Take Me for a Ride by Karen Kendall Read Free Book Online Page B

out.
    “So unfair,” she muttered, unconscious of saying the words aloud.
    “What’s unfair?”
    She flushed. “I don’t want to say it because your head won’t fit through the door.”
    He just eyed her quizzically.
    “Oh, fine. I think it’s unfair that the one time I have a . . . a fall from grace and pick up a gorgeous guy in a bar, I manage to go to sleep before anything interesting happens!”
    He burst out laughing.
    “No, it really ticks me off.”
    When he could catch his breath, he winked at her. “The offer’s still good this morning.” Casually, he pulled the sheet tight over his lap, and she almost fainted at what was outlined.
    He raised an eyebrow and shot her a come-hither smile. The man didn’t have bedroom eyes; he had bor dello eyes.
    “But I don’t have a toothbrush . . .”
    “You can use mine.”
    Ugh. No, thanks. “. . . and my head’s killing me.”
    “I have ways of distracting you from that, not to mention ibuprofen.”
    “But I’m sober now,” she wailed.
    “So?”
    “Well, but—I can’t just—”
    “You can’t?”
    “No.”
    “I’m very sorry to hear that.” Eric pushed the sheet aside and swung his legs out of bed, walking stark naked past a stunned Natalie, who couldn’t look away.
    Uuuuunnnnnhhhhh!
    Long, muscled legs. Smooth, taut, tight, positively drool-worthy buns. There was some kind of dark, square tattoo on his left one, but she couldn’t quite make it out.
    He had wide shoulders that segued beautifully into a trim waist with six-pack abs. And the other side of him . . .
    She could kill herself for passing out. She was being deprived of the joys of sluttiness before she could even regret anything.
    Eric strode past her with vestiges of a naughty smirk on his face. He gave her another wink and then disappeared into the bathroom.
    She slumped down under the covers. She was hung-over, she was going to get fired when she went in to work, she’d be lucky if she wasn’t arrested, and she couldn’t even engage in some nice, sweaty, therapeutic sex with a perfect stranger whom she’d never see again. What was wrong with her?
    But with sobriety her social awkwardness had returned, and that definitely ruled out getting wild and naked with this guy Eric. In the cold, whiskeyless light of day she recalled that she hadn’t shaved her legs in at least a week, her breasts were small, and her toes were probably gnarled, since her feet hadn’t seen a pedicure since August.
    Natalie glanced at the clock and saw with relief that it was barely seven. She still had enough time to go home and shower before hustling to work and facing the music.
    She slipped out of bed just in time to model her almost nudity for Eric, who came out of the bathroom. He wolf whistled, his gaze roving straight to her breasts. She clapped her hands over them immediately.
    “ Tetas ricas ,” he said with a predatory grin.
    “Excuse me?” Her face burned.
    “Hmm? Oh, it’s nothing.”
    “No, translate, please.”
    “I said you have great breasts, sweetheart.”
    She snatched her skirt off the floor and clutched it to her body. “You shouldn’t have looked.”
    “Hey, they were right up front and waving at me. What’s a poor slob to do?”
    “Well, it’s not nice to comment.”
    “I told you last night—I’m not at all a nice guy.” He flashed white teeth at her.
    “Will you turn your back while I change, please?”
    “Fine. Seems a little silly, since you slept with me practically nude, but whatever.” He turned and faced the other way. Darn it, she could see only the edge of the tattoo and still couldn’t quite make it out.
    “I was not nude. I had panties on,” Natalie said, scrambling into her skirt and then her bra.
    “And I coulda had ’em off you at any time.”
    Hateful man. She pulled her top over her head and stuffed her arms into the sleeves. The fabric smelled just like the bar. Ugh.
    Eric had gone back into the bathroom, and when he emerged he held some