Unforgiven by Elizabeth Finn Read Free Book Online Page B

thoughtfulness, and in return, Jess gave her undying devotion and support.
    By the time Darren stepped back out from the shower, he’d still not stopped thinking about Bailey, analyzing her, obsessing about her. He’d simply spent entirely too much time with her this week. He ended up flopping down on his bed and falling asleep. He wasn’t that tired, a bit hung over perhaps, but the nap was more to stop his brain from thinking about a woman a bit too young for him, a bit too close to him, and just plain too fucking much for him. The fact was, he cared just a bit too much for her to subject her to his brand of relationship. He couldn’t hurt her.
    He avoided her for the rest of the day by staying in his room, working on his laptop, and getting ahead on some reading for his ethics class. But come late evening, it was time. He dressed in jeans and a simple gray T-shirt, and he headed to the kitchen. Trinity came in a few minutes later, smelling of perfume, plastered perfectly with makeup, and her hair looking like something on a Barbie doll. She looked at him wearily. She obviously wasn’t thrilled about being rejected earlier in the day, but that was all lost on him when Jess and Bailey walked in together.
    Jess was wearing a short, too short, jean skirt, skimpy summer tank top, and wedge sandals, and Bailey was wearing a white, strapless sundress. The skirt was flirty and the bodice fitted, leaving him studying the fabric to see if he could see her nipples beneath. Nothing but her small tits and the tight fit of the bodice were holding it up, and he was in hell knowing how much attention this was going to garner. The skirt hit a few inches above her knees, not nearly so short as Jess’ skirt, but plenty to leave little to the imagination, and while her sandals didn’t have quite the high wedge Jess’ sandals did, they were plenty tall to draw his eyes to her legs. These two were definitely going to be getting in some trouble tonight.
    Bailey smiled at him, but it was a shy smile. “Well, this promises to be a great night,” he muttered as he snatched the keys up from the counter.

Chapter Five
    Now
    “Michelle, I’m just not up for it. I lost my job nearly two weeks ago. I’m broke, I’m going to be homeless soon if I don’t find a way to make money, and my parole officer, bless his heart for being the most patient and kind man in the world, is not happy with me for not disclosing my record to the clinic. It’s just lousy timing.” She’d been trying to get off the phone with Michelle for nearly five damn minutes, but her dear friend, who didn’t hate her guts like everyone else in town, just wasn’t taking no for an answer.
    “That’s precisely why you need to come. It’s St. Paddy’s day, Bailey, and you need a night out. It’s my treat. And I’m pretty sure that means you can’t say no. Come on, please? Parade first and then drinks.”
    “Drinks.” She was muttering. “Michelle, I just don’t know.” Bailey was starting to get exasperated. She didn’t want to go out and try to have a good time. It never worked. The good times were over, and regardless of how much she might try to recapture them, they were gone for good.
    “You can sulk all night, and I won’t even complain. Just go. It’ll do ya some good. Promise.”
    “Why do you still insist on being my friend?”
    There was silence from the other end of the line. It was a stupid question to ask, but it popped out anyway. When the silence became overly long and awkward, Bailey cleared her throat and opened her mouth to say something. She wasn’t sure what to say, but she opened her mouth anyway, hoping the words would find her. There was nothing easy about the question she asked.
    “I’d like to think you’d do the same for me.” The silence set in again, and Bailey’s mouth remained open, fighting to find the right words. “Listen, go with me. Have a good time. Be normal again. Just . . . just fake it till you make it and all