The Morning After The Wedding Before by Anne Oliver Read Free Book Online Page B

firestorm which had engulfed them both for one unguarded moment. ‘It was.’
    ‘It was impulsive and selfish and I used you.’
    Straightening up, he looked at her eyes, almost violet in the dim light from the single naked globe above the bed. ‘I didn’t mind. And, if we’re being honest here, you didn’t mind either.’ He saw colour bleed into her cheeksand patted her leg. ‘Take it from me, Surfer Boy wasn’t right for you.’
    ‘And you’d know that how …?’ She stared at him out of soulful eyes. ‘I sure as heck don’t know Jake Carmody. You work in the sex industry.’ Her voice rose with disapproval. ‘You
own
that … that place. So you … It follows naturally that you’re not ashamed to use and exploit women—often women with no other choices—to make money. And it’s just
wrong
,’ she went on. ‘Does—?’
    ‘I didn’t buy the strip club. I inherited the place when Earl died.’
    She frowned. ‘Earl? Who’s Earl?’
    ‘My father.’
    ‘Oh …’ A slow exhalation of breath accompanied the word. She curled her fingers beneath her chin. ‘So … your dad owned it.’
    ‘Not “dad.” That word implies some sort of familial bond and there wasn’t any.’ He refused to allow regret to intrude on his life. He didn’t need family. He didn’t need anyone. ‘And before you say I should shut it down and walk away and there’d be one less sleazy club in King’s Cross I have the staff to consider. I’ve found a potential buyer but we’re negotiating; I want to ensure a fair deal for everyone.’
    ‘Oh. Yes. Of course. I …’ She trailed off, and maybe her eyes softened, but he couldn’t be sure because for once in his life he wasn’t really seeing the woman in front of him.
    He scratched the niggling sensation at the back of his neck that he’d learned long ago to recognise as insecurity. He hadn’t felt it in years. He made his own rules, controlled his circumstances, his life. Himself. Always.
    Not this time.
    He clenched his jaw against the feeling that the ruleshad suddenly changed and his life was veering off course. And he might have left then but for Emma’s soft voice.
    ‘Your mother … is she …?’
    ‘She lives in South America. She doesn’t keep in touch.’ After nearly two decades, her abandonment still had the power to slice at his heart. He’d always made a point of not getting personally involved in other people’s lives because it would involve opening up his own.
    ‘Do you have any siblings to help? Extended family?’
    ‘No.’
    ‘That must be tough for you, handling everything on your own.’
    He shrugged dismissively. ‘I’m a tough guy.’ It was baggage he’d left behind years ago and he wasn’t going there. Not for anyone.
    She nodded slowly and smoothed the sarong over her legs. ‘Look, I’m sorry if I sounded over the top, it’s just that I have very firm thoughts about men who use women for their own purposes.’
    He knew she was thinking of Surfer Boy. ‘Acknowledged and understood.’
    ‘Still, I am sorry about your dad … I can see it hurt you. If you wa—’
    ‘Okay. Let’s leave it at that.’
    ‘So … um … How did it go with the guys’ night?’ She didn’t seem in such a hurry to kick him out now, and he didn’t know whether that was a good thing or not.
    ‘Ry may need me to remind him tomorrow that he had a good time.’
    ‘Did it include a visit to King’s Cross by any chance?’
    ‘Every bucks’ night worth its mettle has to include a stop somewhere in King’s Cross.’ Unfortunately. He must be the only straight guy in Sydney who didn’t find striptease a turn-on.
    ‘Well, we girls enjoyed our own private stripper right here.’ With a theatrical flick of her hair she drew her knees up to her chest, tucking the edges of the sarong beneath her feet.
    ‘And how did that go?’
    ‘Man, he was
hot
.’ The instant the words were out her hands rushed to her cheeks. ‘I’ve never seen a guy strip …