So Hot For You by Melanie Marks Read Free Book Online Page A

a question I already knew the answer to, “Don’t you have a girlfriend?”
    He shook his head, slightly. “Not that I know of.”
    Guys are dogs. Seriously. They never seem to remember their girlfriends while they’re asking another girl out. My last boyfriend, Nick, messed me up big time. He was a dog too. A total player. Only I hadn’t known it at the time. I’d been gullible, clueless. Now it’s been months since we broke up, but I still cry about him practically every night.
    So, I asked Justin about the blonde he was always with at school lately, Ava Bower.
    That made him grin. “I thought you didn’t know I went to your school.”
    I gave an uncommitted shrug. “Maybe I’ve seen you,” was all I was willing to admit. But I guess we both knew I’d been caught ’cause there was a trace of a grin still on his face as he gave the pat answer, “She’s not my girlfriend. We’re just friends.”
    “Does she know that?” I asked.
    He smiled, looking amused. But he didn’t answer. Instead he changed the subject. “You look really nice.”
    Ug , my stupid heart. Stupid, stupid, stupid! It was suddenly doing gymnastics and stuff. But my brain knew it was dumb. Somewhere, deep- down , it knew. But it was so far and deep down that I was having trouble finding it, listening to it. ‘Cause his compliment. It was so unexpected. And sweet. And it was more than just the words he said. It was the way he said them. And the way he looked when he said them. He’d seemed so … sincere.
    Sincerity, very sneaky .
    I took a step away from him.
    “What did you need help finding?” I asked, trying to regain my sales-associate, business-like composure.
    Justin smiled. “I forget.”
    “Something for Ava?”
    His smile broadened with amusement. “No. I remember now. Something for my sister.”
    “Sister, right. How about jewelry? I work on commission.”
    Justin shook his head, eyeing me. He wet his lips. “How about a dress—like yours?”
    “For your sister?”
    He nodded, an impish smile playing on his shiny lips.
    I led him over to the evening section and showed him my dress—the exact one. The same size and everything. Then, smiling doubtfully, I showed him the price tag. But, he didn’t turn it down right on the spot. He actually seemed to be considering it. I chewed on my lip, watching him think it over.
    “It’s expensive, but worth it,” I said, automatically working my sale. Hey, if he had the bucks to fork out for such an expensive gift, I was more than willing to take his money. I didn’t care who the dress was for—his sister, girlfriend, Labrador retriever. It was all the same to me.
    “It’s super versatile,” I went on. “Accessorizing’s the key.”
    Justin just smiled, seeming to find my all-out sales pitch amusing. I shrugged. “Look, I told you—I work on commission.”
    “Yeah.” He still looked amused. “You mentioned that.”
    I dangled the dress in front of him. “So, what’s it going to be, Sport? You want the dress?”
    He sucked in his breath. “Okay,” he said. “I’ll take it. But in red.”
    Of course.
    I rang the dress up for him, careful not to look into his hot green eyes. Knowing if I looked, I was doomed. I’d melt like butter into a puddle on the floor. It would be a mess. The janitor would have to come and mop me up. Then there I’d sit for time and all eternity in a pail of dirty water. Doomed. Just like the rest of his semi-sort-of-girlfriends.
    He’s a player, just like Nick! I kept telling myself. A player, a player, a player!
    But the way he stared at me.…
    No. I had to be strong. I wasn’t up for more heartbreak. I so, so wasn’t. And that’s all Justin North was, a heartbreak waiting to happen.
    “Thank you. Have a nice evening,” I said crisply, when I’d finished ringing up the dress. I was careful to sound business-like. Nothing more. Not a hint of friendliness.
    Still, Justin lingered at the counter. “Are you sure you can’t take a