Love Is the Drug by K. E. Saxon Read Free Book Online Page B

fresh air for a minute?”
    Julie grinned up at him and shook her head. “No way. Now that you dragged me out here, I’m having too good of a time to rest.”
    He grinned back. She felt kind of nice to hold. Not like arm ornament, but like real female flesh. He allowed his eyes a quick glance down at her chest. Nice looking tits. Not real big, but definitely some he’d like to see more of. He lifted his eyes back to hers and was jolted by the twinkle in her eye as she lifted her mouth into an even wider smile. He gave her a shrug. “Sorry. Guy thing. Not even conscious of it most of the time.”
    “Bullshit.”
    Jason’s eyes widened in shock, but he laughed. That was the first time he’d heard her say a single cuss word. And she’d chosen a good one. “Not buying it, huh?” He definitely liked this looser side of her. He’d have to remember to get her tipsy more often.
    “Not for one single minute. You forget: I’ve been around a lot of men, even if they were just interested in my sister.” She stumbled against him again, and this time, Jason led her off the dance floor. “Time to get some fresh air.”
    They were just about to the door when he saw Mike cozying up to Nora Lee at the bar. Shit! He’d hoped, when he hadn’t seen the Husband Hunter by eight o’clock, that she wasn’t coming out tonight. He was just about to turn around and head for the back door when she glanced up and saw them. No getting out of it now. “Hi, Nora Lee, nice to see you,” he said, and then—he couldn’t say why for sure—he put his arm around Julie’s waist and tucked her tight up against his side. Flashing a glance down at her, he continued, “This is Julie Del Mar, my partner.” There was definite apprehension, as well as surprise, in those dark eyes of hers as Julie looked up at him and then over at Nora Lee.
    Nora Lee squinted a bit and her brow furrowed. “Del Mar?” Her eyes flew to his then. “You’re that Jason Jörgensen?” There was shock in her voice.
    “What’re you talking about, ‘that Jason Jörgensen,’ ?” Mike asked as he gave Jason a confused look.
    Nora Lee slid off her stool and placed her hand on Mike’s upper arm. “Why, Sugar, this here”—she tipped her bottled-red-head toward Julie, who now stood as stiff as Jason—“is Connie Del Mar’s sister. You know—that crazy blonde actress who grew up around here somewhere? The one that killed herself a few weeks ago.” Then she pointed her thumb at Jason. “And this guy here is the man Connie Del Mar accused of attempted rape”—she looked over at Jason then, one brow raised—“and drugging , right? About—I don’t know—what? Five, six years ago?”
    Jason dropped his arm from Julie’s waist and stepped a couple of inches away from her. “She was mistaken. And that’s all I’m willing to say about it.” His gaze was steady as he scanned first one face and then the other of those who, including the bartender, were standing close enough to have heard the exchange. “Ever.” He could practically see the rumor growing legs and running around the room. “C’mon Julie, we’re leaving.” And then he took hold of her arm and nearly dragged her out the door.
    She didn’t protest. Not once. Even when she slid and nearly fell on the gravel in the parking lot as he hauled her none too gently toward the truck.
    Back in the bar, Nora Lee turned to Mike and said, “I wonder what Connie’s sister thinks. Did you notice how quiet she was the whole time?”
    Mike shrugged. “I believe Jason. Those celebrities live by a whole different code of ethics than us regular folk.”
    “Yes, but what if the sister’s trying to set Jason up or something?”
    Mike rolled his eyes. “No way. That girl’s much too sweet to do anything like that.”
    Nora Lee just cocked a brow at him and, with a last glance toward the door, lifted one hip back up onto the stool. “So, Mike, how about another drink, for old time’s sake?”
    * *