With Extreme Pleasure by Alison Kent Read Free Book Online Page A

way.”
    “Does anyone?”
    A corner of her mouth twitched. “I can think of a few people.”
    “Like those who shot him?”
    She’d unwrapped the paper from around her small burger while talking, but as his question settled around them, she wrapped it back up. Then she pushed it across the table. “Here. I changed my mind. It’s not a fair trade.”
    “You already gave me more than you said you would,” he said to set her at ease—though he was still wildly curious about how a home invasion was her fault—as he pushed the burger right back.
    She took it, but didn’t eat it, and her gaze remained on her fingers, the polish on her nails chipped and black, while she toyed with the yellow wax paper. “Maybe I’ll save this for later. I’m pretty stuffed.”
    “After all of that?” He nodded to indicate the pile of trash next to her arm “You should be.”
    He’d been hoping to see a spark of the smart-mouthed stylist who’d moussed and gelled his hair into the same natural bed head he woke up with each day. For the moment, that girl was gone.
    This one had drifted back to her brother’s death, and was going to need more than a junior cheeseburger or King’s digs to bring her around.
    What he had to say next probably wasn’t going to be much help in making that happen. “We should get going. We need to find a place to bunk down for the night before you fall out from exhaustion.”
    That had her lifting her head. “What do you mean, bunk down?”
    “A bed. A place to sleep,” he said, keeping his eyes on her as he swirled what was left of his drink in its ice and brought the cup to his mouth.
    “Together?”
    “If we can’t find a place with two beds, I’ll take the floor. I’ve got a sleeping bag.” And if he was going to take her with him, he’d have to get her one, too. Something to think about tomorrow. Once he was thinking straight again.
    He obviously needed sleep as badly as she did. Why else would he be considering taking her with him?
    When she still hadn’t responded, and the silence between them had taken on an uncomfortable life of its own, he said, “You jumped into my ride like a stowaway. You didn’t think about sleeping arrangements?”
    “I wasn’t thinking about anything but finding the cheapest way possible out of town.”
    He gave her an eyeful. “You tried to get me to drop you at Greyhound. That dog don’t run for free, boo.”
    “Which is why you were my first choice,” she said, sitting back, crossing her arms, her chin up, trembling though defiant. “You can take me farther away than I can afford to get on the bus. But now I’m wondering what traveling with you is going to cost me. And if you’re worth it.”
    Again. She was running. He was certain. He was also certain he hadn’t told her she could come along because he was still fighting himself over letting her. “I said we need to find a place to get some shut eye. That’s it. Nothing about you traveling with me or any sort of cost.”
    “Does that mean you’re not taking me with you?”
    “It means I don’t know what I’m doing.” And if that wasn’t the biggest understatement he’d ever made.
    “When will you know? Because if you’re not—”
    “Cady.” He reached over, covered her hand that was back to nervously playing with the burger wrapper. “I’m not going to leave you on the street.”
    “That doesn’t make me feel a whole lot better,” she said, turning her fingers into his and squeezing tight.
    Tears welled in her lower lids that were already rainbow-colored and swollen. Talk about ripping a guy’s heart out. “Trust me, okay? Things will look better tomorrow.”
    She snorted. “Assuming once I close my eyes, I’ll be able to open them again.”
    Ripped out and stomped into the ground. Damn if he wasn’t going soft in his old age.
    Even so, he continued to hold her hand while sliding out of his seat, using his free one to snag their trash and drop it in the receptacle on