Someone to Watch Over Me by Anne Berkeley Read Free Book Online Page A

I’ve done everything legally possible.”
    “Do you think working at that
bar is wise?”
    I exhaled loudly, gritting my
teeth. “I have bills to pay. And I don’t think where I work is any
of your business.”
    “I’m not judging you, Cooper.
It’s the hours. From what you’ve said, this guy is dangerous. Do
you really think it’s safe for you to be out at that time of night?
Not to mention the unifo—”
    “Again. None of your
business.”
    “Damn you’re testy .”
    We sat quietly, locked in a
stalemate. I polished off another glass of wine. He was right. I
could taste the blackberry, and the uniform did suck balls. It
wasn’t like I hadn’t said the same exact thing to Billy a few weeks
ago. All the waitresses had voiced their opinion at one time or
another. “You don’t have to wear it,” was always his response.
“There’s always the door.” And that was that. I kept my mouth shut
because I needed the job. End of story.
    “I never said I liked the
job.”
    “Good, me neither. That’s not
to say you don’t look good in the uniform, but I find it degrading.
I’m insulted for you, Coop. Those men, they put their hands all
over you, and all you’re doing is trying to make an honest dollar.
It’s wrong. Especially when you could do the same job in a t- shirt and a comfortable pair of shoes,
but that prick that owns the place would rather make a buck off
your pain and humiliation.”
    “Nonetheless, it pays the
bills.” I rose, heading for the bathroom where I could collect
myself , h ide the moisture rimming my
eyes. Tate might want to spend time with me now,
but he would still go on tour in a few weeks, and I would
still be waiting tables at The Loft when he was gone. I didn’t hold
his prosperity against him, but I hated that he was making me
question everything about my life. I prided myself on my strength
and ability to overcome adversity. So why was I feeling like such a
failure?
    “Coop?” Tate said, standing
with me.
    “Give me few minutes and I’ll
drive you home , y our hotel , wh atever .” I rifled
absently through my dresser drawers for a t-shirt and a pair of
sweats , settled for a pair of pink velour
pants with Juicy stitched across the rear. They weren’t the
real thing. I couldn’t afford them.
    “Coop.”
    Dropping my head, I hid the
tears running down my cheeks. It was silly. Embarrassing, really. I
know he knew I was crying. I had Tate Watkins in my apartment. We
just had rabbit sex, and I was crying because he made a general
observation about my place of employment.
    “Cooper.” Gripping my
shoulders, he spun me around.
    “I think you got me drunk,
Tate.” I’ve told my story a million times and I’ve never cried. My
life was what it was. No amount of tears would change what
happened. I wasn’t hard or reclusive. I was careful. I was strong.
It was the wine. The alcohol was making me weepy.
    “It certainly looks that way.”
He reached up, dragged the pad of his thumb across my cheek. “If I
took advantage of you right now, would you regret it come
morning?”
    Surprised, I looked
up , b linked the tears from my eyes. “I’m
not that far gone; besides I think I’d be disappointed if you
didn’t. I had vast expectations for tonight.”
    “I bet I let every one of them
down earlier. Shame on me.” Pressing his lips to mine, he parted
them with his own. His tongue slid against mine in a slow stroke.
His hands followed my waist to the curve of my buttocks and down to
my thighs . He lifted my knee , hitched over his
hip. “Tell me what you want, strawberry girl. I’ll make it up to
you.”
    “On the bed,” I murmured
against his lips as I looped my arms around his neck. He lifted the
second leg, hitch ed it over his
hip . H is hands slid around my hips, carrying me across the small space to the
bed. “Clothes off this time. No , l et me
do it. I want to.”
    As he lifted his arms, I pulled
his shirt up over his head. Dropped it to the floor. Lifting