The Trouble With Snowmen by Dorlana Vann Read Free Book Online Page A

and this is the thanks I get? And look at you! I mean, really, what is going on? You look like hell!”
    Larry exhaled. Here we go . They had known each other for a very long time. Brenda had been his first “real” relationship. They had started going out in college and had even been engaged for a little while. The breakup had been mutual, and they had stayed close friends . . . very close at times. “You know how it is when I’m writing my rough draft.”
    “Writing?” She eyed the ruffled bed and shoved the shoes at Larry. “Really? And where is your computer?”
    Larry shrugged. “In there, somewhere.”
    “I’m worried about you.”
    “I’m fine.”
    He didn’t dare meet her gaze, but he could feel Brenda staring a hole into him before she spat, “Well then, I’m pissed at you for bringing an effing skank whore into my home. What the hell, Larry?”
    “It was very inconsiderate of me.”
    “Did you at least use protection?”
    “I’m not stupid. I’ve been around the block a couple of times.”
    She rolled her eyes and shook her head. “You came to town looking like a bum to find a prostitute? Since when you do you have to pay for sex? Was this the reason you asked to stay here? So you didn’t have to take a whore to your house?”
    “No, I came here for a séance, like I told you. Things just kind of developed. I didn’t plan it or anything. I didn’t even bring my own condoms. I had to borrow one out of your top drawer.”
    She actually growled and clenched her teeth.
    “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. Do you want me to leave? I’ll get my shit and leave right now.”
    “No, just don’t ever do it again,” Brenda said, but before she left the room she added, “And burn those fucking sheets.”
    He still had the shoes in his hands and sat on the edge of the bed. While he and Haley were in the middle of things, he had convinced himself that Haley, this delicate, youthful, gorgeous woman, was no streetwalker. And also during that time, he had decided that as soon as it was over, he was going to talk to her about everything. He was going to tell her all about who he really was and how stupid he’d been for thinking she was a prostitute. He decided to take a chance because, like it or not, outrageously quick or not, he had real feelings for her. And he could have sworn she had feelings for him too.
    But afterward, when he held her in his arms, it hadn’t seemed like the right time. Every time he started, something else came out. Since she hadn’t rushed out, nor said she had to go, he assumed she would be there when he woke up, and they could talk then.
    But she left without saying a goodbye, so now he went back to his original thoughts about her. Why else would she do that unless she thought it was best, that it would be too difficult to part otherwise? Maybe she didn’t want to have to admit to him that she was a working girl.
    He exhaled as he remembered that she had to work tonight. He fought to keep the image of Haley with some scum pawing her out of his mind, and jumped up, leaving the shoes on the bed. “What am I doing?” What had this woman done to him? He shook his head. None of it mattered. This girl who had appeared out of nowhere, turning his mind to sentimental mush, had left. “The only reason I brought her home was for research. Just research.”
    He stared at the shoes as he thought about his novel. He knew one thing for sure, he had the prostitute, Lexi Dylan, character all wrong. She was not worse-for-the-wear. She was not cheap. She had gotten herself into a bad situation and only sold her body because she had been blackmailed. She was tough, a fighter, and would make it through the monster attack stronger. Then she would take revenge out on every creature and son-of-a-bitch who had ever wronged her.
    Yes, he had to rethink the entire plotline. He needed to run to clear his head. After he slipped on his running shoes, he jogged out the door and down the stairs to the street