Precious Embrace (Embrace Series) by Dana Mason Read Free Book Online Page B

about…if I don’t care about all that stuff.” He waved his hand as if to brush it away.
    “You need to take the next exit.”
    “So…” He looked around, scanning the streets. “This is Napa?”
    “Carl is staying with his parents.” She pointed. “Turn left at the next driveway.”
    “I thought these were roads.”’
    “They are…private roads. It’s here,” she pointed again, “nice trying to change the subject, but it doesn’t change the fact that you and I are not getting involved.”
    Johnny followed her directions and traveled slowly down the gravel road, trying to think of a good counterargument, but the fact was he wouldn’t give up that easy.
    The gravel turned into concrete and the trees parted as a very large and very old house came into view.
    “Carl’s family has owned this land for generations…his parents are both in their nineties and need twenty-four hour nursing.”
    “Does he help take care of them?”
    “Ha! No.” She pulled out her cell phone. “I’m here…no, I’m not coming in.”
    Her voice was icy. “Coward,” she said as she closed her phone.
    Johnny’s sixth sense told him to keep his mouth shut. Although, he had to fight back a smile, he liked that Carl would see him and know that Ali wasn’t alone. He pulled up to where Ali pointed and put the truck in park.
    “Please wait here.” Her eyes were pleading, but they weren’t convincing enough.
    “Oh no—not on your life.” He winked and slid out of the truck to help her unload.
    “We’re leaving everything in the driveway.”
    Before they had the first two boxes out of the truck, a servant was outside grabbing things and carrying them inside the house. Johnny caught a side patio door opening out of the corner of his eye. A well-dressed forty something man walked out and stood on the patio, Johnny stopped unloading, stood tall, and stared back at him. He could’ve had the asshole in a headlock in five good strides, and damn he wanted to do it too.
    Ali laid a hand on his arm and said, “Don’t even think about it.”
    He glanced at her, his neck heating in irritation. The son of a bitch wasn’t even picking up his own shit.
    Ali walked over toward Carl, her hand up to Johnny, instructing him to stay put. She stopped a few feet short of Carl and said, “What? Are you afraid to get dirty carrying your own stuff?”
    “Why should I get dirty when you brought your own laborer to do the work?”
    Johnny snickered at that. He’d rather be a laborer over an asshole like him any day, fucker.
    “Whatever—what you do with it is your business,” Ali said.
    Carl shook his head and nodded toward Johnny. “Didn’t take you long to replace me, Alison.”
    Johnny smiled wide as he set down another box.
    “Yeah…well, you’re not that hard to replace, Carl.” She turned to walk away, but Carl reached out and snatched her arm and pulled her closer.
    “Don’t you think it’s a little early to start sleeping with someone else?”
    Johnny dropped the box in his hands. “Hands off!” He stepped forward, but at the same time, Ali swung her hand out and popped Carl’s elbow and wrenched her arm free. “Who I sleep with is no longer any of your business.”
    She held her hand up signaling Johnny to stay away, but he didn’t care. He approached, his eyes glued to Carl as he led Ali back to the truck. The hair on the back of his neck stood at attention as he stared at Carl. This guy was bad news, no doubt about it. He knew a bad guy when he saw one and Carl was definitely living on the wrong side of life. The look in his eyes alone should’ve been enough to arrest him. “How about I have a talk with him,” Johnny offered, glancing back at Ali.
    Ali closed her eyes on an exhale. “Please just get me out of here.”
    Johnny placed his hand on the small of her back and led her to the passenger door before opening it for her. When he closed the door, he flashed Carl a wide knowing smile before climbing into the