Unraveled (Undone) by Jennifer Dawson Read Free Book Online Page A

it for hours.
    That’s how I always know a piece is good. When I don’t want to look away. When I want to get lost in its beauty. When I think about it throughout my day, longing to see it again.
    “Why did you need convincing?” Layla asked, and I can hear the awe in her voice. “It’s stunning.”
    Brandon chuckles and I finally tear myself away from the piece.
    I roll my eyes at Layla. “He wanted vintage pornography.”
    Layla raises a brow. “This is better.”
    “Of course it is,” I say, flipping my hair.
    Brandon shrugs one shoulder. “When I’m wrong, I’m wrong. I had a vision of what I wanted, but when it comes to art, Jillian is always right.”
    I wag my finger at him. “And don’t you forget it.”
    Brandon grins at me. “Baby doll, you did get paid.”
    I did. Quite well. For the very first time I’d been paid for real art dealer work. When I got the check, I’d been like a little kid, dancing around the condo I share with Leo like a lunatic, screaming in delight while Leo grinned at me, completely amused by my antics.
    I don’t believe in hiding my emotions.
    Of course, I could have done something practical with the money, like invest it, but that’s not really my style. I have plenty of time to save, but this was special so I’d taken my fiancé away for a long weekend in Mexico and paid for the whole thing, much to Leo’s pretend griping.
    I wink at Brandon. “I’m worth every penny.”
    “That you are.” Brandon straightens and sighs. “I’ve got to get back to it, you girls be good in here.”
    “We will,” Layla and I parroted at the same time.
    He narrows his eyes. “I don’t trust you.”
    Layla did her sweet, innocent act on him. “I’m always good.”
    “Me too,” I say, mimicking her tone.
    Brandon shakes his head. “You’re little deviants.”
    We laugh and he takes his leave, closing the door behind us.
    We take turns in the bathroom, but then instead of going back to the main bar we plop down on Brandon’s brown leather furniture. Furniture that’s clearly designed for fucking, with all its curved lines, and interesting angles. Layla points again to the picture. “You’ve really outdone yourself.”
    “Isn’t it gorgeous? Is it wrong that I kind of want to steal it?”
    Layla laughs. “I’ll help.”
    We grin at each other, and then Layla glances toward the door and a cloud passes over her face. She clears her throat. “Do you think I was wrong to invite Ruby?”
    I’ve always liked Layla’s best friend. Although the two women couldn’t be more opposite. Layla is stunning in a very classical way. The art masters would have had a field day with her. She’s also traditional. Ruby, on the other hand, is a gorgeous little rocker girl that, from what I understand from Layla, wants no part of mainstream life.
    Whenever we’ve gone out as a group, it’s always been in regular circumstances, normal dinners, dancing, bar hopping and the like. Circumstances where Leo and Michael aren’t in your face about their dominant natures. This is the first time where all our depravity is right out there for the world to see.
    Ruby is uncomfortable. That’s obvious. I hadn’t missed that she wanted to interrupt the interplay between Michael and Layla, or that she hadn’t liked what she’d witnessed. I saw Chad stop her. I understood she hadn’t realized what was really going on between them, but to me, it had seemed clear it hadn’t been bad.
    I run my hand over the leather couch. “I don’t know. Why’d you bring her?”
    Layla shakes her head, blowing out a breath. “I think she’s curious, more than curious actually.”
    My eyes widen. That’s not a vibe I’d picked up on, but on the other hand, she’d agreed to come along. “Why do you think that?”
    “The questions she asks. The way she watches Michael and Leo. Michael says she’ll need to figure it out on her own, and maybe I’m projecting. Assigning meaning when there isn’t one. I don’t