Big Girls Don't Cry by Taylor Lee Read Free Book Online Page A

moment, she had nothing to wear. She looked in disgust at the pile of clothes on the bed, all of which she’d tried on twice.
    She’d left San Francisco so quickly that she’d thrown the most available clothes in her suitcase without any thought to what she’d need in Yuma. Stripping hangers thoughtlessly, she’d ended up with a mish mash of cropped tops, jeans, biker shorts and four or five short swirly skirts. And, of course, the red suit that she had consciously added to her jumbled wardrobe. Thank God, Madame Juen had helped. Remembering the sobbing woman daintily folding Lexie’s outrageous scraps of lacy underwear, Lexie’s chest tightened. They had barely spoken. There were no words to say. When Madam Juen brought out her collection of strappy platform sandals, ankle boots, and her special knee high lizard skin boots with a questioning look, Lexie had scooped them up and thrown them all in the suitcase.
    Staring at the one sundress she’d tossed in at the last minute, remembering how blisteringly hot Yuma was, she decided it was her best bet. He said be casual. Damn, only a man would say that. Casual as in her biker shorts and an exercise bra, or casual like jeans and a t-shirt? The sundress had the swirly skirt she preferred, although it came to inches above her knees looking almost modest in comparison to her usual short skirts that rode up her thighs. Granted, the stretchy bodice didn’t do much to contain her full breasts, but she‘d grown accustomed over the years to men ogling her. She’d given up any pretense of hiding them.
    Glancing at her array of boots and shoes, she tossed her head and yanked out her four inch high heeled patent leather red shoes. They matched her dress, so why the hell not! She stood back to assess the results. She was mildly pleased with the woman in the mirror. She’d already wrestled with the never-ending question of what to do with her long blond hair. She eschewed the usual ponytail or casual twist, deciding to let it hang free. She was done fussing. Annoyed with the time and trouble she’d taken to look good, she reminded herself with a scowl, she’d been tricked into this evening.
    Glancing at the pile of papers that she’d spent the afternoon memorizing, she acknowledged she could use a break. Her grumbling stomach reminded her she hadn’t eaten since the banana she had after a long intense practice on the miniscule balcony. Damn, she’d meant to find a grocery store to stock up on water and fruit, but the cockroaches she’d chased down with the heel of her boot made the idea of eating in the grungy room untenable. Tossing a sweater in her shoulder bag, she hurried out the door, intending to wait for Jake in the parking lot. She didn’t try to analyze why she didn’t want him to see the dilapidated place she was living in. She could barely stand it herself.
    ~~~
    As she fumbled with the useless lock, she heard a low whistle and turned to see Jake looking up at her from the bottom of the three flights of cement stairs. The look on his face made her self-consciously press the flared skirt of her dress next to her thighs, certain he could see up her dress. When he gave her a knowing grin that made her gut clench, she almost reconsidered. She still could say no. Go back in her room and lock the door. But that was before she allowed herself to focus on the man ambling up the steps toward her.
    Gone was the ACU camouflage. In its place he wore tight black jeans and a grey t-shirt. His tan combat boots with the rubber soles had been replaced by black ankle boots with enough chains and metal studs to put hers to shame. She couldn’t contain her gasp. She’d known he was an impressive man, handsome, overwhelming. But the casual jeans and t shirt showed off a body she’d only guessed at in his regulation dress. His t-shirt revealed impossibly broad shoulders and bulging biceps. Tucked in his belted jeans the shirt emphasized his tapered waistline and hard abs. His