Leader of the Pack by Leighann Phoenix Read Free Book Online Page B

answering all of Jenna’s questions without sharing the information that involved Cullen. He also noticed that Aislinn refused to look at him and he figured that if his taking off with Keith that night hadn’t ruined his chances, this situation would. He had to do something about straightening it out the first chance he got. But for now he needed to end the foot job from hell.
    “Jenna,” Cullen sharply interrupted her. Aislinn wouldn’t have believed that a tone like that could possibly come out of him. “I think that Aislinn has duties to perform.”
    Aislinn knew a dismissal when she heard one. She immediately took the cue and left the couple to themselves. She could hear the tones exchanged as she left and knew they were arguing, even if she couldn’t hear what they were arguing about. She was trying desperately not to care that Cullen was here with that blonde, that he hadn’t told her that he was ‘Lord’ whatever, or that she had nearly slept with him only to watch him take off from her apartment as though it had been on fire. I don’t care , she kept thinking to herself. I’ve got no reason to care. He was just some drunk that I met one night who did me a favor or three. I’m happy that he has a blonde bimbo bitch and I’m not at all jealous. I’ve got no reason to care.

Chapter 3
    Burning embers are easily kindled.
    -Irish Proverb

    Aislinn went through the motions of serving dinner and completing the rest of her chores for that evening. Cullen and his date who, Aislinn managed to find out from another member of the kitchen staff, was actually his fiancé ate, their dinner in relatively short order and then left. Jenna had been conspicuously silent on all the subsequent visits that Aislinn had to make to the table and Cullen had managed to catch her eyes with an apologetic stare at one point.
    Aislinn sat in the back of the taxi on her way home. She felt rich in her ability to afford the small luxury each night. Walking would have taken at least an hour. But she would have done it if it had been necessary. She figured that if tips continued the way they were that she would be able to afford to move out of her shitty apartment and closer to the restaurant in relatively short order. She was calculating how much time it would take for her to pay for her missed rent, pay back her friends for her jail break, afford an attorney to deal with Derrick’s lawsuit, and then move into town. Anything to keep her mind off of Cullen.
    The taxi finally pulled up in front of her place and she slid out of the car, paid with some of her tips from that night, and headed toward the steps. When a figure moved out of the shadows near the main entrance and reached for her she turned, leaned back, and delivered a forceful kick to the figure’s chest. It was a reflex she had developed over the years and had saved her life more than once.
    Cullen staggered back into the wall holding his chest and trying to catch his breath. He had to admit it had been a long time since anyone caught him off guard like that and he was shocked that she had been strong enough to knock him backward even with that consideration. He was still trying to catch his breath when she glared at him and headed inside without a word.
    Aislinn fumed as she virtually ran up the stairs to her apartment. What the hell is he doing here? She barely managed to get her key out and go inside before he appeared at the top of the stairs. She slammed the door and walked across the room, threw her purse and coat on the table, and kicked her shoes off. After a few minutes without a knock on the door she figured he must have gotten the message and left. She paced a bit before she decided that she wouldn’t be able to calm down unless she looked to see.
    Aislinn walked over to the door and stared at it a minute. When she started to feel like a complete fool she took the locks off and pulled the door open only to find she was face to face with Cullen. He took a deliberate