Vortex (SAI Book 1) by Lea Hart Read Free Book Online Page A

fine ass? Do you see something you like?”
    Twirling around, Vivi beamed at Dane. “You think I have a fine ass? Oh, that’s so sweet. No one has noticed in so long.” Leaning her hip against the counter, she studied Dane more closely. Maybe she should go have a drink with him.
    “Whatever you have going on in your mind…just forget it,” Trinity called out.
    Gazing at Dane, she smiled and shrugged. “Are you sure?”
    “I’m as sure as sugar,” Trinity replied.
    “All right, then you take him. Because we can’t let such a good-looking man go to waste. It would be un-American,” Vivi stated.
    The men’s eyes bounced between the two of them, and they appeared bewildered. It was probably bad taste to be horse-trading right in front of them, but Vivi couldn’t get herself worked up about it. “I mean it, Trinity. You all go out tonight and have a good old-fashioned date. Go ahead, Dane. Ask Trinity out. She’s ready.”
    “Trinity, would you like to go out tonight?” Dane asked.
    “I will go out with you, Dane,” Trinity passed her hand over her hair and smiled. “I think it will be fun.”
    Ruby clapped her hands from her perch on Ben’s lap, looking as satisfied as a debutante with a full dance card. “Now it’s your turn, Vivi. You’re next. The next man that you find attractive, you have to go out with.”
    “Fine.”
    “What the hell is going on around here?” Joel bellowed. He stood in the middle of the kitchen with his hands on his hips, looking like he wanted to take a bite out of someone or something. Vivi wasn’t going to go out on a date. If there were dates to be had, they would be with him. Not that he wanted to date, but he sure as hell wasn’t going to let another man get near her. Shaking his head slowly, he realized that he’d officially lost his mind. 
    “Were you just asleep for the last ten minutes?” Ben inquired. He wrapped his arm around Ruby’s waist a little tighter and smoothed his hand down her leg. “The girls are breaking up the widows’ club and trying to walk back into the land of the living. You should follow their example, because it might improve your personality.” Gazing up at Ruby, he winked. “I took my vitamins, sweetheart. I want you to know that I’m ready for whatever you have in mind for me.”
    Ruby held his face with her hands and dropped her mouth to his and proceeded to kiss him like a woman who had been alone for the last five years. It wasn’t anything that people needed to see before ten-thirty in the morning. But that didn’t seem to matter, because clearly nothing was going to make Ruby stop. And Ben appeared to be enjoying the attention.
    Vivi turned around and made a pot of coffee. “That’s what a five-year dry spell looks like,” she said to herself as much as anyone else. She didn’t judge her friend. She was damn happy for her and maybe a tiny bit jealous. Maybe it was time she found someone to kiss. Glancing over at Joel, she wondered if he would kiss her. When she noticed his frown, she dismissed the thought immediately. It would be better to kiss someone who actually liked her and wasn’t so growly.
    All the good looks in the world didn’t make up for a bad disposition. Just because she understood where it came from didn’t mean that she was willing to deal with it. She had enough sadness in her life. She wanted a little happy, and the man standing across the kitchen was never going to help her find it.
    Joel walked over to Vivi and leaned against the counter. “I’m sorry for staring at your ass.”
    “Are you sorry that you looked or sorry that you got caught?” Vivi asked. She leaned against the counter next to him and studied her manicure.
    “I’m sorry that I got caught.” He stared down at the ground and adjusted his cap.
    “You better be careful, Joel. You just displayed a sense of humor. If you’re not careful, someone might think that you have a personality. Maybe…even a little charm.”
    A small