Picture Me Dead by Heather Graham Read Free Book Online Page A

to drive up with his firefighting friends. They would be at a late-night swing club.
    â€œFire guys?” Karen inquired.
    â€œThey’re not all incredibly buff and good-looking,” Jan warned.
    â€œWe could take a chance,” Karen said.
    And so they did.
    Len was there with two friends, as if he’d made an effort to round out the party. Len was tall and built like a rock himself. He had told Ashley that he had gotten into physical fitness when he’d applied for the force, then kept it up. He was sandy-haired, and green-eyed, with a few freckles, thirty-one years old, and a genuinely nice guy. She knew he wanted their relationship to go beyond friendship, but she didn’t. As nice as he was, she simply wasn’t attracted to him. She knew that she couldn’t say that, since nothing would be quite so devastating to a man with an ego, so she kept their relationship platonic by insisting that nothing was more important to her than getting onto the force and keeping up with a few art classes in between.
    He seemed to have accepted that they were limited to friendship. Sometimes he even made her laugh, telling her about his disastrous dates, his quest for the right woman.
    Both the men with him, Kyle Avery and Mario Menendez, perfectly fit the public’s idea of what a rugged young firefighter should look like.
    â€œAshley, you do know how to pick ’em,” Karen told her. “He’s to die for.”
    â€œWhich one?”
    Karen was silent for a minute. “Actually, all of them. Especially your friend Len. I don’t understand why you don’t scoop him right up.”
    â€œBecause it isn’t there.”
    â€œWhat isn’t there? He sure looks like he’s got everything to me.”
    â€œGo for him, then,” Ashley said.
    Karen shook her head. “Too awkward. He’s got the hots for you.”
    â€œHe’s a friend, Karen. If you make him happy, you’ll make me happy.”
    â€œC’mon, you two. This is a dance club,” Jan interrupted. “Let’s dance, then we’ll sort out the psychology of it all, hmm?”
    After a few hours of swing, changing partners frequently and dancing with others, as well, Karen claimed exhaustion. She, Jan and Ashley made for the ladies’ room while the men ordered drinks.
    â€œAshley, I’m flirting away with your buddy, making myself very happy and keeping you in the clear, but you’re not showing the least sign of interest in anyone,” Karen stated.
    Ashley sighed. “I’m in the middle of the academy and trying to help Nick out now and then. I don’t want to be involved. And it’s getting late. I may opt out of the rest of the evening and head back.”
    â€œIt’s not that late. And you don’t have to get involved with anyone. Just have fun, Ashley. I’m a teacher. I spend my life with little kids. I do the ABCs and two plus two, and wash little hands and help blow little noses all day. It’s been almost a year since I had what you’d actually call a real boyfriend—and I don’t miss that creep! But I do miss…company. Okay, and sex. Don’t you ever just want to have sex?”
    â€œKaren, sex is a great thing. But maybe you want to get to know him a little.”
    â€œI don’t know,” Jan teased, checking her lipstick. “Sometimes guys are a lot better before you get to know them.”
    â€œHe lives in Miami. She should get to know him,” Ashley said.
    â€œMother Superior has spoken,” Karen acknowledged. “But let’s not call it quits already, huh? I gave him my phone number. And if he calls me once we’re home…great. Or he may start pining for you all over again.”
    â€œKaren, we’re friends. That’s all.”
    â€œI hope that’s true. I hope he does call. He has a respectable job. He’s nice as hell. He drinks, but not a lot, and he dances swing.