Read Online Playing for Hearts by Debra Kayn - Free Book Online Page A

turmoil in his gaze.
    â€œGrayson.” She reached out, but he flung his coat and grabbed her upper arms, stopping her. “W-what’s wrong?”
    â€œI should be asking you that question.” His eyebrow arched. “What’s going on with you and Bigstraum? Are you throwing yourself at him too?”
    She gasped. “Of course not. He asked me to come with him, and I’m happy I did.”
    â€œThat’s what you do, isn’t it? You drive a man insane until he has no other choice than to take you out.” He leaned in closer. “Tell me, are you going home with him? Are you going to strip out of that skimpy dress and offer your — ”
    â€œStop!” She broke away from him. “Nothing I do is ever going to please you. What I did before … it was a mistake.” She brushed the hair away from her face. “I know you don’t want me. You never have. I can’t compare to Stephanie … or Chantel.”
    She whirled around but before she could escape, Grayson grabbed her wrist. “Don’t do it,” he growled. “John’s not the man for you.”
    Her legs shook, and her stomach rolled. Standing up to Grayson empowered her, yet left her weak. Why would he care what she did? She’d never gotten angry with him before, and it seemed wrong. He was the love of her life. She stared into his eyes, waiting to learn why it mattered to him what happened between her and John.
    â€œYou have no say in what I do or don’t do,” she whispered. “If I want to sleep with John, I will.”
    â€œDon’t do it, Shauna.”
    She lifted her chin. “Why? You won’t let yourself have me, so you don’t think anyone else deserves me either. What about what I want? Don’t I deserve someone who’ll love me back?”
    He refused to answer.
    â€œGoodbye, Grayson,” she whispered.
    She slipped away and left him standing alone, his gaze burning into her back. The result of what she’d done by standing up for herself left her shivering. She’d always known somehow that he was never going to take her seriously. She was going to have to rid Grayson from her heart.

Chapter Eight
    â€œGo, go, go!” Shauna slapped the dashboard of Diana’s car and stared out the window at Grayson on the sidewalk.
    He stood outside his car in front of the commerce building, his hands on his hips, glaring at Diana’s small, red Honda as they left the parking lot. She sagged against the seat and latched her seatbelt. After what had happened at the McMillian party, Shauna still wasn’t ready to talk to Grayson. She needed space. Of course, it didn’t help that he kept showing up at her office and she kept having to find ways to avoid him. That was where Diana and her handy getaway car came in.
    â€œLord, Shauna, this is the second time in a row you’ve had me bail your ass out of trouble this week.” Diana glanced over at her. “You’re going to have to face him eventually. You might as well get it over with sooner than later.”
    â€œLately, all he does is scowl at me, and I’m about to lose my composure and go off on him if he dares insult me again.”
    â€œI think the man protests too much.” Diana flipped on her turn signal, and pulled out onto the main road. “You have to ask yourself why he even cares what you do.”
    â€œI was pretty bad. Do you remember that time I hid a flower everywhere he went? I even got caught skipping a day of school, so I could make it out to the center and hide them while he taught his adult classes.” She stared out the window. “I’ve always wondered if I had something to do with his retirement.”
    â€œHow could you?” Diana glanced over at her. “He wasn’t even in the country when he made the announcement.”
    â€œI know, but he was only twenty-nine years old. He could’ve kept going. Even the press