The Closer You Get by Carter Ashby Read Free Book Online Page A

night,” Adam said.  
    “He won’t go far. He doesn’t leave my side.”
    “Not even for sex?”
    “Nope. He’ll just do her in the truck.”
    This, for some reason, made Adam mad again. “He’s a real piece of work.”
    “What’s your problem?”
    Adam shook his head. “That girl…that’s Erica Willis. I don’t know her that well. Her parents are pretty good people. She’s not made the best decisions in the world, but she’s a nurse and a good one. More than that, she’s a person, Cash. A person. And all he sees is a piece of meat.”
    Cash’s eyes were narrowed in thought. “Rye’s a person, too, but all she sees is a piece of meat. They’re doing this to each other.”
    Adam shook his head. “No, it’s different. Women…you have to be careful with them. They get these fantasies. She probably thinks he’s going to rescue her, or something. She probably thinks he cares about her.”
    “Come on, Adam. You don’t know Rye. And you can’t absolve her of responsibility just based on her gender.”
    Adam sat back, surprised at the coherence of Cash’s argument. Cash didn’t seem like the kind of man who thought too deeply about things. Which just showed the error in Adam’s thinking. Judging a man based on his clothes. He felt ashamed. “So why won’t Rye leave your side?” he asked, changing the direction of the conversation.
    “That’s a story for another time.” Cash caught a waitress’s attention and ordered another beer.
    “Why not now?”
    “Because I don’t want to talk about it now. You already dragged more personal information out of me than I had any intention of giving.”
    Adam smiled. “I admit it’s better than I’d hoped to get. I like getting to know you, Cash.”
    “So what, now? You want another date?”
    “This one ain’t over.”
    “Pretty close.”
    “Not even.”
    Cash laughed.  
    Adam leaned forward. “You say you’ve got one-night stands in your personal history. That suggests to me you’re not really this difficult to get into bed. So let’s quit playing around, Cash. Come home with me. Now.”
    Cash leaned forward, his nose only inches from Adam’s. He dropped his gaze to Adam’s lips and Adam’s breath caught in his chest. The man smelled amazing. Adam wanted to bury his face in Cash’s neck, and he thought at last he might have the chance to do it.
    Then Cash sat back and chuckled. “You’re a real big shot, aren’t you? This what you want from me? A one-night stand?”
    “You know it isn’t.”
    “Then you’ll have to wait. I like you, Adam. I wouldn’t mind seeing where this goes. And so far I think you’re just trying to be all charming and cocky, and so far it’s pretty cute. But I don’t take to being pressured. Or dominated. So if you want this to happen, it’s going to be on my time. And in my own way. Got it?”
    Adam was all but drooling. No…he was drooling. “Apparently I don’t mind being dominated,” he muttered.
    “Say again?”
    “Nothing. Look, I’ll back off a bit. But I just need you to know I’m ready when you are. I’ll get on my knees and beg right now if it’ll be any help.”
    “It won’t. I’m not toying with you, Adam. I’m just being careful.”
    Adam smiled gently. He hated to think how long this guy was gonna make him wait. But he kind of liked the idea that Cash’s interest was more than skin-deep. Adam hadn’t been in a relationship since law school, and he sorely missed it. Having someone to depend on; someone to have sex with whenever he wanted; someone to talk to and sleep with. Yes, he could definitely wait for something like that.

    When Cora said she was hoping someone would hit on her, she hadn’t quite meant this.  
    The evening had started out miserably enough, with Rye barely even glancing at her. Then watching him go out of the bar with Erica, and her coming back in with that satisfied smirk on her face. Rye hadn’t come back in, though. Cora was glad. She didn’t want to