Read Online Mad Hatter's Alice by Kelliea Ashley - Free Book Online Page A

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    “Today, people!” They jerked apart and Alice scurried up the stairs only to have her boot catch on the top step. She would have barreled head first into Andrew’s solid chest if a strong hand hadn’t caught her belt.
    “Wow, Alice, Grace should not be your last name.” Susan Ells, Andrew’s skinny secretary, commented with a slightly malicious smirk on her pretty face. Sue was gifted with a perfect size four body and luxurious auburn hair that she’d pulled into an elegant side braid. Alice barely refrained from running a hand over her sloppily fashioned bun. She knew her bangs were in disarray from rushing to catch the bus. Sue’s natural beauty, fashionable shorts, and white peasant top put Alice’s jean shorts and black tank top to shame. Her comment received a few laughs and Andrew grinned before he stepped in front of her to amble down the aisle to the back of the bus. Alice tore her gaze from his excellent back muscles beneath the light blue polo shirt to find Kitty Raines, her friend and co-worker waving to her. Relieved that Kitty saved her a seat, she lumbered quickly toward her.
    “You’re late girl.” Kitty smiled.
    “No kidding. Oh, my pack.” Alice turned to find Wayne waiting for her with the cumbersome pack in his big hand. Slung over his shoulder, a well-used rucksack rested against his back as if it weighed no more than a pound.
    “I’ll wait until you’re settled,” he said politely. She hurried to slump into the bus’s seat and he carefully handed her the pack.
    “Thank you.”
    “No problem, Alice.” His smile had her stomach jerking with nerves before he sauntered past her to join Andrew in the back seat.
    “He’s a hot one,” Kitty commented softly.
    “Will I ever get past the high school stage where I make a clumsy fool of myself in front of the hot jocks?”
    “Probably not.” Kitty’s pert nose crinkled up as she scowled before the sunny smile returned to her face. “The popular girls claimed the front seat and the jocks the back. We’re right in the middle, where nerds like us belong.”
    “You’re right. The popular secretaries up front, bosses in the back, and us accounting and marketing managers are the nerds in the middle. All that’s missing are my zits.”
    “Listen up. I have some things to go over before this bus pulls out. Thanks to our late arrivals, we don’t have much time to dally.” Hopps’ gaze zeroed right in on Alice. She slid down in her seat beneath the censure in his voice. Yup, she sure should have called in sick this morning.
    ♦♦♦
    “I can’t believe we had to walk half-way up the mountain holding hands in this heat.” Kitty groused as she once more wiped her hand on her jean shorts. “You could have switched with me, ya know.”
    “There was no chance of me wanting to hold Harrison’s hand. I detest the man.” His greasy hair and weasel eyes freaked her out. Still, she did feel a little bit guilty since she rushed to take Priscilla’s hand, leaving poor Kitty to take Harrison’s at the end of the weird congo line. “I’m sorry,” Alice said as she bent to pick up another metal tent pole.
    “Sorry, my ass!” Her words were harsh, but her small smile eased some of the tension. Kitty couldn’t stay mad for long, though she had a knack for blowing up like a small volcano.
    “Better watch it, or I’ll make you sleep in his tent too.” They both looked over to where Harrison was staking his fully raised tent.
    “If only the man knew how to shower as well as survive in the wilderness. Did you know he stopped me from sitting in a patch of poison ivy? Chivalry is not dead.” Kitty declared.
    “Speaking of chivalry, you ladies look like you could use some help with your tent. Everyone else has theirs up.”
    Alice jumped and dropped her pole as she spun around to come eye-level with sculpted pecs, lovingly hugged by a white T-shirt. Looking up with a dry throat, she met his amused smile beneath the floppy hat. Up