Promiscuous by Missy Johnson Read Free Book Online Page B

muttered, marching down to my room, “but you’re paying.”
    ***
    So the guy had taste.
    We sat down at a table, tucked in the corner overlooking the water in one of the most exclusive restaurants in Manhattan. I eyed him suspiciously. Even I would struggle to get a table here, especially at such short notice.
    “What?” he asked, pouring me a glass of water.
    “Nothing,” I mumbled. “What is it you do, exactly? This is a pretty exclusive restaurant. I’m just wondering how you managed to get us a table.”
    “Let’s just say I know how to get my way into a few places others don’t.” He narrowed his eyes, and smirked at me when I blushed at his comment. If he was referring to me right then, he obviously didn’t read the gossip. Apparently I offered easier access than—
    “Would you like a wine?” he asked.
    I nodded.
    He ordered a bottle of Pinot noir. “So, tell me about yourself.”
    “There’s not much to tell,” I admitted. “I’m actually a pretty boring person.”
    “I don’t believe that for a second,” he murmured.
    A shiver ran down my spine as I watched his eyes sweep over me. Was that . . . excitement I felt? I glowered at him, embarrassed by the way my body was reacting to his attention.
    “We all have our secrets, don’t we? Little things that make us who we are. Things that set us apart from everyone else, both in good and bad ways.”
    I wonder what secrets he’s hiding?
    “I guess you’re right.” He was, but I was also hesitant about sharing anything about myself with someone I’d known for two minutes, no matter how devilishly sexy he looked slouched in his chair across from me.
    “So, then tell me something. Tell me something about Beth that nobody else would know.”
    “I hate drugs.”
    He looked as surprised as I felt. Where had that come from? He waited for me to continue.
    “Most of my adolescence was spent living with my sister. She was hooked on some pretty heavy stuff. Coke, heroin . . . she overdosed when I was fifteen.” I reached for the water, gulping down a mouthful. I’d shared much more than I’d been wanting to. Even Coop didn’t know this shit about me.
    “Wow. That must have been really rough,” he said softly.
    I shrugged. It had been, but it happened, and there wasn’t anything I could do about it.
    “Your parents?”
    “Mom died when I was twelve. Cancer. Dad—hell, I’ve never even met him. Apparently, he was some deadbeat who ran out when I was young.”
    “That’s a lot for a child to deal with.”
    “It is. But going through what I have was a big part of getting me where I am today.” Well, not so much messed-up Beth. Or maybe my childhood had an affect on that too. Who knew? I pushed my chair back and stood up. “Bathroom,” I explained, smiling at the confused expression on his face.
    “Do you want me to order for you?”
    “Sure. A chicken Caesar salad, thanks.” I hurried off toward the bathrooms, the urge to pee coming out of nowhere. That’s what I got for starting the day off with two coffees and a glass of wine.
    “Beth?”
    I froze in the hallway just up from the bathroom. Please, no.
    “Beth. I . . .” Coop’s voice trailed off. He shook his head, clearly shocked to see me. “I can’t believe it’s you.”
    “What are you doing here?” I whispered. I leaned against the wall, feeling dizzy, like I was about to faint. For weeks I’d imagined to myself what I’d say if he were in front of me, and here we were. His deep blue eyes bored into mine, as if he was searching for something.
    “I’m here with . . . never mind that, why have you cut me out of your life? I thought we were friends.” He frowned at me as my mouth gaped open. He thought we were friends? I pushed past him as the tears began to sting. I wasn’t going to cry. Not here.
    “Beth, wait!” His voice echoed down the hall, a sense of urgency noticeable in his tone. I rounded the corner back into the restaurant area and rushed toward