NOT DEAD YET: A Lucy Hart, DEATHDEALER Novel (Book Two) by Eva Sloan, Alice Bello Read Free Book Online Page A

everyone... even herself.
    Not that she’d grown that much as a person—she still lived to shop, she still felt entitled to the good life, and she still was unabashedly out for number one.  But those she felt closest to now were somehow more important than all that.  She held them above all the trappings of being a wealthy socialite.  For those few—and yet growing in number—souls, she would do almost anything.
    Unfortunately, the spritely girl dressed like a catholic schoolgirl straight out of a Rob Zombie movie, was one of those souls.  And she wanted Lucy to come with her further into what had to be the most disturbing place she’d ever encountered.
    “Did you really think I’d do something like that?”  Abbey rested her hands on her hips with haughty displeasure.  “I mean, really Lucy!  Gross!”
    Lucy held up her hands in surrender.  “I’m not judging.”  But thank god they weren’t having that conversation!  “I mean, it’s practically going on trendy to, you know... ”
    “Give up the big V?”  Abbey’s gaze just leveled Lucy.  It was too blunt, just like Abbey herself.  And those eyes, no matter what crazy makeup she wore, always seemed to cut right into you.  “If it’s so trendy, then why haven’t you given it up?”
    “Huh... what?”  That’s me, the eloquent debater.  “Why would you think—”
    Abbey waved her off with a bored wave.  “Oh, please.  I knew the moment I met you.  You’re not giving that up any time soon.”  She smiled conspiratorially.  “Not even for Mr. Hot-as-Hell Wolf-Boy.”
    Lucy blinked at her friend slowly.  She just couldn’t believe that Abbey knew her so well.  It was probably just the upcoming nuptials that had Lucy so out of sorts.  But having Abbey being so surprisingly insightful was just creepy.
    But then again, hadn’t she been trying to get Mr. Hot-as-Hell Wolf-Boy to do just that?
    “So how do we get off this subject?” Lucy said, averting her gaze from Abbey, and a million miles away from the phallus sporting manikin. 
    Abbey smiled wickedly.  “Well, it involves you coming with me further into this little bordello of sin... and some sexy underwear.”
    She spun around and skipped further into the shop, past more leather clad mannequins, a display of ornately carved riding crops, and past a glass case, the counter strewn with bottles of scented oils and flavored lubricants. 
    Lucy groaned and rolled her eyes to the ceiling.  I’m never going to live this down.  Never.
    She closed her eyes, pulled herself together inside and out, and then marched farther into the shop to find her crazy best friend.
     
    ~*~
     
    The “sexy underwear” turned out to be the most extensive collection of lace, satin, and silk garters Lucy had ever imagined existed.  And weird upon weird, it fit perfectly into the theme of a pre-engagement party shopping spree.  Lucy hadn’t chosen the dress yet... but she’d already set her mind on something pearl white that shimmered.  Her colors would be peach and pink.  She’d laid claim to those colors when she was twelve, and her choice had remained firm.
    So she bought every single white, white and pink, white and peach, and white, peach, and pink garter the store had. 
    The sales clerk, wearing a nametag that read Rachel, also showed Lucy and Abbey the shop’s extensive collection of negligees and lacy underwear. 
    Rachel had curly red hair that was an unnaturally vibrant color, yet somehow fit her flamboyant personality perfectly.  She was at least six inches taller than Lucy, skinny as a toothpick, but still had some youthful plumpness to her gorgeous cheekbones.  She wore jeans and a pink and acid green t-shirt, torn at the neck, and the non-existent sleeves, that once seemed to sport the logo of an old punk rock band.
    But it was Rachel’s smile that really put her apart: loony, lopsided, and brilliantly white.  And when she smiled, it made her large green eyes practically