Double Play by Nikki Duvall Read Free Book Online Page A

seat. Could the night get any worse?
    “Barstools
all filled at the Palmer House?” she sneered.
    “Hello
to you, too.”
    She
tossed her empty drink tray on the bar and watched Tony King scan the room with
an air of contempt. “No gold diggers in tow?” she asked. “Guess the fake tan
and Rolex aren’t working, King.”
    “Your
customer service skills need polished, Honey.” He wiped a vinyl bar stool with
a cocktail napkin and gingerly set his Guess jeans down. “I got hungry and I
was in the neighborhood. Got anything on the menu that isn’t deep fried?”
    “I’ll
see if we can rustle up some escargot.”
    “You
look cute in that uniform, Halee. No wonder John still has wet dreams about
you.”
    “What
do you want, King?”
    “I’ll
start with a vodka martini.”
    Halee
stood her ground. “We don’t serve alcohol to go, King, and you were just
leaving.”
    “Now,
now, Halee, you’ll have to learn to be nicer to me now that we’ll be rekindling
our relationship.”
    “Don’t
hold your breath. On second thought,” she said with a smirk and toss of her
head, “please do.”
    “I
understand you need someone to blame, Honey, but I’m not your man. I never told
John to sleep with that sleazy blonde.”
    “Probably
not. You were just in the background cheering him on.”
    “Nothing
to be embarrassed about, Doll,” he said, dropping his eyes to her chest. “Her
tits were bigger. John couldn’t help himself.” He grinned. “It’s a guy thing.”
    “Actually,
it’s a little boy thing. I’ll get you another waitress,” she said through
gritted teeth.
    “Hold
on, now. I forgot to give you something at the gala.” Tony leaned in and waved
a $10,000 check made out to North Shore Literacy.
    Halee
eyed him warily. “Since when are you interested in literacy?”
    “I’m
not. I’m interested in you.”
     “Your
interest,” she spit, “is better spent elsewhere.”
    “I
want you to spend time with John again.”
    “I
don’t think so…”
    “Unless you’re still with
that guy from the gala. What was his name? Pretentious Prick?”
    “ Doctor Cottrell. And it doesn’t surprise me that you would find him intimidating.
Brainless lumps of muscle usually do.”
    “That’s
a little haughty coming from a waitress.”
    “A
waitress with a master’s degree. What’s your degree in, King, unethical
behavior?”
    “Success,
Baby. I’m the one wearing the Rolex.”
    “And
you’re improving the world how?”
    Tony
smiled. “So reform me. Go see John and cash this check.”
    “I
don’t think he’d like that.”
    “That’s
the point. John is a better player when he’s angry. You’ll be doing him a
favor.”
    “While
ruining my own life.”
    Tony
leaned in. “Everyone knows you and John left together last night, Halee. Your
picture getting into the Porsche was splashed across every tabloid this
morning. By the blush creeping up your neck right now, I’m going to wager you
didn’t play cards. You can cut the act.”
    She
looked away. “That’s none of your business…”
    “You
take up with John, it becomes my business. We’re linked at the hip.”
    “You
mean at the wallet.”
     “You
want to talk about money, let’s talk about money. How many young ladies are in
your program now, Halee?”
    She
hesitated. “Three hundred or so.”
    “And
how many can read since you’ve worked your magic?”
    “All
of them.”
    “But
the program is short on cash so you have a waiting list. How many are on the
waiting list?”
    “Look,
if you want to make a donation to North Shore Literacy, I’ll be the last one to
stop you. But don’t muddy my cause by turning your donations into bribes. I’ll
do what I want with my personal time and I prefer not to spend it with J.D.”
    Tony
leaned closer and lowered his voice. “I don’t know what’s going on between you
two, but this isn’t about you, Halee. It’s about all those young ladies who are
counting on you. It’s about their