Read Online Playing With Pleasure by Erika Wilde - Free Book Online Page B

Club, then there was little hope for tonight. She’d do her best to keep things amicable, and once he said whatever he needed to get off his chest, they could go their separate ways.
    It was the smartest, safest option.
    I’ll be ready , she texted back, then got out of her car and rushed into the boutique before she was any later.
    She met up with Melissa and Ashley in the fitting area. “I’m sorry I’m late,” she said, giving Melissa an apologetic look. “I had an appointment with a client that ran longer than I’d anticipated.”
    “That’s okay, dear.” Melissa’s smile barely registered on her heavily Botoxed features—which she had done regularly to preserve her beautiful and youthful appearance. “I know how important your little business is to you.”
    Paige let the patronizing comment slide. Her stepmother truly thought she was being supportive, even though Melissa didn’t understand why Paige felt the need to tie herself to job that demanded so much of her time and attention. To Melissa, Couture Corsets was a whimsical hobby, a small, cute boutique that kept Paige busy but would never amount to anything significant.
    “Now that both girls are here, I’ll be right back with your dresses to try on,” the saleslady said and disappeared into a back room.
    Melissa wandered off toward the case of sparkling bridal jewelry, and Ashley strolled over to Paige.
    “So, have you seen Sawyer this week?” Ashley’s tone was conversational, but her interested gaze was far shrewder.
    The last thing Paige wanted to do was discuss anything Sawyer-related with Ashley. “No.” At least she wasn’t lying. She hadn’t seen him since last Saturday.
    Paige’s phone pinged again. She automatically glanced down at the display and read the recent text from Sawyer, oh, and dress casually for dinner. See you soon.
    Ashley gasped from beside her, and too late, Paige realized her stepsister had craned her neck to read the message, too. She stuffed the phone back into her purse, and when she glanced at Ashley again, her eyes were wide with disbelief.
    “Are you going out with him again?” Her voice hit an incredulous pitch.
    There was no fibbing her way out of this one, so Paige just gave a casual, nonchalant shrug. “We’re going for dinner.”
    “Oh, you’re going as friends . Well, that makes sense.” Ashley shook her head, sending her silky blonde hair cascading over her shoulders. “A guy like Sawyer wouldn’t take you on an actual date.”
    “Excuse me?” Paige didn’t know which comment bothered her more, the one about a guy like Sawyer or the insinuation that Sawyer wouldn’t date her again.
    “Come on, Paige.” Ashley waved a hand in the air. “He’s gorgeous. Hot. And you’re…” Her voice trailed off, as if the rest of her comment was obvious. “I just don’t want you to set yourself up for another heartbreak. And would you really be able to trust him after… you know .”
    “Yes, I do know ,” Paige replied irritably through gritted teeth, though she wasn’t surprised that her stepsister had the audacity to go there , to dredge up the past and the fact that Sawyer had slept with her. Never mind the fact that she showed no remorse or guilt. “If you’ll recall, I was right there the morning after my twenty-sixth birthday and saw everything .”
    “You know I’m sorry for what happened,” she said haughtily. “I’ve apologized enough times, even though Sawyer was the one who came on to me and told me that he was only with you because—”
    “Don’t,” Paige snapped, not wanting to hear the end of that sentence all over again. He was with you because he felt sorry for you . According to Ashley, Paige had been nothing more than a pity fuck to Sawyer and he didn’t really like fat girls. Those kinds of careless remarks had always accompanied a sharp stab to an old wound, because they took her back to high school and reminded her of the cruel scheme Ashley had orchestrated to