Read Online LAD: A British Bad Boy Romance Novel (Bad Boys of London Book 1) by Emilia Holland - Free Book Online Page A

every fevered passion I’d built up for this girl.

    “Can I help you, mate?” the bartender said from behind me. I didn’t make eye-contact with him in fear I’d lose her, only ordered a whiskey then dismissed him.

    I located a small table in the corner that would hide me enough. And as much as I detested the speakers behind my head, the bright television sets blaring music videos might distract the girls from noticing me here.

    A while went by with me studying every facet of my beauty— From her messy hair to her tight stomach, her delicate ankles. I longed to get a little rough with her. I wanted to pick her apart piece by piece. Now and then I’d see her look over her shoulder but never enough to notice me.  

    My third whiskey came and the effects of it on my head and patience were beginning to show. I don’t know how long I could sit here in silence being tempted by this devil woman.  

    The third boy band video of the evening ended, allowing me another commercial break worth of reprieve. I took a deep sigh and looked up to the TV set for some distraction. That’s when something happened that made me recoil.

Upon the screen, a black and white shot of some shiny brogues walked along a sidewalk. My jaw flexed. I downed my whiskey to the bottom of the glass.  

    Clip-clop, clip-clop.

    “In peace there's nothing so becomes a man…” A gravelly male voice spoke.

    Clip-clop, clip-clop.  

    “As modest stillness and humility…”

    The shoes stop in place and the camera pans upward.

    “Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood…”

    “Shit,” I hissed to myself under my breath. I looked through my lowered brow to Hayley who luckily hadn’t noticed the screen yet. If she did so, this whole persona of bravado I hold up may be tarnished. People seemed separated into two groups: Those who respect a model’s career and those who don’t. “Don’t look at the screen, don’t look at the screen.”

    If one thing was on my side, it was that my national cologne commercial was short. This moment would soon pass if she stayed focused on her friends and didn’t recognize my voice coming through the speakers.

    But no matter how hard I begged the gods to keep her distracted, her Asian friend pointed toward the screen, an obvious look of knowing spread across her face. She giggled demeaningly. My head rested again my fist.

    “Fucks’ sake,” I muttered.  

    Of all the people I wanted to keep this from, Hayley was the single person. Had it been anyone else, I wouldn’t have given two shits.

    I saw her precious face look over her shoulder to the screen. She paused. Her sweet lips parted slightly. She seemed at first confused until the recognition kicked in. But I failed to read her. What might she be thinking about seeing me up there? Her face lacked expression, or perhaps you’d say she seemed dumbfounded. And I couldn’t decide if I preferred that over any other possible reaction that may have come from her. My sincerest hope was that she’d be looking at that extreme close-up of my seductive bedroom eyes and wishing she could be looking into them for real once more.

    She repositioned herself in her stool to get a better angle. By that point, it had already ended. I took that as some sign she didn’t find it too lame. I watched as her friends probed her with their fingers, trying to get her to react. But she held steady, smiling politely then excused herself from the table. Her friends looked to each other when she left and interlocked fingertips— Perhaps they’d be in with her. But my tipsy impatience was getting the better of me. I needed to be alone with her and only her. My spying grew tiresome.

I waited until her two friends had turned to away again then proceeded to follow Hayley to the restrooms. It was then I saw something far from my liking—   Another young gentleman — a Cockney thug — tall, wiry with a buzz cut and earrings, appeared to be in pursuit of her too. When she