Punishing for Pleasure by Avery Gale Read Free Book Online

over at him, concern clouding her pretty green eyes. “Are you alright? Oh frog-eating fairies, of course you aren’t alright. Damn that was a lame question. What happened to you?” Ash caught the twitch in Dex’s jaw and silently willed his friend to keep his mouth shut, he didn’t intend to be derailed by explaining his humiliation. God only knew there would be countless retellings of the tale, she could catch one of those.
    “This isn’t about me. This is about you, pet, and you damn well know it.” He almost ran over a couple of rag-tag reporters who thought they would stop if the scrawny pricks stepped into their path… wrong . Ash could sense her assistant trailing after them and even with his back to the man, Ash’s gay-dar was pinging off the chart. Personally, Ash didn’t give a rat’s ass what the man’s sexual preference was, what occurred between other consenting adults wasn’t his concern. What he did care about was the fact the twerp had been so busy flirting with the hospital’s CFO that he hadn’t been watching out for his boss. “Did you drive here?”
    “Yes of course, I dr—”
    Ash cut her off with a curt command, “Give me your keys.” When she hesitated, he practically growled, “Now, Meri .” He’d deliberately used the correct pronunciation of her name, and he was sure she hadn’t missed the thinly disguised dig. Without even breaking stride, Ash turned and tossed the keys to her assistant. “She’ll be with us.” Ash could see the muscles in Dex’s jaw flexing as he tried not to laugh at the huffing sounds of the man behind them scrambling to retrieve the keys he obviously hadn’t managed to catch. The man has nerd written all over him , not surprised he didn’t manage a simple catch, but at least it slows him down a bit. We might actually make it to our truck before he has security on our tails.
    “This isn’t at all necessary, you know. We could have easily met somewhere later for coffee and discussed whatever is bothering you.” Meri’s voice had moved from flustered to indignant. Ash hoped she could hold on to that self-righteous attitude for a while because it would just add to her punishment, and right now he was most certainly in a punishing mood.
    “You might want to dial it back a bit, sweetheart, because you’re already in a whole peck of trouble.” Ash and Dex had been hearing that particular expression their whole lives, but the little wrinkle that appeared between Meri’s eyes told him she didn’t have a clue what Dex had just said to her… she’ll cipher it out soon ‘nuf. Smiling to himself, he realized the only time he fell back on his southern roots in his speech was when he was dancing on an emotional edge. All his Special Forces training had robbed him of even the slightest hint of his previous southern accent—something his sweet mama had complained endlessly about when he’d first become a SEAL. Now that he was living in Texas, he’d noticed bit by bit his accent was beginning to resurface—yes indeed, his mama was going to be happy as a clam.
    Moving quickly through the parking lot toward the pick-up they’d driven, Ash noticed Meri was having trouble keeping up in the heels she was wearing and slowed his pace. Dex must have noticed as well because he’d given Ash’s bandaged arm a considering look and all but laughed when Ash slowed. Sure, any other day Ash would have simply scooped Meri up in his arms and continued on, but his damned arm was throbbing like a bitch and he was worried he might actually drop her if he tried his usual Tarzan-routine.

Chapter Four
     
    Meri was starting to lose patience with their thunderous expressions and curt answers. She’d asked them where they were taking her when they’d pulled out of the hospital’s parking lot and Ash’s response had been, “If you have anything planned for this evening, cancel it and then hand me your phone.” Presumptuous bastard. And if Tony wrecks my car I’m