When He Was Bad... by Anne Oliver Read Free Book Online Page A

okay, here, Ellie?’ A familiar deep voice behind her.
    She darted a look over her shoulder, glimpsed Matt and groaned inwardly. With relief, with embarrassment. ‘How long have you been here?’ And how come she hadn’t seen him arrive?
    â€˜Long enough.’ Then to Sleazy, he leaned low and murmured, ‘I suggest you leave while you still can.’
    Sleazy glared at Ellie a moment as if deciding to make something of it, then rose. ‘You’ll pay for this,’ he muttered, swiping at the damp patch on his leg. He didn’t give eye contact to Matt, she noted, but he sent Ellie a final glare, then pushed his way towards the bar.
    â€˜You okay?’ She felt Matt’s hand at her back but shrugged it off before she did something stupid—like arch against it and purr. ‘I’m fine. Please let me get on with my job.’
    He stepped back. ‘Fine. Get on with it.’
    His clipped reply reminded her that she’d been prickly and ungrateful—a survival mechanism, but rude nonetheless—so she followed up with, ‘Would you like a drink? On the house.’
    He nodded. ‘Mineral water. Thanks.’
    She watched him return to an empty table on the far side of the room, away from the tables she was serving, and flick open a folder he’d left there. His dark eyes met hers again, sending ripples of awareness down her spine.
    Smoothing her skirt, she headed to the bar to place his order and paid for it herself. She couldn’t remember the last time someone had bothered to come to her rescue. Even if she hadn’t needed it. She reminded herself she didn’t need anyone, particularly Matt McGregor, stamping all over her independence.
    So when she came by with his drink a few moments later,she couldn’t help herself. ‘There are much better strip clubs in town, as I’m sure you—’
    â€˜Yes. I know.’ He studied her a moment, an almost-grin lurking around his mouth. Then picked up his glass, raised it to her, took a long slow swallow. ‘But the evening’s young yet.’
    Something hot quivered low in her belly, prompting her to say, ‘Unless the stripper’s a personal friend of yours?’ She saw his eyes narrow and leaned towards him a fraction. ‘You’re checking up on me,’ she accused. ‘Did you think I was lying to you this morning?’
    â€˜Would you lie to me, Ellie?’ His gaze slid to her lips. ‘About how you feel, for instance?’
    Her pulse jumped up a notch and she took a swift step back. Away from the incredible aura he seemed to exude. ‘Why would I?’
    â€˜Only you can answer that.’ Still watching her, he took another swallow from his glass.
    â€˜Listen, I don’t need a minder—’
    â€˜Belle’s idea.’
    She huffed an impatient breath. ‘I’m sure she didn’t mean for you to intrude on my private life.’
    â€˜I have a moral obligation since I don’t consider this a safe working environment. And hasn’t that been proven justified?’
    She looked away, only to catch the disapproving eye of the bar manager. So it seemed it was okay to be sexually harassed and threatened but chatting with the customers was frowned upon. ‘I need to get back to work.’
    He set his glass down, flicked an eye over his folder, then drew out his phone. ‘And I need to make a call.’
    She knew Matt was there, was conscious of his eyes following her for the next couple of hours, even though whenever she glanced his way he had his nose buried in his folder orwas speaking into his mobile phone. At one point he was smiling while he talked and she just knew he wasn’t talking business—unless it was funny business. And that, she told herself, was none of her business.
    It was sometime after midnight when the manager paid her at the end of her shift and told her that her services were not required. He told