his looks. He was extremely attractive with his light brown shaggy hair, deep green eyes, muscular body, and tattoos that covered his arms, women flocked to him. Everything about him screamed sex and confidence, but underneath it all he was just a big old teddy bear.
    "Are you really thinking about leaving him?" I asked in shock. I knew they fought about this a lot but I never thought Shay would really leave because of it.
    She exhaled a deep sigh. "No, I'm not. I don't think I could ever leave him. Even if he refuses to marry me," she admitted. She loved Kyle more than anything else in this world. She would do anything to make him happy, even if that meant sacrificing her own dream of getting married. "I just wished he wasn't so damn stubborn."
    "Shay, you are just as stubborn as he is and you know it. You push each other too hard sometimes and when you do, you both explode. Just like last night," I told her.
    "Hey! Last night was not my fault. All I did was make a general comment about men and he just assumed I was talking about him," she squealed defensively.
    "I know, but you do ride him a lot about the whole marriage thing, and you know how he feels about it. Maybe you should just avoid the subject for a while, play it cool, like you don't even care about it. You're both battling here and he's winning. He knows you want to get engaged and you know he doesn't, and pestering him about it is getting you nowhere." Shay looked at me like I was crazy. "Look, Shay, I know Kyle loves you, and I know that if you didn't bug him so much about this, he would've probably asked you months ago but you won't let up. He's so stubborn, it's like he is holding out just to prove a point."
    "So, are you saying I should try pretending like I don't want to get married?" she asked confused. I could tell the wheels were turning but she wasn't quiet putting the pieces together.
    "Yeah, try some reverse psychology on him." I shrugged. "It isn't like you have anything to lose at this point. What harm could it do?"
    "Hmm, that might just work. Thanks, Cara," she said cheerfully.
    "Anytime, hooker," I chuckled. "Now, since I helped you out with your little dilemma, how about you help me out with mine?"
    "Name it," she proclaimed with a smile.
    "Accept the manager position." She started to hold up her hand in protest but I continued speaking—she had to hear me out before she turned me down again. "Please, Shay," I pleaded with her. "Do this for me? You are the only person I trust enough to hire and you would be great at it. You already do the job anyway, so why not get paid for it? Please?" I looked at her with big puppy dog eyes begging her to accept.
    Chewing on the tip of my thumb, I waited for her to respond but she didn't. Silence filled the room and I swear I could hear crickets chirping outside. She wasn't going to accept my offer, I knew this, but she could at least answer me instead of making me sweat it out like this.
    Rolling her eyes and shaking her head she finally spoke. "You owe me, Cara Pratt, do you hear me? You owe me big."
    No way? Did she just....Does that mean...?
    "Oh my God! You're kidding me? Are you accepting?" I asked in disbelief.
    "Oh, and I want Fridays and Wednesdays off," she demanded with a huge smile on her face.
    "You got it!" I exclaimed as I stood up and walked around the desk to give her a hug. "Anything else you would like to negotiate with me?"
    "Umm,