Dirty Shame (Bluefield Bad Boys #1) by Tess Oliver Read Free Book Online Page A

uncharacteristic pause from Becky’s end. She was always the first to fill in a lull in a conversation, but it took her a second to respond. “Yeah—well, I think some things are better left in the past.” A dramatic sigh rolled through the phone. “Anyhow, Kellan is such a waste of hotness. It’s just too bad he’s a Trog.”
    I cringed at the horrid nickname. “Jeez, Becky, speaking of leaving stuff in the past. We’re not in high school anymore. There are no Trogs or Highlanders.”
    “Yeah? Tell that to the people on the north side of the tracks. You’ve just been away too long.”
    “In the real world, you mean? This town is always stuck mid century.”
    “Yeah, yeah, miss worldly, you’ll have to remember you’re back with us simple folk again. But I’m glad you’re back, Ry. I’m in need of some diversion. What about it? I don’t even mind if you’re just using me for a chance to see Kellan. I will sit and sip my beer and wait with you until he walks in just like the loyal friend I was in high school when I waited with you outside the school for Kellan to get out of detention. Plus, and this is just my professional friend advice, I think you should get it over with, you know? The first meeting and the whole rip off the bandage thing.”
    “I don’t know if I’m up for it, Becky. I’ll call you later on and let you know.”
    A quick knock was followed by my dad’s plump face. He was sporting a snow white beard and moustache, a new look for him.
    “Got to go, Becky. Thanks for calling.” I hung up as Dad stepped into the room. “Oh hey, St. Nick, it’s you. I thought it might be my dad.”
    He nodded. “That’s right, make fun of your old man just because every strand of hair has gone white.”
    “You look adorable, and I’m just as happy to see you as I would be to see Santa.” I walked over and threw my arms around him.
    He wrapped me in his warmth, and the familiar scent of pipe tobacco and his aftershave surrounded me. “I knew that guy was no good the first second I laid my eyes on him,” he said. “Of course, no one will be good enough for my little Rylan.”
    Reluctantly, I lowered my arms. “It’s done. I’m sort of relieved to be out of the big city.”
    Dad glanced around the room and shook his head. “Boy, when your mom gets an idea, she goes all out. I just hope all this heavy exercise equipment doesn’t fall through to the first floor.” He combed his fingers through the thinning white hair on his head. “You know, Rylan, the big cities have a lot more opportunities than a small town like Bluefield. Chase was just one fish. There will be others like him.”
    I raised a brow at him. “You mean overly ambitious, obsessed with money and unfaithful? Now you sound like Mom, and it sounds like you’re already trying to run me out of town.”
    “Don’t be silly, Rylan. I’m thrilled to have you back home. You should always remember your roots, but just don’t let yourself get caught up in the silliness of this town.”
    I stared at him. He reached up and fidgeted with a tiny string on his sweater. I needed no interpretation, and the fact that he was avoiding eye contact made his point glaringly obvious.
    “Dad, I’m here under your roof again, but I’m not a teenager anymore. I know it’s hard for you to swallow, but you just don’t have any say in my life any longer.”
    The flicker in his expression was hard to read. It could have been a twinge of anger, or it might very well have been the hurt in knowing that his dad role had been greatly diminished.
    “I don’t want to argue about things, Rylan. You’ll make the right choices. I have complete confidence in you.”
    “I will, but they’ll be the choices that are right for me. They might not necessarily line up with the choices you and Mom want me to make.”
    He sighed, and it was definitely a sigh of irritation. “Your mother has a nice dinner planned. We’ll talk more then. I’ll let you get settled