Read Online Road to Redemption by Natalie Ann - Free Book Online Page B

where he was. The worst of it was she always seemed to catch him looking at her.  He never meant to, but he couldn’t help it.  She would see him, and smile, and he would look away quickly, embarrassed.
    But tonight it was almost impossible to stay away. Though the house was large, it was too small when everyone was hanging around the open-floor layout.  Plus, there weren’t that many people there to begin with. He knew he was going to end up having to socialize more than he liked tonight.
    He was getting himself his second and last beer of the night. Since he was driving home, he would enjoy his two lonely beers and then switch to water.  Cori had walked over and poured a glass of wine, then leaned one sexy hip on the counter and turned to look at him. “Having fun?”
    “Sure.”
    “You don’t look like it. Is it really so hard for you?” she said teasing, her eyes dancing.
    “What?” he asked confused.
    She chuckled. “It looks like you are trying to solve the mysteries of the world rather than answering a simple question.  Is it really so hard for you to have fun?”
    “Oh.” Gosh she was pretty, he thought. “I don’t know. I never really thought much of it.”
    “Is it me?” she asked.
    He frowned again. “What do you mean?”
    “Is it me,” she repeated. “Do I make you nervous?”
    “No.”
    She laughed. “Please don’t elaborate.”
    Finally, he smiled. 
    “Was that so hard? Now you look like you are having fun.”
    “Cori, stop embarrassing Jack,” Ryan ordered when he walked over to get himself another beer. Jack frowned when Ryan leaned in and gave Cori a brief kiss on the cheek. 
    She wrapped her arm around Ryan’s waist in response. “Oh, I don’t think he embarrasses easily. Do you, Jack?”
    “Not really.” Why couldn’t he think of more than a few words to say to her at once?
    Cori leaned in and whispered loudly to Ryan, loud enough so that Jack could hear her. “I think a cat has his tongue tonight.  I’ll leave you two alone and go bug Thomas.”
    “You’re staring at her,” Ryan said, taking a drag of his beer.
    “Huh?” Jack asked in bewilderment.
    “I said you are staring.  Got the hots for her?”
    That got his attention fast. “No. Absolutely not.  She has relationship written all over her. I’m not going there. Not again.” Jack grabbed his beer and walked back into the living room before Ryan could question him further.  But he had a feeling Ryan knew he was lying.
     
    ***
     
    Two hours later Ryan stood next to Cori and Brooke by the windows listening to them talk, then glanced over at Jack standing in the kitchen across the room.
    “Look at the snow,” Cori said, pointing out over the water through the tall windows. “I probably should leave soon,” she said with a sigh of regret.
    “You could stay the night. You know you’re more than welcome. There’s plenty of room,” Brooke suggested.
    “Thanks, but I think I would rather go home tonight.”
    Brooke frowned. “I would rather you stay than risk driving home in the snow. Especially in your car and with the way you drive.”
    “What’s wrong with the way I drive?” Cori asked defensively.
    “Nothing, if you were an Indy Car driver.”
    Ryan decided to intervene and made a suggestion with a grin. “Why don’t you ride home with Jack? You two live close to each other. Brooke can take your car home tomorrow rather than Lucas driving her back in the morning.” Ryan hadn’t missed Jack watching Cori when she wasn’t looking and Cori doing the same.  It was about time someone gave Jack the push he needed to get out of the shell he marooned himself in. And Cori was the person to do that.
    “That sounds like a good idea,” Cori said with a big grin. “Of course you should probably check with Jack before you volunteer his services.”
    “Jack doesn’t care. Do you Jack?” Ryan yelled across the room. “You don’t mind giving Cori a ride home tonight, right? The roads could be