Read Online Happily Ever After? (Sleeping Handsome Sequel) by Jean Haus - Free Book Online Page A

already in my
conviction. The tissue becomes a tight wad inside my
fist.
    “ So why are you so upset?”
he says softly.
    “ Um…” I stare at his
designer t-shirt. “It has to do more with her than him.”
    He sweeps away the hair on his
forehead and frowns. “I find that hard to believe.”
    My teeth gnaw at my bottom lip. Inside
my misery, I’m having a hard time following his line of
thought.
    “ I mean if it wasn’t about
him, why would you be so distraught?”
    Is this really about Zach? I’m angry
with him, but…I draw in a deep breath. Dry my eyes with the corner
of the soaked tissue. Let out the air I’d been holding in. “Maybe
it’s about him.”
    Bret scoots closer and puts an arm
around me. “Guys are dogs. Unfortunately, being one I know this.
You’re still young. After this movie you’ll have tons of guys after
you.”
    He draws my head closer to his
shoulder. I press my check against his t-shirt and hold in a sob. I
don’t want other guys. I want Zach.
    We sit there quietly as he rubs my
back with his palm. Though I feel empty, I relax a bit. Let out
another deep breath and lean farther into Bret. It’s good to be
with a friend during so much pain. Even if he smells like an entire
bottle of cologne.
    Bret raises my chin with a knuckle.
“We almost have a week left here. I could help you forget that boy
at home.”
    Confused, I blink at him.
    “ We’d be good together.”
His arm grows tighter around my shoulder, he pulls me closer—my
confusion goes into overdrive—and his lashes flutter closed before
his lips touch mine.
    Yuck. For one long second I’m frozen
in shock. I gasp at the gross feeling of his lips then wrench
myself off the couch, stumble, and fall back against the wall.
“What are you doing?”
    Smiling slowly, he stands. “Come on,
Paige. You have to know by now I’m attracted to you. And I’m
certain you’re attracted to me. You’ve been watching me with those
whiskey colored eyes for weeks now.”
    My mouth falls open. Is he freakin’
serious? I can be a ditz. I know this. But right now, I feel like
my world did fall apart and I landed on Mars or inside some cheesy
soap opera.
    He puts a hand against the wall on
each side of my head and leans in. “Your boyfriend cheated. We
share a mutual attraction. Let’s make the rest of this week good.”
He leans closer and I have to stop my lip from curling. “I’m sure
my experience far outweighs that boy at home. I can make it real
good. So good you’ll forget him,” he whisperers as he
bends.
    Double yuck. I duck just as his mouth
descends. This nutcase needs to go. Now. I race toward the door and
fling it open. “I’m not interested.”
    He cocks a brow.
    Oh, stupid, stupid Paige,
how did you not see this coming? You knew he was beyond
egotistical. “Ah… you’re handsome and all
that. And I like you as a friend, but um…my heart is really,
really, really taken.”
    He moves toward me slowly,
seductively. Triple yuck. His eyebrows rise. “By a
cheater?”
    “ I don’t think…never mind.
Just go. I’ll see you tomorrow at work.”
    He sides up to me and reaches for my
cheek. I stumble into the hallway. Is this idiot so arrogant he
doesn’t understand the word no? “Bret,” I snap.
    His lips tighten in a determined line
as he reaches for my wrist.
    “ Let me go,” I
hiss.
    Suddenly the guard is near.
“Everything all right?” he asks in a heavy accent.
    I yank my wrist free. “Yes, he was
just leaving.”
    Bret’s eyes turn angry. Ignoring him,
I step into my room, give the guard a thankful nod, and shut the
door with a huff. What the hell was that? I fall against the door
and wait for the world to straighten. After Zach’s email and Bret’s
ridiculous attempt at seduction, I’m stuck on a tilt.
    I run my hands over my face and
reality sinks in. Oh no. Through my blind stupidity, I’ve done
almost the same thing as Zach. I cringe. My offense might be a bit
worse. That asshole’s lips