Romance: Edge of Desire by Kelli Sloan Read Free Book Online

instant I place the coffee’s down. 
    As I begin to walk away, I listen back to the conversation.
    “Nice,” says the mentor.
    “Yes…” Brad responds.
    “I bet that one is wild in bed.”
    “What?” I turn around to face the men.
    “Oh, a feisty one too. I like you, honey,” the mentor grins creepily. “But be a good little girl and turn back around to let me watch that cute little butt.”
    “Pardon?” my eyes almost pop out of my head.
    I look to Brad but he avoids my eye contact. He doesn’t say anything to his mentor either. No defense for me.
    “I like you sweetheart. If you’re not busy tonight, let me know. Now hurry on out of here and let the big boys talk.”
    I stare at Brad, waiting for him to defend me.
    But nothing.
    He doesn’t even look at me. No eye contact or even a glance.
    He just lets me stand here and be embarrassed by his mentor.
    Bastard.
    Both of them are.
    In a huff, I turn around and storm out of the room.
    I am done.
    I can’t work here. I can’t take any of this. He can shove that paycheck right up his cute butt.
    Trying to slam the glass door behind me, I get even more frustrated as it softly closes. Damn. I can’t even slam a door properly.
    “I’m done Nancy.”
    “What do you mean?” she asks but I think she knows why.
    “I can’t work here. I can’t be around here and I can’t work for him. I can’t do it. No amount of money is worth putting up with this. It is too much.”
    “Harper…”
    “No Nancy. I am a strong woman but even I can’t take this. I quit.”
    “Wait,” she pleads. “Let me tell Brad first. Give him the chance to apologize.”
    “No. I’m done with him.”
    “Please,” Nancy eyes look at me pleadingly.
    I shake my head.
    My city adventure is over.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

Chapter 16
     
     
     

Two months later…
     
     

 
     
     
    Time has now passed since my passionate night with Bradley Adams, the most eligible bachelor in the country. 
    That week was an amazing, incredible and magical rollercoaster.
    Nicole was right. I will hold onto that memory for the rest of my life. It will get me through the tough times.
    Nicole was shattered when I packed up all my belongings and moved away from the city. After spending two days crying in my apartment with Nicole by my side, I cried the whole, long, bus ride home.
    Mom wasn’t very welcoming either.
    She actually seemed quite cocky about being right, which I should have expected. The first thing she said to me was, “I told you that you’d be back.”
    Yep. That wasn’t the welcome I needed.
    Mom and I have never really got along. We pretend for the sake of playing happy families but ever since she separated with Dad, things between us have been icy.
    I have tried to be nice to her and I am sure that she has tried to be nice to me, but our personalities always clashed. Dad passed away four years ago and Mom has tried to build the bridge between us, but it will never be comfortable.
    So, I arrived in her small two-bedroom house, and she organized a job in the local diner for me. It’s only three days a week at the moment but it’s a start. Not paying half my wage in rent certainly helps too.
    After I left Brad’s job, Nancy sent me a check for $5,000, more than enough to cover my debts. I sent it back. But she refused to accept it back and forwarded it to Mom’s house. She said that I deserved it after surviving with Brad for those few days. I couldn’t really argue with her as the money cleared all my debts, so that was nice.
    Nicole and I still talk every day. I love that girl. She is my best friend and always will be. Man, I miss her.
    Those two years will always stick in my memory as the time my life changed. Despite walking away from Brad, Nicole and the city - it is the adventure that inspired me.
    My plan is to work here for one year; save up every dollar I can, study a management course online and then have another go at living in the city. That’s where I