Read Online Freefall by Tess Oliver - Free Book Online Page B

coming back. “Don’t look around but there is a slice of heaven with silky thighs and a pair of lips that could give a guy a week’s worth of wet dreams walking this direction. I call first try.”
    Whoever she was, she had Clutch’s attention too. They both sat frozen like a pair of gawking, drooling statues. Then Clutch relaxed. “Figures. She’s got some bozo with her.”
    “I can never catch a break.” Dray looked up again. “They’re walking toward us.” And then his mouth dropped further. “Holy shit.” He looked at me, and I knew who he was gawking at.
    “Holy shit to the third power,” Dray said.
    “She is something,” Clutch said. “I think my sucker radar just went off. He looks made of money.”
    I pulled in a breath and turned around. Everything around her, the people, the cars, her jerk of a boyfriend all blurred and the only thing in focus was Scotlyn. Like in the shop, before she’d walked out, our gazes connected.
    “Holy shit to the tenth power,” Dray muttered behind me.
    I stood and Hammond came right up to me. “Hey, Nix.”
    “Hey,” I turned to Clutch. “This is my friend, Clutch. He’s the one with the muscle cars. Clutch, this is Lincoln Hammond.” Hammond stared up at Clutch as he stood to full height. “How are you doing?” Clutch said, and went straight into salesman mode. “I’ve got a real beauty of a Firebird here tonight, but if she’s not to your liking, I’ve got others.” He started leading Hammond away. As expected, Hammond looked back at Scotlyn to let her know she should follow.
    She shook her head and pointed toward the food window. He looked pissed. “Fine. Meet us over there after you get your ice cream.”
    I watched her walk to the order window. Dray tossed his trash in the can, walked over to me, and snapped his fingers in front of my face. “Earth to Nix.”
    “What?” I asked angrily.
    “Nothing,” he looked back at Scotlyn, “it’s just that the asshole is over there with Clutch, who has a history of being long winded, and you’re standing here alone with the girl of your dreams.” He glanced back at her again. She was picking up her ice cream cone from the window. “And what was your nickname in high school— oh yeah— Heartbreak Kid. Come on Heartbreak, work your magic.” He looked at her once more. “Christ, why don’t they make more like her?” Dray placed a hand on my shoulder. “Catch you later.”
    Scotlyn walked over to me with a vanilla ice cream cone.
    I looked down at her. “You’ve got a major sweet tooth, don’t you?”
    She smiled and nodded. She took a long lick up the side of the cone.
    “How’s the tattoo? Not too sore?”
    She nodded again and then walked away. I felt the weight of major disappointment figuring that she was headed over to Hammond. But then she stopped and her blue eyes sparkled back at me as she motioned with her head for me to follow. Which I did— without hesitation.
    I followed her behind a small storage building. She took another long lick on the ice cream, but the hot evening was making it hard for her to keep up with the drips of vanilla. She lifted the cone and used her eyes to ask if I wanted a bite.
    I shook my head. “No, I’m having way too much fun watching you eat it.”
    A wicked grin deepened the dimple on her cheek. Then with deliberate slowness, she pushed the entire scoop of ice cream into her mouth and drew it out slowly with her lips closed tightly around it.
    “Okay, now you’re just being mean.”
    Her smooth shoulders shook with a silent laugh. Then she held up a long finger. She turned to the side and slid her shirt up to where the tattoo started. It was another move I hadn’t expected, and I had to mentally slow down my pulse, which was starting to surge through every muscle. The skin around my artwork was slightly pink.
    “It looks like it’s healing fast.” My fingers could not be stopped. I reached up and lightly touched the skin around the ink, and she