Under the Gun (CEP Book 3) by Harper Bentley Read Free Book Online

ordered the cutest plates for the party next Saturday! They have pictures of John and me from our wedding. They’re so cute!”
    “Of course they are. You took the photos,” Quinn muttered flipping the paper and stopping to look at an article about the dog show Tilly was shooting. Her leg dropped and she sat up straight. “This thing lasts until eleven tonight!”
    Tilly laughed. “I only have to stay until about eight. I thought we could stop by Zag’s after and have a drink.”
    “Okay. I can do that. But that’ll fulfill my dog watching quota for the next three years.”
    “See you at six,” Tilly said with a giggle before hanging up.

    “That dog’s dick is huge !” Quinn whispered loudly making Tilly hush her. Quinn looked at her. “What? It is! And you know it! I’ve slept with guys who were smaller! Damn!”
    Tilly shook her head, looking apologetically at a few bystanders as she moved to get a better shot.
    “God. I’ll bet the men here have some serious penis envy going on. I know I would if I were a guy,” Quinn added.
    Tilly stopped with a sigh then looked at her watch. “Let’s go.”
    “Goody!” Quinn answered, bringing her palms up for baby claps.
    “God, you’re like a large toddler,” Tilly declared wryly as she packed her camera into its bag then they made their way from the show floor. She turned back to look at her petite friend. “Well, a regular-sized toddler, but a toddler nonetheless.”
    Quinn stuck out her tongue and chuckled knowing she’d gotten her way by behaving like a brat but whatever. “At least I don’t have to look at dogs or their freaking wangs any longer,” she mumbled.
    “Only you could make a dog show sexual,” Tilly chided as she hailed a cab.
    “But did you see the size of that one dog’s—”
    “Shut it!” Tilly cut her off, laughing.
    “Talk about one canine cock and look what it gets you…”

    “You did not!”
    Quinn nodded, her shoulders coming up, her face wearing an Oops! expression.
    “You challenged him in a…in some kind of a…in some weird sex duel ?” Tilly stared at her, wine glass stopped halfway from her lips.
    All Quinn could do was nod sheepishly.
    “What’s going on with you?”
    Now Quinn blew out a breath. “I like him. As in, really like him. So in my mind, it all made sense. It was like my heart was screaming at my cranium to protect it and that was the result.”
    “A sexual power struggle?”
    Another nod.
    “Huh.”
    “Yeah.”
    Tilly finished what was left in her glass then held it up to the waitress who was passing by signaling she needed another as Quinn did the same.
    “What?” Quinn finally asked after Tilly had stared at her for a few moments.
    “It’s gonna piss you off, but I’m just gonna be blunt.”
    “Do your worst,” Quinn muttered intercepting her glass from the waitress whose intention had been to set it on the table. “Hang on.” Quinn took a big gulp. “Okay, go.”
    Tilly tilted her head to the side as she began. “I’ve watched you date for going on ten years now, and with the exception of Jackson, you always pick men who are…I can’t think of the word.” She took a drink. “Pushovers, maybe?”
    “Easily dominated?” Quinn helped with a chuckle.
    “Yes! That’s it!” Tilly narrowed her eyes at her. “I think you do that for a reason.”
    Quinn shrugged.
    “You do it on purpose.” More eye narrowing. “You’re protecting yourself.”
    “So?” Quinn watched a handsome man at another table stand then get down on one knee at the side of the woman he was with, proposing. “Look. That guy’s shoe was untied.”
    Tilly looked where Quinn had nodded and gasped. “Oh, my gosh! That’s so sweet!”
    “Yeah, nothing like getting your woman plastered before asking the biggest question of her life.”
    Looking back at her, Tilly snorted. “You’re a mess! It’s sweet!” She took a drink. “My point is, what you’ve been doing is self-sabotage. And I’m beginning