Bad Boy's Cinderella: A Sports Romance by Alexa Wilder, Raleigh Blake Read Free Book Online

tilt backwards, almost as if he was going to lay me out on this bench and—
    “Reade,” the unwelcome voice said.
    Reade stiffened instantly, the kiss coming to a shuddering halt, and his hand, which had been dragging up my back towards my zipper, went still and hard against me.
    Then he pulled away, his lips slick in the moonlight, and looked up at the figure currently cutting a shadow across our little bubble of intimacy.
    “Dad.”
    Oh God . Instant embarrassment burned through me and I sat up, wiped a hand over my mouth, and tried to look up at Mr. Lennox but found I couldn’t, not yet.
    “Reade,” his father repeated. “Have you forgotten the speech you’re supposed to be giving?”
    “No.” Reade’s voice came out cracked and dry and he cleared his throat, smoothing hands down his thighs. “I’m coming now.”
    There was a long pause, and the tension of it was too much for me to bear—I looked up into the face of Vernon Lennox and felt the sobering sensation of a bucket of ice water being poured very slowly down my back.
    He didn’t look at me.
    “Need I remind you,” he said to his son, “that half the people in that room are highly influential NFL media contacts I introduced you to. People our team depends on—especially right now,” he added, arching an eyebrow over cold eyes, “while we weather this storm.”
    “Don’t you think I’m aware?” Reade’s jaw was locked tight, and he gave his father an icy glare. “I said I’m coming.”
    “We’ve talked about this,” Vernon said. “There’s a plan in place for you—and it doesn’t involve wasting your time on inconsequential distractions.” His eyes flicked to me, before training back on his son. “You can’t be a football player forever, you know. You need to think of your future and repairing the damaged reputation of our team. An event like this is a prime opportunity to create certain links—”
    Reade got to his feet, effectively cutting his father off. He didn’t quite get into his face, but he gave off a vibe that said very clearly that he was done with this discussion. “I said I’m coming to give the speech,” he snapped. “Just give me a fucking minute.”
    For a worrying instant, it looked as if Vernon planned on starting an argument, with his face twisting and his eyes flashing. But then he shot me a thunderous look as if he put the blame for this squarely at my feet, and stormed away.
    Reade released a breath and held out his hand for me, and I took it without question, unable to even consider his touch. I was reeling from Vernon’s words, and the world didn’t feel as steady beneath my feet as I stood up.
    “I feel like this night is just gonna be me apologizing for my family over and over.”
    “It’s okay,” I said, speaking through a throat dry with shock. “Go and do your duty.”
    “You’re not coming?”
    I looked at him and saw his concern. Saw echoes of his desire for me.
    Saw the younger version of his father’s impulsive eyes, shaped into a handsomer face.
    “I’ll wait here for a while,” I said, trying on a smile. “The night’s so beautiful.”
    When he left, with a lingering kiss on my cheek, I sat heavily on the bench and dropped my face into my hands, shuddering out a breath that felt heavy with loss. The feeling twisting around my heart wasn’t one I could put into words, but it felt a little like I was mourning something I didn’t even have yet.

Chapter Five
Reade
    I was pissed at my father, and pissed at my sister, and pissed at my self for subjecting Kylie to my fucking obnoxious family.
    Our first date should’ve gone a lot smoother. Instead I’d brought her to the world’s most boring birthday party, and exposed her to my family in all their glory.
    She deserved my protection and care, and instead I’d thrown her to the wolves.
    I gave my speech, denying all allegations, because that was my duty, and amidst the smattering of applause, I slipped away and headed back