IcySeduction by Shara Lanel Read Free Book Online Page B

pissed?”
    “She handled it amazingly well. Anyway…” He wondered how to
say this and not sound mental. “I might want to visit her in Florida.”
    “Fast moves, Dad.”
    He smiled, then shook his head at the person trying to flag
him down from the curb. She must not have noticed the “Off Duty” light on top. “So
I’m going to call your mom when we get home and see if you can stay there for a
few days…not sure when exactly. Maybe next week?”
    “I can stay in the apartment by myself.”
    “Hell no.” Not only was this the city, Jake didn’t want Dean
to explore the apartment and find some adult stuff he wouldn’t and shouldn’t
understand at his age. “It’s just a couple extra stops to get to school from
your mom’s.”
    Dean’s phone beeped after Jake had parked in one of the rare
parking lots that belonged to the apartment complex and didn’t charge for
parking, unheard of in the city. They highly enforced their parking policy with
patrolling tow trucks. The complex consisted of three matching buildings, each seven
floors high with buzzer security. Jake had also installed a couple of extra
locks on his door, though he probably didn’t need to be quite that paranoid. But
this was his son he was talking about, and nothing was more precious to him,
though he’d never tell Dean something so uncool. Their apartment was on the sixth
floor, so he jogged up the stairs when he felt the need to be healthier. Not
today though. He still ached, his shoulder especially, from his fabulous
experience with Christine. He eyed Dean as the elevator creaked and groaned its
way to their floor.
    Dean cupped his hand around his phone as he typed a reply to
the texter, putting Jake on guard.
    “Who are you texting?”
    “No one.”
    Jake snagged the phone so he could read the screen.
    “Geez, Dad, how about some privacy!”
    “We talked about this when I got you that phone. Who’s
Tishan?”
    “Just this girl at school.”
    They reached their floor, waited for the elevator doors to
grind open, then Jake unlocked the four locks on the red door. The hallway was
painted in an unpleasant and worn green while the short shag carpet was blue.
Once inside, Dean tossed his backpack onto one of the kitchen chairs. He knew
he had to do his homework before he could get on PlayStation.
    “I haven’t heard you mention her before. Is she in one of
your classes?”
    Dean plopped into a chair and rolled his eyes…again. It was
a wonder he didn’t get a strain from that. “She’s new in my art class and got
added to my workstation.”
    “And she’s pretty?”
    “Yep.”
    Jake flipped the light switch so Dean could actually see his
homework. He traipsed to the living room couch, its upholstery almost rubbed
bare from age, and scooped up the handset to their home phone. Dean’s mother
was on speed dial. Lynette answered just as her machine was clicking on. “Hello?”
    “This is Jake. I have a favor to ask you.” He listened as
his ex’s new man swore at the TV. A crowd cheered in the background, so he was
probably watching football.
    “What?” Lynn already sounded snippy.
    “Dean is doing good, by the way.”
    “I’m sure you would’ve called me if it had been otherwise.”
    “God, Lynn, what is up your ass?”
    “What’s the damn favor?”
    “Can you take Dean for a couple of days, maybe from this
Friday to next Wednesday?”
    “Where are you going, may I ask?”
    Jake wanted to tell her she may not but that wouldn’t help
her agree. “Florida.”
    “Why?”
    “Come on, Lynnette. Do I grill you every time you go out of
town?”
    “You don’t know when I go out of town.”
    “No shit.”
    “And we’re going to be out of town this weekend. On Monday I
start a week-long training class in Hoboken. Absolutely no time. He might as
well stay at your place. Isn’t he old enough to stay alone?”
    “Jesus Christ!” He couldn’t help it. He went off on her with
creative words until she hung up. “Dammit