Read Online Some Like it Easy by Heather Long - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Heather Long
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child? Blowing off classes and education like you’re some kind of party animal? Except for the Theta Gamma party we dragged you to last week, you haven’t been running around or making waves with the press. Even your bodyguards downplay who you are. They blend in so well.”
She’d paid very close attention to him over the last three weeks, more than he’d imagined. Biting down on her lower lip, she glanced at her computer and typed something. George had no response for her, however. He’d been raised in that world. Understanding and navigating were two entirely different matters. He would never lead his family; that position fell to Armand. He was not even the primary heir, as Sebastian occupied fulfilled the role. Once Armand and Anna had children, George’s usefulness would further diminish.
“I have no part to play,” he said, quiet and succinct. “I am the spare—the youngest, least useful member of my family. Eventually, I will be window dressing, mentionable only for my status as a bachelor, then forgotten.”
If not for the fact that she stared at him, her gape might have been amusing. “What the hell are you talking about?”
Since he verged too close to self-pity, George waved her off. “Ignore me. You said you had a paper to write.” He should let her do her homework, no matter how reluctant he was to return to his empty apartment. “I shall leave you to it.”
“Oh, no you won’t.” The words carried the whip crack of command. “Get your books and your assignments. Look at what you have due. I’ll spot check your work, and you can check mine.”
“Why?” The abrupt and mercurial shifts in her mood baffled him.
“Because we’re friends, dumbass.” In a softer voice, she added, “I don’t want to be alone. I’m worried about Mallory and Anna, and you know the world. When you’re here, I can pretend it’s not all bad. So, stay.”
He could have dismissed her disapproval, her mocking, even her pity, but not her plea. “Very well. I don’t even remember what classes I have tomorrow.”
“That’s what schedules are for, princeypoo.” She batted her eyelashes at him and at once they were back on familiar footing. “And syllabi, so bring it all. We’ll get you squared away, then you can let me pick your gorgeous brain for this paper.”
The dampness of her lips glistened in the room’s lamplight. George bent down and pressed a kiss to her open mouth. She froze at the contact, then angled her head and what began as an experiment turned sizzling. Where so many first kisses were awkward, kissing Penny felt familiar and tantalizing. With a sigh, her lips parted further and he withdrew before he tossed her laptop aside and dragged her off the sofa.
“What was that for?” She blinked up at him.
Many, many things , but he didn’t say any of them. Instead, he shrugged. “Because I wanted to.”
Speechless looked good on her. So did the sparkle in her eyes. He’d erased some of her sadness and worry. Clearing her throat, she straightened. “Well, all right, then. Since you gotten that out of your system, let’s get back to homework.”
“Very well.” He felt quite agreeable and headed toward the door so he could fetch his things. Pausing before opening it, however, he turned to find her staring at him. “Point of order, Penny? It’s far from out of my system.”
----
A s promised , George returned a few minutes later with his books and a laptop of his own. Penny took the time to start a pot of coffee. Though she checked her phone—and his face—a dozen times easily, she managed to get her paper written. Fortunately, it was an essay on the growth and influence of art under the Medici rule. Lips still tingling from his too brief kiss earlier, she’d struggled to concentrate on the paper or anything for that matter. They’d traded laptops and assignments and, instead of reading his abstract on the economies of European nations, she watched him read her paper.
Not
She’d paid very close attention to him over the last three weeks, more than he’d imagined. Biting down on her lower lip, she glanced at her computer and typed something. George had no response for her, however. He’d been raised in that world. Understanding and navigating were two entirely different matters. He would never lead his family; that position fell to Armand. He was not even the primary heir, as Sebastian occupied fulfilled the role. Once Armand and Anna had children, George’s usefulness would further diminish.
“I have no part to play,” he said, quiet and succinct. “I am the spare—the youngest, least useful member of my family. Eventually, I will be window dressing, mentionable only for my status as a bachelor, then forgotten.”
If not for the fact that she stared at him, her gape might have been amusing. “What the hell are you talking about?”
Since he verged too close to self-pity, George waved her off. “Ignore me. You said you had a paper to write.” He should let her do her homework, no matter how reluctant he was to return to his empty apartment. “I shall leave you to it.”
“Oh, no you won’t.” The words carried the whip crack of command. “Get your books and your assignments. Look at what you have due. I’ll spot check your work, and you can check mine.”
“Why?” The abrupt and mercurial shifts in her mood baffled him.
“Because we’re friends, dumbass.” In a softer voice, she added, “I don’t want to be alone. I’m worried about Mallory and Anna, and you know the world. When you’re here, I can pretend it’s not all bad. So, stay.”
He could have dismissed her disapproval, her mocking, even her pity, but not her plea. “Very well. I don’t even remember what classes I have tomorrow.”
“That’s what schedules are for, princeypoo.” She batted her eyelashes at him and at once they were back on familiar footing. “And syllabi, so bring it all. We’ll get you squared away, then you can let me pick your gorgeous brain for this paper.”
The dampness of her lips glistened in the room’s lamplight. George bent down and pressed a kiss to her open mouth. She froze at the contact, then angled her head and what began as an experiment turned sizzling. Where so many first kisses were awkward, kissing Penny felt familiar and tantalizing. With a sigh, her lips parted further and he withdrew before he tossed her laptop aside and dragged her off the sofa.
“What was that for?” She blinked up at him.
Many, many things , but he didn’t say any of them. Instead, he shrugged. “Because I wanted to.”
Speechless looked good on her. So did the sparkle in her eyes. He’d erased some of her sadness and worry. Clearing her throat, she straightened. “Well, all right, then. Since you gotten that out of your system, let’s get back to homework.”
“Very well.” He felt quite agreeable and headed toward the door so he could fetch his things. Pausing before opening it, however, he turned to find her staring at him. “Point of order, Penny? It’s far from out of my system.”
----
A s promised , George returned a few minutes later with his books and a laptop of his own. Penny took the time to start a pot of coffee. Though she checked her phone—and his face—a dozen times easily, she managed to get her paper written. Fortunately, it was an essay on the growth and influence of art under the Medici rule. Lips still tingling from his too brief kiss earlier, she’d struggled to concentrate on the paper or anything for that matter. They’d traded laptops and assignments and, instead of reading his abstract on the economies of European nations, she watched him read her paper.
Not
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