Read Online Stolen Desire (The Lust List: Kaidan Stone #3) by Nova Raines, Mira Bailee - Free Book Online Page A

on doing it. Yet the women seem to really like her. She's talking to all of them while I stand here silent.
    Kaidan's got the men involved in a conversation, and they're reminiscing about some vacation they all took to Italy.
    Sometime during my third drink, two more guys walk onto the patio.
    Neveah or Nina gasps from beside me. “Why the fuck did Matt bring him ? Kaidan's gonna freak.”
    Nails bite into my opposite arm, and I find Char standing close to me, her face pale.
    Then I see why. One of the guys who just walked in is Matt Lin, her actor crush. And the unwanted guest—the guy whose presence will apparently piss Kaidan off—is standing beside him. He's handsome enough, with blond hair and a lip ring, but he oozes eau de douchebag.
    Matt heads for the group, but mystery douche throws everyone a wave and heads straight for the bar.
    Char's nails dig even more deeply into my arm as Matt greets everyone. Kaidan gives Matt a half-hug and a slap on the back, but his face darkens for a moment when he sees who he brought. Then, just as quickly, his expression smoothes. He returns to the conversation he was having with the other guys.
    “Why'd you bring Corey,” Neveah hisses, once Kaidan has turned away. I'm pretty sure it's Neveah, anyway.
    “Nice to see you, too, Nina.” Okay. I was wrong. Note to self: Nina's wearing the pink.
    She puts her hands on her hips. “Kaidan hasn't forgiven him.”
    “Relax.” He puts a hand on her shoulder and rubs it. “My cousin's cleaning up his act. He's doing better now.”
    We all glance toward the bar where Corey has just downed two shots.
    “Is he really good for you to be around?” Neveah asks, her hands crossed over her chest.
    “I've been sober for three years now. My cousin's not going to change that.” He glances our way, like he's embarrassed strangers are listening in, and holds out a hand to me. “Hey, I'm Matt. You are…?”
    “Hayley. Kaidan's girlfriend.” I shake his hand.
    His eyes light up with interest, and I think he’s made the connection between me and my tabloid drama. Then his gaze travels to Char on the other side of me, and his face brightens even more. He steps around me, and she thankfully releases her painful grip my arm.
    “And you are?” he asks.
    “Charlotte Lamb.” She holds out a hand, and he takes it, holding on way past a normal handshake between strangers.
    A thrill shoots through me for her sake. Matt Lin is definitely digging her.
    “Let me grab a soda ,” he says, giving the twins a pointed look. “And I'll be right back.”
    I inch away from the sisters so they can't hear me, and I lean close to Char's ear. “I think he likes you.”
    “How could you not tell me he'd be here?”
    “I swear I had no idea. Now go after him. Go pretend you need more to drink. Get a soda.”
    “I don't know. Maybe he has a girlfriend… Maybe she'll be here soon.”
    “He came with his cousin. Clearly it's meant to be.”
    Char's eyes are shining. “Oh my God, Hayley! Matt Freaking Lin!” she squeals. She's trying to keep her voice low, but the sisters glance at us.
    I gently push her toward the bar. “Go.”
    She shoots me a grateful look and hurries over.
    That's when I notice Corey, off to the side near the pool. He's staring at me. No. Leering at me.
    Kaidan catches him staring, too, and shoots him a dark look. Corey averts his eyes and chugs his beer. Ugh. What did he do to make Kaidan hate him so much? Maybe it's just his sparkling personality.
    I run my fingers through my hair self-consciously and turn back to Nina and Neveah and their gossip. I hear the name Calypso Day.
    “Calypso? I wore a dress of hers.” Finally I have something to add to the conversation.
    “We know.” Nina stirs her martini. “How did she even get a chance to dress you?”
    “Well… Kaidan sent me a rack of dresses. His stylist delivered them, and I picked the one Calypso designed.”
    “Isn't Kaidan's stylist from House Milan?”
    I shrug. “I