Read Online Dance of Seduction by Elle Kennedy - Free Book Online
Authors: Elle Kennedy
Tags: Romance, Contemporary
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won’t if you don’t tell her.”
Wonderful. Now he was not only asking to stay in her house, but he wanted her to lie to the girl who had become her best friend.
“What if she stops by for a surprise visit?”
“We both know Ellie doesn’t own a car. And I doubt she’d be up to the walk, she lives across town. Chances are, she’ll call you to pick her up if she wants to come over.”
“She could take a cab.” She was grasping at straws but the idea of Josh here, in her personal space, was far too daunting.
“Look, I know it might be an inconvenience but I really have no other options.” He shrugged. “I need to keep an eye on my sister.”
She managed to speak despite the lump lodged in her throat. “Josh…”
“Come on, Viv.” He shot her a grin that was both charming and full of way too much sinful promise. “Do me this favor?”
She swallowed again. No, she gulped. Really hard. And then she wondered, how bad could it really be, letting him stay here? How bad? her conscience taunted. Do you even have to think about it?
She held back a sigh. Oh hell, letting Josh stay here would be disastrous and every part of her knew it. Her brain. Her body. Her heart.
Her mouth, on the other hand, had other ideas. Instead of a polite refusal, what came out of that irritating mouth was, “All right, you can stay.”
A few hours later, Ellie paced the living room as she waited for her date to pick her up. Miguel had called ten minutes ago to say he was on his way, and despite the fact that this outing was nothing more than a childish charade, she was nervous.
It was times like these she desperately missed her mother. She’d been nine when her parents had died, but her memories of her mother were as vivid as if they’d happened just yesterday. She remembered all the times her mom had helped her with her homework, how she’d always given advice when Ellie fought with her friends, or when she’d developed her first crush on a boy in her fourth-grade class. And it had been her mother who’d encouraged her to take up ballet, when Ellie had fallen in love after seeing a Christmas performance of The Nutcracker .
She stopped pacing as hot tears stung her eyes. God, she missed her. She needed her so much right now. These six months had been hell, and if her mother were there she might have been able to help her through it all. Her mom would have been patient, supportive, unlike Josh, who was determined to fix everything. Like the toys he’d fixed for her when they were kids.
Too bad she couldn’t be fixed. She was broken beyond repair.
A knock on the door pulled Ellie from her thoughts, and she blinked back the tears still welling in her eyes.
As she walked to the door, she squared her shoulders. Her mother was gone, so was the future she’d worked hard for, and as devastating as it was, she needed to be strong. She wouldn’t let Luke drag her back to San Francisco like a stray kitten.
Pushing open the door, she pasted a big smile on her face. “Hi,” she greeted her date.
Vivian’s pool boy was a lot better looking than Ellie had expected. Taking in his light-brown skin, striking brown eyes and chiseled jaw, she almost forgot this was a farce as familiar first-date butterflies fluttered around in her stomach.
The reality of the situation, however, sunk in the second he opened his mouth and in a faint Spanish accent said, “Okay, girlfriend, tell me everything I need to know about this man we’re supposed to make jealous.”
Chapter Five
Luke shifted in his chair, keeping his eyes focused on the front doors of the Dancehall and trying to forget about the conversation he’d just had. Josh had called again demanding a progress report, and when Luke admitted he was still getting nowhere, Josh hadn’t been pleased. The way he ranted and raved, it was Luke’s fault Ellie still refused to come home. Didn’t the guy know his own sister by now? Open the dictionary and you’d find Ellie
Wonderful. Now he was not only asking to stay in her house, but he wanted her to lie to the girl who had become her best friend.
“What if she stops by for a surprise visit?”
“We both know Ellie doesn’t own a car. And I doubt she’d be up to the walk, she lives across town. Chances are, she’ll call you to pick her up if she wants to come over.”
“She could take a cab.” She was grasping at straws but the idea of Josh here, in her personal space, was far too daunting.
“Look, I know it might be an inconvenience but I really have no other options.” He shrugged. “I need to keep an eye on my sister.”
She managed to speak despite the lump lodged in her throat. “Josh…”
“Come on, Viv.” He shot her a grin that was both charming and full of way too much sinful promise. “Do me this favor?”
She swallowed again. No, she gulped. Really hard. And then she wondered, how bad could it really be, letting him stay here? How bad? her conscience taunted. Do you even have to think about it?
She held back a sigh. Oh hell, letting Josh stay here would be disastrous and every part of her knew it. Her brain. Her body. Her heart.
Her mouth, on the other hand, had other ideas. Instead of a polite refusal, what came out of that irritating mouth was, “All right, you can stay.”
A few hours later, Ellie paced the living room as she waited for her date to pick her up. Miguel had called ten minutes ago to say he was on his way, and despite the fact that this outing was nothing more than a childish charade, she was nervous.
It was times like these she desperately missed her mother. She’d been nine when her parents had died, but her memories of her mother were as vivid as if they’d happened just yesterday. She remembered all the times her mom had helped her with her homework, how she’d always given advice when Ellie fought with her friends, or when she’d developed her first crush on a boy in her fourth-grade class. And it had been her mother who’d encouraged her to take up ballet, when Ellie had fallen in love after seeing a Christmas performance of The Nutcracker .
She stopped pacing as hot tears stung her eyes. God, she missed her. She needed her so much right now. These six months had been hell, and if her mother were there she might have been able to help her through it all. Her mom would have been patient, supportive, unlike Josh, who was determined to fix everything. Like the toys he’d fixed for her when they were kids.
Too bad she couldn’t be fixed. She was broken beyond repair.
A knock on the door pulled Ellie from her thoughts, and she blinked back the tears still welling in her eyes.
As she walked to the door, she squared her shoulders. Her mother was gone, so was the future she’d worked hard for, and as devastating as it was, she needed to be strong. She wouldn’t let Luke drag her back to San Francisco like a stray kitten.
Pushing open the door, she pasted a big smile on her face. “Hi,” she greeted her date.
Vivian’s pool boy was a lot better looking than Ellie had expected. Taking in his light-brown skin, striking brown eyes and chiseled jaw, she almost forgot this was a farce as familiar first-date butterflies fluttered around in her stomach.
The reality of the situation, however, sunk in the second he opened his mouth and in a faint Spanish accent said, “Okay, girlfriend, tell me everything I need to know about this man we’re supposed to make jealous.”
Chapter Five
Luke shifted in his chair, keeping his eyes focused on the front doors of the Dancehall and trying to forget about the conversation he’d just had. Josh had called again demanding a progress report, and when Luke admitted he was still getting nowhere, Josh hadn’t been pleased. The way he ranted and raved, it was Luke’s fault Ellie still refused to come home. Didn’t the guy know his own sister by now? Open the dictionary and you’d find Ellie
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