The Art of Sin by Alexandrea Weis Read Free Book Online

faint hint of bleach. The dimly lit room was decorated with hundreds of beer steins hanging from the ceiling, champagne bottle wall lamps, and mirrored bar backs bordered with ornate ironwork. The room had a cozy feel, appearing more as a neighborhood bar than a tourist-driven destination. There was even an old-time jukebox belting out favorite tunes from decades gone by.
         As he made his way through the mass of people to the long bar, Grady kept an eye out for Doug. He quickly discovered his head of short-cropped black hair near the end of the bar. Dressed in a long-sleeved white shirt and red bow tie, Doug was wiping glasses and chatting with a young blonde. When he saw Grady taking a stool in front of his station, he smiled, adding a touch of brightness to his dark features.
         “Hey, you came.” Doug held out his thick hand to Grady.
         “First night in New Orleans, I figured I better have a look at the famous Pat O’Brien’s,” Grady called back.
         Doug motioned to the blonde. “Cathy, this is Grady Paulson, he’s new in town.”
         The pretty blonde turned to Grady. Displaying a perfectly white smile, she had smooth, peach-colored skin, and dazzling green eyes. She was petite, but her arms appeared a little flabby in the white tank top she was wearing, and he thought her hips a bit wide for his taste. Still, he would consider her good enough to take to bed.
         “So what brings you to N’awlins, darlin’?” Cathy loudly drawled.
         Grady smiled at Doug, intrigued by her accent. “Cathy here is a local girl,” Doug explained with a playful look in his dark eyes. “She often comes to see me.”
         Grady nodded with understanding. “You two are friends?” he asked, waving his hand between Cathy and Doug.
         Doug vehemently shook his head. “She just visits me. Nothing else.”
         “Yeah,” Cathy jumped in. “Doug’s already got himself a steady girl. I just come and flirt like hell with him, trying to lure him away from his woman.” She leered at Grady’s bulging arms and chest. “But now that you’re here ….” Cathy suggestively smiled.
         Doug snickered from behind the bar, entertained by Cathy’s blatant flirtation. “What can I get you, Grady?”
         Grady observed the other patrons sipping from tall, shapely glasses filled with the famous red drink. “What about a Hurricane?” 
         Cathy held up the tall glass filled with the red beverage. “Good choice.”
         Doug stepped away to mix Grady’s drink, while Grady turned his attention to the blonde on the stool next to him.
         “So you’re a local girl.” He let his eyes linger on her tight white tank top.
         “Yeah, I can show you all the sights.” Cathy happily watched as his eyes hovered over her breasts. “What brings you to our fair city?”
         “Work. I’m here for the next four months.”
         “Doing what?”
         Grady paused as he thought of something she would like to hear. “I work in computers. Designing software programs for businesses. I’m going to be redoing the software for a local bank.”
         “Wow. Sounds like a really intense job.” Cathy’s green orbs ravenously swept over his open white button-down shirt and snug blue jeans. “How do you know Doug?”
         “He lives in the apartment house where I’m staying.”
         Cathy dipped her cleavage to Grady. “And where is that?”
         Grady smirked at her flirtatious manner. “It’s on Esplanade Avenue.”
         Doug returned, brandishing a tall glass filled with a deep red liquid and topped with a straw.
         “One Hurricane, on the house,” he announced, placing the glass on the bar. “You two getting along?” He flashed Grady a wicked grin.
         Cathy reached for her drink. “Your friend’s cute, Doug. Real cute.”
         “I think you have a fan, Grady,” Doug