Perfectly Broken by Prescott Lane Read Free Book Online

everyone’s business, too. Still, he wasn’t about to tell her everything. Some things should remain buried in old newspaper clippings.
    She reached for his hand just as his phone went off again, vibrating loudly against the metal. Peyton pulled back her hand, as he declined the call. “So you think womanizing is genetic?”
    Reed smiled. “I guess you live what you know.”
    “Your dad lies to these women?” Reed nodded. “He lies to your mother?” He nodded once more. “Well, you don’t seem like your father to me.”
    “You’re the first to say that.”
    “You told me you never lie to your women, so that seems different.”
    “I’m not a good liar.”
    Of course not , Peyton thought. You don’t want to be like your father. And you don’t want to get hurt like your mother.
    His phone went off again. He stuffed it down his pocket.
    “Jesus, what’s that like ten women now?” she teased.
    “No, the same one. I’m sorry.”
    “She must be in bed waiting for you.”
    “It’s not like that. Well, not always like that.” Reed smiled. “She’s an old family friend.”
    She winked at him. “I’m sure.”
    “As you can see, I’ve declined each of her calls. Will you have dinner with me tonight?”
    “No.”
    “I promise I won’t take you to a buffet.” Peyton laughed “How can I get you to go?” He searched her eyes, finding the hint of sadness and fear he’d seen before. Something clicked inside him — his dream. Stop fighting. Be patient. “I promise we’ll take things slow. I’m in no hurry. Just dinner, I promise.”
    Peyton twirled her locket, her heart telling her to go but her mind telling her to run. She knew what Dr. Lorraine would want her to do. “I need one more promise.”
    He stepped closer and took her hand, trembling slightly, feeling the adrenaline coursing through her body. “Name it.”
    “No trips to the bathroom stall.” Peyton reached up and gently wiped some flour from his chin.
    “Only if you ask nicely.” Reed watched her eyes, his entire body on fire from just her fingertips on his face. He stroked her cheek and whispered, “Take a chance.”
    “OK, I’ll have dinner with you.”
    “Finally!” He let out a deep breath. For a moment he thought to kiss her but remembered he just promised to control himself. “Tonight?”
    “Can’t tonight.”
    “Hot date?”
    “The only date I have is with you. And we’ll have to wait and see how hot it is.”
    Reed leaned down, his warm breath tickling her neck. “I guarantee it will be pretty damn hot.”
    * * *
    “Do you see Griffin and Stephanie?” Quinn yelled over the dueling pianos in Pat O’Brien’s.
    “Not yet,” Peyton yelled back. She and Quinn had planned for a girls night out but decided to include Griffin and Stephanie since they’d come in town. Peyton grabbed a table for four.
    Quinn flashed Peyton a sexy grin. “I give it five minutes — actually three if you undo a few buttons on your shirt.” Back in college, they prided themselves on never having to buy a drink and guessing how long it would take for one to arrive.
    “Hike up your skirt,” Peyton teased, “and it will be less than two.”
    Quinn’s phone rang. “Bugs,” she said with a giggle before walking away to answer.
    Peyton smiled and picked up a menu. Suddenly a fruity rum cocktail appeared under her nose, in a glass shaped like a hurricane lamp, garnished with an orange slice and a cherry. Peyton looked up, first seeing Quinn smirk while talking to Bret, then into a pair of dark brown eyes attached to a buff guy with a shaved head and tattoos on both arms.
    “No thanks,” Peyton said, taking in his thick hands.
    “Just one drink?”
    “I don’t drink,” she fibbed.
    “Then what are you doing in a bar, baby?”
    Baby? Peyton cleared her throat. “See my friend over there?” She pointed to Quinn and eyed her to hurry up. “She is a sloppy drunk, a real lush. She makes really bad decisions. I came along just to make