Playing in SECRET (Corrigan & Co. Book 9) by Crystal Perkins Read Free Book Online Page A

and shut me up?”
    “We’re good.”
    I walk over and pull
her into my arms. “How about you and Reina?”
    “We’re good, too.
She just worries about me. I’m like an older sister to her.”
    “I thought older
sisters were supposed to worry about younger sisters,” I say,
kissing her cheek.
    “It goes both ways.”
    I place my fingers on
her jaw to turn her face the way I want it, and see her wince.
“What’s wrong?”
    “I took a hard hit
earlier.”
    Oh my God. I knew they
got Jeanne away from those guys, but I didn’t even think about how
they did it. “Where?”
    “My jaw. It’s fine.
It’s going to look pretty ugly tomorrow, though.”
    “You were fighting to
save my daughter. Nothing about that is ugly,” I tell her as I
feather kisses all over her jaw.
    She moves and then
we’re full on kissing. She’s got my t-shirt clutched in her
hands, and I’m playing with the next button on her jumpsuit. I just
get it popped when we’re interrupted. Jeanne doesn’t yell, but
she’s not quiet, either. It doesn’t really matter since either of
them would have the same effect—I have to go back to my room alone.
    “Tomorrow night?”
    “Maybe.”
    “That’s better than
no.”
    “It is.”
    “Dad. Your time with
Audrey is up. Go hang out with the men. They’re in your man cave.”
    “Yes, ma’am,” I
tell her with a salute, before kissing the top of her head.
    I grab Audrey for one
last kiss, and then head out to the pool house, also known as my man
cave. Beer and foosball will be fun; although, I know it won’t
compare to a night with Audrey. I’ve waited twenty years for that,
and while I won’t wait twenty more, I can be patient. For maybe another 24 hours or so.
    * * *
    Audrey
    “I’ve got your
pajamas, Aud,” Stella tells me, handing me a bag.
    I’d filled her in on
my plan while we were shopping, so she could get us all something to
wear tonight. Everyone has on a cute t-shirt and shorts combo, and
I’m expecting the same. That’s not what’s in the bag, though.
    “Stella, where are my
pajamas?” I ask, looking at the piece of silk in the bag.
    “Oh, they were out,
so I got you something different.”
    “There were no
regular pajama sets anywhere in that mall?”
    “Pleading the fifth.”
    “I’ll just stay in
my jumpsuit, I guess.”
    “You can’t, Audrey.
This is my first slumber party,” Jeanne tells me.
    “What Stella got me
isn’t something I would wear to a slumber party.”
    “Unless it was an 80s
movie, or a porno,” Darcy says with a laugh.
    “Those two are not
interchangeable little girl,” I tell her, shaking my head as she
sticks her tongue out at me.
    “It’s just us
girls, and it can’t be that bad,” Reina says. “Just put it on.”
    “Okay, Boss, but I
warned you.”
    I go into the bathroom
and slip on the pink pin striped sleep shirt. It’s shorter in front
than back, and I’ll have to be careful to not flash my friends too
much. Yes, they’ve seen me in my panties before, and naked too, but
I try to keep my lingerie to myself. I straighten the thing one more
time, and then walk out.
    “You look pretty,
Audrey,” Jeanne says. “I want a nightgown like that, too.”
    “Thanks, Jeanne. I’m
sure Stella can get you one.”
    “I can. Now let’s
get started. What are we doing first?”
    We decide to do our
hair and nails first, and then watch the movies while we eat the junk
food. Darcy puts on some music, and we get started. I’m painting
Jeanne’s nails while I ask her about the guy at the mall.
    “Was that Roger at
the mall?”
    “Yeah.”
    “And?”
    “He’s a jerk. Thank
you for showing me that.”
    “That wasn’t what I
wanted. He was just being a…jerk, and he needed to be put in his
place.”
    “My mom would’ve
probably flirted with him,” she says, biting her lip.
    “Well, I’m
definitely not Misha.”
    “No, you’re not. I
like you a lot, Audrey. I know we’ve only known each other for a
few days, but I