Read Online Kept: An Erotic Anthology by Holly Roberts, Leia Shaw, Cari Silverwood, Sorcha Black, Angela Castle, C. L. Scholey - Free Book Online Page B
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wiggling the fingers of her left hand at the barkeep. “No ring on this finger. Too frikken fat for one anyway.”
“I wouldn’t say that. Everyone has a soul match out there somewhere. You just haven’t met the right man to sweep you off your feet.”
“Ha! Everyone’s a comedian. Did you take clown school as well?”
She didn’t mean to sound as bitter as she did, but couldn’t help it.
The bartender shrugged and leaned closer. “Honey, I’ve seen my share of tall, beautiful women, and I can honestly tell you beauty really is only skin deep. You my lovely, have so many dangerous curves, you should be outlawed.”
Ash’s gaze narrowed in suspicion. Surely, he wasn’t flirting with her? Men didn’t flirt with big-boned, plump Ashlyn Sawyer. She dismissed him as one of those meddlesome bartenders, listening to everyone’s problems, dishing out advice.
“Ashlyn!”
Ash winced at the high-pitched tone of her stepmother’s voice. It made her own name sound like nails scratching down a blackboard every time she spoke it. “There you are! Your sister and I have been looking everywhere for you.”
The bartender set down her martini, and glanced from her to her stepmother who sidled up to her.
How her father married a woman with more plastic parts on her than a Barbie doll was beyond Ash. He’d found her in Las Vegas while on a business trip, and brought her and her new stepsister back to Australia.
Ash glanced around, spotting her stepsister wearing a skin-tight, short, red dress, whispering things to her two giggling, gal pals.
Ash could only guess her father must have been lonely and vulnerable. Her mother died several years ago, leaving only Ash and her father, to help each other through the tough times. Yet, somehow, he managed to miss the fact thathis new wife and stepdaughter were nothing but greedy leeches.
Whatever makes my daddy happy … Ash let itslide.
When she first met her new American stepmother and sister, the chill in the air would have made camels living in the Egyptian Desert feel like they were on holiday at the North Pole.
However, as soon as it was clear how her father's will was written, the older woman didn’t have any choice but to pretend to be nice to Ash. The saccharine sweetness of her plastic doll stepmother always made her stomach churn.
Ash turned, facing the woman who detested her. The feeling was mutual; Ash hated liars and every nice word falling from Jillian’s lips and directed at Ash was a lie.
The bartender winked, adding an extra finger of vodka to her martini before walking off to attend to another customer.
“Well, here I am.” Ash turned slightly and raised her glass. “Pre-celebrating Lillian’s wedding.” She took a long swallow and the liquid, despite its sweetness, burned while it slid down her throat. Coughing, she set the glass down. She’d never make a good drunk when she didn’t like the stuff in the first place.
She was here because her father asked her to supervise the pre-wedding spend. He wouldn’t do it himself, claiming it was 'no place for a man.’ He had a business to run and would turn up at the event in two days. He added it was time Ash went on a proper holiday, and Vegas was the place to relax, and have some fun.
She was at least glad her dad was aware of Jillian’s greedy tendencies. He kept her in check by controlling how much she could spend, using Ash as his banker to stop Jillian from squandering the family fortune. Before leaving Australia, Jillian yelled, ranted and raved at her poor dad, but he held firm, bless him. Anything Jillian wanted for Lillian’s wedding would have to go through Ash.
This was the onlyreason wedding party had been nicetowards her since arriving in Vegas. She kept her sarcastic thoughts to herself, knowing if she sank to their level, they would only beat her with their wealth of experience.
Lillian was marrying Frank, a tall, blond jock. Ever since being introduced to Lillian’s
“I wouldn’t say that. Everyone has a soul match out there somewhere. You just haven’t met the right man to sweep you off your feet.”
“Ha! Everyone’s a comedian. Did you take clown school as well?”
She didn’t mean to sound as bitter as she did, but couldn’t help it.
The bartender shrugged and leaned closer. “Honey, I’ve seen my share of tall, beautiful women, and I can honestly tell you beauty really is only skin deep. You my lovely, have so many dangerous curves, you should be outlawed.”
Ash’s gaze narrowed in suspicion. Surely, he wasn’t flirting with her? Men didn’t flirt with big-boned, plump Ashlyn Sawyer. She dismissed him as one of those meddlesome bartenders, listening to everyone’s problems, dishing out advice.
“Ashlyn!”
Ash winced at the high-pitched tone of her stepmother’s voice. It made her own name sound like nails scratching down a blackboard every time she spoke it. “There you are! Your sister and I have been looking everywhere for you.”
The bartender set down her martini, and glanced from her to her stepmother who sidled up to her.
How her father married a woman with more plastic parts on her than a Barbie doll was beyond Ash. He’d found her in Las Vegas while on a business trip, and brought her and her new stepsister back to Australia.
Ash glanced around, spotting her stepsister wearing a skin-tight, short, red dress, whispering things to her two giggling, gal pals.
Ash could only guess her father must have been lonely and vulnerable. Her mother died several years ago, leaving only Ash and her father, to help each other through the tough times. Yet, somehow, he managed to miss the fact thathis new wife and stepdaughter were nothing but greedy leeches.
Whatever makes my daddy happy … Ash let itslide.
When she first met her new American stepmother and sister, the chill in the air would have made camels living in the Egyptian Desert feel like they were on holiday at the North Pole.
However, as soon as it was clear how her father's will was written, the older woman didn’t have any choice but to pretend to be nice to Ash. The saccharine sweetness of her plastic doll stepmother always made her stomach churn.
Ash turned, facing the woman who detested her. The feeling was mutual; Ash hated liars and every nice word falling from Jillian’s lips and directed at Ash was a lie.
The bartender winked, adding an extra finger of vodka to her martini before walking off to attend to another customer.
“Well, here I am.” Ash turned slightly and raised her glass. “Pre-celebrating Lillian’s wedding.” She took a long swallow and the liquid, despite its sweetness, burned while it slid down her throat. Coughing, she set the glass down. She’d never make a good drunk when she didn’t like the stuff in the first place.
She was here because her father asked her to supervise the pre-wedding spend. He wouldn’t do it himself, claiming it was 'no place for a man.’ He had a business to run and would turn up at the event in two days. He added it was time Ash went on a proper holiday, and Vegas was the place to relax, and have some fun.
She was at least glad her dad was aware of Jillian’s greedy tendencies. He kept her in check by controlling how much she could spend, using Ash as his banker to stop Jillian from squandering the family fortune. Before leaving Australia, Jillian yelled, ranted and raved at her poor dad, but he held firm, bless him. Anything Jillian wanted for Lillian’s wedding would have to go through Ash.
This was the onlyreason wedding party had been nicetowards her since arriving in Vegas. She kept her sarcastic thoughts to herself, knowing if she sank to their level, they would only beat her with their wealth of experience.
Lillian was marrying Frank, a tall, blond jock. Ever since being introduced to Lillian’s
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