Read Online How To Lose A Bachelor by Anna Banks - Free Book Online Page B

and from all walks of life had kissed her. So many that she was tempted to squirt an entire bottle of hand sanitizer in her mouth. And God, a shower would have been nice, too. But at least all the customers had followed the rules, giving her only small pecks on the lips, and taking a photo with her here and there.
    Sure, she got dirty looks from women passing by. A kissing booth was a kissing booth was a kissing booth. But the cause was worthy, she admitted begrudgingly, and the payoff, so far, had been huge. Besides, she was an attorney. Dirty looks came with the job. She could outwardly handle poisonous glares and acidic whispers behind her back, even as she withered inside from the humiliation.
    Worthy cause, worthy cause, worthy cause.
    She hadn’t seen Grant all day, not since she announced in the limo what her booth would entail. He’d found it repugnant, she could tell.
    In the distance, Grant approached with the camera crew in tow. He paused briefly at Sakiya’s booth, and from the admiring look on his face, was complimenting her on her work. Just as Rochelle was about to mutter something under her breath, she got another customer, effectively ending her break and the self-loathing session that had ensued.
    “Is the kissing booth still open?” her new patron asked.
    She turned her attention to him. Handsome. Really handsome, and probably right around her own age. “Of course,” she said, trying her hardest to sound enthusiastic. “But I’m expensive. It’s five dollars per kiss.”
    He laughed. “That’s a bargain.” He handed her five ones, which she gave to her assigned assistant in charge of the money box. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Grant and the camera crew stop. One of the camera guys hurried over to get in on the juicy footage about to go down at the infamous kissing booth. Rochelle fought off a cringe.
    Grant was watching. He would see everything, so she had to make this good. The thing was, America would be watching her, too. And judging her. Could she ever recover from the shame she felt, even as she stepped toward the man?
    Worthy cause, worthy cause, worthy cause .
    “You can come closer if you want,” she said to her customer. “I don’t bite.”
    “Not even if I pay extra?”
    Oh dear God.
    When he stepped closer, she pulled him in by his shirt collar. She could practically feel Grant watching them, and she wondered how much attention he was paying. Could he see her desperation? The indignity she felt? The hatred she directed at him for forcing her to go to extremes like this? That’s right, Grant Drake. This is your fault.
    So watch this .
    “Did you happen to notice the rules?” she asked out of habit.
    “Read ‘em twice.”
    “Good.” She slowly pressed her lips against his, and instead of a peck, she let them linger a bit. But when he opened his mouth for more, she stopped, pulling away. Lingering was one thing. Making out with a stranger on camera was quite another.
    Her handsome customer stepped back in slight awe. “I could do that all day,” he said, reaching for his wallet again.
    “You’ll have to get back in line,” a voice called from beside them.
    They turned to Grant, who strode toward them like a predator stalking its next meal. Rochelle’s stomach somersaulted. She’d seen that look in his eye before.
    She was in loads of trouble now.
    Rochelle’s dapper customer stepped away, allowing Grant room between them. Grant smiled at the man. “Rules are rules,” he said, tilting his head toward the board in front of them. “Number three says you get one kiss, then have to go back to the end of the line.”
    The man nodded good-naturedly. “I’d wait in line all day for another kiss like that.”
    Grant’s smile faltered, something Rochelle relished for the second it lasted. Recovering, Grant nodded toward the back of the line, which kept growing and growing, probably because of the camera crew now parked beside them. “If you don’t hurry,