Some Like it Easy by Heather Long Read Free Book Online Page A

but it’s not me.” More bluntness and he couldn’t look away from the soft curve of her mouth or the daring way she raised her eyebrows at him. “As for the puppy thing? You’re sexy and fine, but your eyes? They’re sad. They remind me of a lost puppy, of someone who just wants a little bit of affection and reassurance.”
    Sexy he could work with, but the rest? Women weren’t typically attracted to men they needed to save. The reality of her statement left a bitter taste in his mouth. “I don’t want you on your knees.” Liar. He plowed onward. “I would, however, prefer it if you would call me George rather than the other name.”
    “Fair deal, George.” She grinned and took another drink. “Now, tell me what the issue is before I turn old and gray. I have to be at a seminar in…” She trailed off and looked at her watch. “Ugh, thirty minutes. I need to never schedule morning classes again, but Bodies wasn’t open at any other time.”
    He didn’t think the last part was for him, but he tapped the brochures and answered her earlier question. “If I were perfectly honest, I have no idea what to choose for a major because I didn’t want to go to school in the first place.”
    “Yeah? Wow. I love going to school. Did you piss someone off or something?”
    “Or something.” He picked up the general studies brochure. “My schedule has been dictated to me since I was a child. I have been told where to go, what to wear, even what to say. Now, I am to have a university education because it has been ordered. If I do not choose my direction, they will choose that, as well.” Maybe letting Armand decide his classes would be for the best. At least then George could be certain his brother would be satisfied with his schedule.
    Penny blew out her breath in a low whistle and rubbed her thumb and forefinger together.
    “What are you doing?”
    “Playing ‘My Heart Bleeds for You’ on the world’s smallest violin. You have a huge opportunity here, and you’re feeling sorry for yourself. Free ride to university? Check. Chance to do whatever you want? Check. Freedom to explore? Check. Don’t know what you want to study? Study it all. If not, tell me three things you like to do.” The swiftness with which she uttered the statements threatened to leave him with whiplash.
    Tossing the brochure down, he took a drink of his coffee before answering. “Skiing. I enjoy skiing.” Turning the cup around the table, he considered what else he enjoyed. “Travel—I actually like traveling, particularly to foreign locales where I may or may not know the language.” He spoke a half-dozen, not to mention the varying dialects of those he understood. “I have an ear for languages, so I like learning new ones.”
    “Well, there’s something. Put linguistics and culture down on your list.”
    Linguistics. He’d never considered that an opportunity before.
    “So, what else?”
    For some reason, his time in Belaria flashed through his mind. He’d sat in on political discussions and encouraged the human rights efforts. The country faced tumultuous economic times, with children as young as ten seeking employment or going hungry. Military strong-arm tactics were the accepted rule, which left little room for forgiveness. Yet people, like those he’d met in the Royalist Party, struggled to survive it all and lived on hope.
    “Political, social, and economic constructs. Why people do what they do.” He frowned, his memories consuming his focus. “I’m interested in how oppression can lead to misery. Yet amidst that misery, hope still swells and people stand up against unbeatable odds.” Having borne witness to it, he couldn’t help admiring their tenacity and he wished like hell he understood them better. Maybe if he did, he could do something…
    Penny reached for two of the brochures and settled them on the top. “Histories, Philosophies and Worldviews—a course tract in global liberal studies. Another option