The Exception by Adriana Locke Read Free Book Online Page A

throat. “What is it about me that you don’t like?”
    “Nothing, per se.”
    “You are very reserved around me. I think you don’t want to like me. But here’s the thing—I can read women better than anyone. It really is a gift. I know you are interested. So, what’s holding you back? I am just asking for dinner. I’m not out-and-out asking you to fuck—yet.”
    His words were a match, sending my libido up in flames.
    I tried desperately to control my response to him, but it was easier said than done. The crudeness should have had offended me, but my body was humming instead.
    “Do you talk to all your business associates this way?” I asked, trying to distract him.
    “No. They’re usually overweight, middle-aged men.” He made a sour face. “I actually keep business and pleasure separate. You’re just an exception.”
    The air between us crackled, but each of us held back.
    “Cane, look, I’m sorry.” I took a step back until I could feel the cool glass of the front door at my back. “I really do need to get back to the office.”
    “You have to eat. What’s wrong with sharing a meal with me?”
    “Dinner leads to dinners, which lead to lunches, and I just don’t want to go there.”
    “You’re putting the cart before the horse, don’t you think? I may not like you . So, while I admire your ego, I think you are jumping to conclusions.”
    “My ego? That’s hilarious coming from you, Coach !” I exclaimed.
    He burst out laughing. “So, while I admire your confidence ,” he modified, raising his eyebrows with a cheeky grin, “it’s just dinner. I’m not sure what’s so risqué about that.”
    There was no way I would have even considered dinner with him the night before, but I found myself now wavering. As I looked at him, all alpha male in front of me, he chose that moment to reach up and run his fingers through his hair. My heart pounded at the sight of his biceps flexing and my body began to ache with want; I had to fight myself to tear my eyes away as my brain took back over.
    “I just … I can’t.”
    “You did say you didn’t have a boyfriend, right?”
    “I don’t.” I rolled the ring my mother had given me as a little girl around my right ring finger nervously. “I just got my life situated again and I really need to focus on me right now.”
    “Dinner—that’s it,” he reiterated, his eyes searching mine. “It is one meal. I don’t usually do one meal with a female, unless they are making me breakfast.”
    This is the Cane from last night. This is exactly why I can’t have dinner with him.
    Before I could change my mind, I pressed on the door with my back, letting the heat rush through. “No, I’m sorry, Cane. Maybe some other time.”
    I grabbed my bag and walked out into the sun, my emotions a verifiable war zone.

JADA
    “This one is really pretty.” Kari held a green sundress against her body in the middle of a little boutique off of Indian School Road.
    “I think you should get it,” I nodded, trying to encourage her to make the purchase so we could leave. We had been shopping all day and I was exhausted. My feet hurt, my head hurt, and my interest had waned. Shopping had never really been my thing anyway, but that afternoon had tested my limits.
    Max had made reservations at one of the fancy restaurants on Camelback Mountain and Kari was adamant that she needed a new dress. She had been talking about him more and, while she still tried to play everything off, I could see through her façade. She was really starting to like him and it was nice to see my sister happy. I just hoped that she could see that, too.
    “Yes, I think I like this one. It’s the same one I tried on in red, but the green really makes it seem totally different.” She threw the dress over her arm, satisfied with her choice. “My legs do look great in this and Max loves my legs.”
    “Fabulous. Now can we be done?”
    “You sort of let me down on the sister front when it comes to