Read Online Bring the Heat by Jo Davis - Free Book Online

gaze. Lips tilted up, she eyed him from head to toe as though contemplating how he’d taste smothered in chocolate syrup and whipped cream. He must have been putting out someserious pheromones tonight. Or he looked as pathetically lonely and desperate for company as he felt. Jesus.
    â€œHello,” the woman purred. “I’m Stacy. I couldn’t help but notice that you’re all by yourself.”
    Now she had a name. Super. “Well, actually, I was just talking to my friend here—”
    â€œBuy a girl a drink?”
    Hell. Austin glanced at Chandler and Frankie to see them struggling to hide a smirk. His headache returned, pounding behind his eyeballs.
    â€œSure,” he muttered, waving at the bartender. The irony of the moment didn’t escape him. If he’d located his balls, he could’ve been buying a drink for Laura right now.
    Stacy was tall and busty. Her scrap of a dress barely hid her nipples, whereas Laura always dressed in sleek classy suits. This woman’s hazel eyes were sharp, predatory. Even cold. Not warm with intelligence like—
    â€œWhy don’t we cut to the chase, honey?” Dropping the preliminaries, she leaned against him, rubbing the side of his body, arching like a cat. “Let’s take this party somewhere else, shall we?”
    Chandler set a glass of wine in front of Austin’s determined pursuer, shaking his head, then sauntered off.
    Austin strove to maintain politeness. “Sorry, sugar. No can do. I’m not in the mood, but thanks anyway. Enjoy your wine.”
    Surprise flitted across her painted-doll face. But she wasn’t ready to give up. She laid a hand on his thigh,sliding her fingers upward. There was no reaction from his cock whatsoever. All he felt was disgust.
    With a ripe curse, he bolted to his feet, grabbed his tormentor’s arms, and detached her. “I said
no, thank you
. But I’m sure a pretty lady like you can find another date.” With Laura’s beautiful image haunting him, he’d nearly choked on calling this tramp a “lady.”
    Austin let out a huge sigh of relief as Stacy snatched her purse and stalked off without even touching her drink.
    â€œJeez, some people just don’t know how to take no for an answer,” Frankie said with a grimace.
    Austin laughed. “Well, at least you do.”
    â€œI’m used to it, believe me.”
    â€œNow I don’t buy that for a second. Me, I just don’t swing your way, that’s all.”
    â€œPoor pitiful me.”
    Austin shook his head, grinning. “And on that note, I’m out of here,” he told Frankie. Digging out his wallet, he tossed down enough money for the drinks and a tip. “See you around.”
    â€œSure thing. Take care.”
    â€œSame goes.”
    All the way home, Austin replayed the evening in his mind.
    Something was bothering him. Something Frankie had said earlier, but he couldn’t remember what. And for the life of him, he was too tired to think about it anymore.
    â€¢Â Â Â â€¢Â Â Â â€¢
    Check out that asshole. How does he get women coming on to him? What makes that fucker so special?
    The blond slut in the black dress wanted to take him home, but the cocky SOB had turned her away. Who does that?
    Eyes narrowed, Douglas watched as the slut made her way to the bar with determination. Anger simmered as the bitch seated herself on a newly vacated stool on one side of the cop. The woman touched Rainey’s shoulder, interrupting his conversation with the familiar dark-haired man. Leaned into him, smiling, rubbing her breasts against his arm. Sliding her hand to his crotch.
    Ugly rage crushed his chest. For a few moments he couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think past the crimson haze. Blackness consumed his soul, choking his breath with the force of it.
    Rainey didn’t deserve the pleasure.
    Not when I’ve been denied, and it’s all his