Body Shots by Amber Skyze Read Free Book Online Page A

the guys together to help you out if you’d like.”
    “I don’t think so, Reed. You should just walk back out that door and pretend you never entered my bar in the first place.”
    “Hey, what’s going on?” He reached out to grab her hand but she pulled away.
    “I don’t need you here messing up my life. I was fine before you showed up.” Fine and not heartbroken.
    “Did I do something?”
    “Ha. It’s what you didn’t do,” she spat.
    “What didn’t I do?”
    “Where should I start? Let’s see. You left with barely a note. You haven’t called or come by in what? Two weeks? So was I just a booty call?” Why was she getting into this with him? It didn’t matter. Because in all honesty he could only be a booty call. She couldn’t admit she still felt something for him. She couldn’t act on those feelings. She had to push him away and for good this time.
    “Sierra. You were never a booty call. I’ll be honest. I was a bit worried that I was a booty call when you wouldn’t take your shirt off and I don’t want to cause you any more pain but you have to trust me when I say I’d never use you. I needed time to think.”
    “Think about what.”
    “A way for us to get over all this pain.”
    “And what brilliant solution did you come up with?” Because she couldn’t think of any way for them to get past the pain. It ran too deep for too long.
    “I’ve decided if you don’t want to talk about the accident I won’t push. I’ll wait until you’re ready. And when you are, I’ll be by your side waiting.”
    “You’ll be waiting a lifetime, because I’m never going to be ready to talk about the accident.”
    “Do you need me to call the guys and see if they’re available tonight?”
    So he wanted to change the subject, did he? Fine by her.
    Her head told her to say no, to refuse his offer to help but her heart pulled at her to say yes. She needed them tonight. People were expecting a band and if she didn’t have one, they would find somewhere else to hang for the night. The thought of potentially losing all that money made her act sensibly.
    “Okay. I’d really appreciate that.”
    “Awesome. Let me call the guys and arrange it.”
    Maybe she could arrange for Henry to work tonight. Alone. If she took the night off then she wouldn’t have to worry about after the show. When Reed might linger. Lingering would lead to other things. Things her heart wasn’t ready to do again. She already struggled with the demons from their last encounter. She thought having sex with Reed would be therapeutic, healing. Wrong. It only proved how much she still loved him. And she wanted more of him.
    Yes, taking the night off would be the smartest plan for tonight.
    “They had such a good time last time, they all agreed to fill in.”
    She smiled. “I’m grateful for the last minute offer. I would have understood if they couldn’t.” Probably been relieved too .
    “We can use the exposure and the cash. Besides, I like playing here. We’ve been playing at a lot of different clubs lately but Crimson Nights is by far the best one.”
    His compliment touched her. She liked to think she had a decent place and to have him validate it, made her feel warm inside.
    “That’s nice to hear. Nice to know I’m keeping up with the competition.”
    “I’d say you’re a step above the competition.”
    “So what brings you here today?” And how long before you leave again? Being alone with him was not a good idea. Not one patron was here today, yet.
    “Court.”
    “Oh, how did that go?”
    “Good. I had to pay a fine.”
    “Fine? Does that mean they dropped the charges?”
    “Sort of. I don’t think I deserved the fine but the alternative is worse, so I paid it. Fucking kid. He causes trouble and I pay the price.”
    She knew all too well. “Johnny’s been like that for as long as I can remember. He uses his father’s power for his personal gain. He’s trouble with a capital T. I prefer him to not come