Too Much to Lose by Samantha Holt Read Free Book Online Page A

That’s all I’m asking. I’ll be the perfect gentleman I
swear.”
    Her expression is pained when
she lifts her head. I can practically see the war going on inside her. Poor
girl. I’m not the only one suffering an insane attraction. Problem is, she’s
the only one with genuine intentions.
    “One date,” I murmur as I give
in to temptation and skim a finger across one bare shoulder. “What’s the worst
that can happen?”
    She laughs unexpectedly and
gives me a wry smile. “Many things, I suspect.”
    I chuckle. She’s probably
right.

Chapter Five
    Jess
    My head is still fuzzy by the
time I catch the bus to work. I’m not sure if that’s the after-effects of the
migraine or a symptom of having been in Hunter’s company for most of the
afternoon. I rest my head against the window and watch the lights go by.
Cyclists weave dangerously close to the bus and horns beep, rattling my fragile
head.
    I don’t know how he does it.
Every time I think I’ve got my defences in place, he smashes through them.
Somehow I managed not to commit to a date with him but now my phone burns a hole
in my pocket because I’m aware his number is there. The migraine brought me low
and broke my restraint but I can’t let that happen again.
    I get off the bus and force my
way through the people on the pavement. Slipping around the back of Murphy’s, I
pause before knocking to be let in. I smooth my palms down my jeans and
straighten my jacket. Hunter has ruffled me. I can’t remember the last time I
enjoyed the company of... well, anyone really. I had friends once but when my asshole
ex, Pete, found out about my past and told everyone, that was it. No one wanted
anything to do with me. Heat flares in my cheeks. I shake my head and knock on
the door.
    After a few moments, the lock
clicks and Eddie thrusts his head out. With salt and pepper hair, he’s easily
old enough to be my dad but he keeps himself in shape and is attractive for his
age. Thankfully his attentions have only ever seemed fatherly. He likes young girls—my
age usually—but maybe I’m too reserved for him.
    “Jess.” He grins. “Come in.”
    He ushers me in and I slip off
my jacket and hang it in the staffroom. I glance around. “Where is everyone?”
    “Jo called in sick and Seb
isn’t in until seven.”
    “What about Katy?”
    Eddie shrugs. “The rota got
messed up I think. She’s not in until later too.”
    I scowl. We’re at our busiest
on a Saturday and it’s the first I’ve heard of the rota being messed up.
Murphy’s runs pretty smoothly. Eddie is normally on the ball.
    “Just the two of us for a bit,”
Eddie says with a chuckle.
    I let my frown deepen. I really
don’t feel up to dealing with a lot of customers on my own. “We’ll never
manage.”
    “Don’t worry, darling, I’ll
come out from behind the bar when needs be.”
    I shake my head and follow him
out to the bar. “Yeah right.” A flash of pink on the bar catches my eye and I
freeze. “How did those get there?” My voice is tight.
    “Oh, the flowers?”
    “Yes, Eddie, the flowers.”
    “They were delivered earlier.”
Eddie steps around behind the bar and begins nonchalantly wiping down the
surface.
    “For you?” I ask hopefully,
even though they’re exactly the same roses that were sent to my place this
morning.
    “I don’t think anyone has ever given
me flowers. Why don’t you have a look at the note?”
    Heart thudding, I approach the
roses, my footsteps heavy. Hunter had made me forget those other flowers. Maybe
it was a mistake, but something plays in the back of my mind, telling me they
were very deliberately sent to me with the cryptic message. Someone wants me.
But why?
    Am I paranoid?
    I peer at Eddie who’s watching
closely and smile weakly. Can he see my nervousness? The sweet fragrance turns
my stomach as I reach for the note stuffed in between the blooms. It’s a pink envelope
this time with my name on it. Has someone figured it out? I shake my head.