Paint It Black by Michelle Perry Read Free Book Online

chasing them. I think—”
    “Necie!” he said, louder.
    Heads turned in our direction and Grady flushed. He ran a hand through his rumpled blond hair, then surprised me by taking my face in his hands. In a hushed voice, he said, “Baby, I don’t care about the car. I care about you. Are you okay?”
    The concern in his eyes was so unexpected … for a moment, I simply gaped at him, my explanation dying on my lips. Then I smiled.
    It was Grady’s turn to look startled. He grinned and stroked my cheek with his thumb. “It’s been a long time since you smiled at me like that,” he said softly. “It still makes my heart go crazy.”
    Who are you, and what have you done with my husband? I thought, but I remembered this guy. He was the frat boy I’d fallen in love with. I thought he was gone for good, but he was still there, hidden somewhere deep inside the lawyer I barely knew.
    I found myself thinking of the night we’d met. Iwas working as a waitress in a little off-campus dive when he’d strolled in one night wearing a white T-shirt that read “Sotally Tober” and an easy grin. He’d asked me out that night, and probably the next forty nights straight, ignoring my insistence that I didn’t date frat boys. Actually, I didn’t date anybody. Didn’t have time. But nothing I said fazed him. He’d come in, take a table in my section, then make me laugh by ordering some crazy drink, like Screaming Chocolate Monkeys, Alien Urine, and memorably, Passed Out Naked on the Bathroom Floor. We’d laugh again when I had to call it out to the bartender. Things got to the point where Grady would hang out until closing and then help clean the place up. He even tutored me in chemistry when business was slow.
    Finally, I accepted his invitation. We went to the movies, which turned out to be a big mistake. Between work and school, I was averaging around four hours of sleep a night. I fell asleep on his arm almost as soon as the lights went down. Bless his heart, he didn’t move during the next two hours, though his arm must’ve been killing him. I woke during the big action scene and was mortified, but he simply kissed my forehead and told me how beautiful I looked sleeping.
    “What?” Grady asked again, his smile widening. “Now you’re just making me nervous.”
    “I was thinking of our first date.” I wrapped myarms around his waist and pressed my face against his chest. I could still smell the Scotch on him, but I let it go. He stroked my hair and kissed the top of my head.
    “I’m sorry,” he said. “I acted like a jerk tonight. It scared me when I woke up and you weren’t there. I don’t know what I’d do if you left me for good.” He squeezed me, then pulled back to look at my face. “So, you got him? You really got him?”
    “Yeah.” I glanced across the room at Cougar, who watched us while he talked on his cell phone. Our eyes met and he looked away. “We got him.”
    “Are you okay?” Grady asked.
    I nodded and smiled up at him. “I am now.”
    “Hey, you know Mom’s got Abby all night. You want to go out or anything? We could see a movie that’s not rated G.”
    I laughed. “I’d probably crash on you for sure tonight.”
    “That’d be okay.” Grady winked. “I still like to watch you sleep.”
    Winding my fingers in his, I said, “I’ve got a better idea. It involves you, me … the hot tub. What do you think?”
    He grinned. “I think I’m glad I told that taxi driver to wait.”
    Grady surprised me by brushing a kiss on my lips. While I was still recovering from that, I felt a blast of cold air when the front door crashed open.
    “Where is he?” a woman’s voice demanded. “What have you done with my father?”
    I think I realized who she was before I even turned around. With my breath caught in my throat, I twisted to stare at the exotic brunette in the black fur coat.
    My half sister.
    When the young cop at the door merely gawked at her, she shoved past him and stalked to