Read Online Strapless by Leigh Riker - Free Book Online Page A

fight.”
    â€œI hoped you wouldn’t.”
    â€œI have to say, I like a man who keeps his promise.”
    With a wolfish smile of his own, he slammed the fridge door and walked—strolled in all his male splendor, which Darcie suspected he did on purpose—across the room to her. Darcie lifted the duvet to invite him in. Now the city lights coming through the wide windows illuminated him, too. Gilded his sunbrowned skin. Deepened the interesting creases in his cheeks, the smile lines around his mouth.
    â€œHow old are you?” she asked idly, reaching for the beer he held out.
    â€œThirty-four.” He didn’t ask her the same question. “Why?”
    â€œYou’re well preserved.” She trailed a hand over his shoulder. “I’m twenty-nine.”
    â€œThanks. We’re both old enough.” For what, he didn’t say. He rubbed his bare chest. “Most women don’t like telling, though.”
    â€œAre you always this polite?”
    â€œMy mum hopes so.” Oh Lord, a chink in the walls ofpleasure. His mother. He had one, maybe just like Janet. He fell onto the bed, held his beer can to one side, and lowered his head to kiss her open mouth. “But no, ma’am. I’m not that polite. Now.”
    â€œI’m glad to hear that.” She repeated her earlier words.
    He frowned. “Hey. I didn’t really think you were a working girl.”
    â€œYes, you did.”
    He seemed to take most things literally, which Darcie tried not to mind, either. After all, she’d taken Merrick at face value. There was a lesson there but right now she wouldn’t give it any credence.
    â€œWell, I didn’t want to think so,” he said.
    â€œWhy not? Other than the fact you don’t pay for sex?”
    â€œI’d never pay for it. Even if I was ugly as a fence post.”
    Her gaze wandered over him. “Believe me. You have nothing to worry about.”
    â€œNo worries, darling,” he corrected her. “We’re behind on our lessons here.”
    â€œNo worries.” Repeating the mantra, Darcie folded him close. Darling. “But on second thought, isn’t this subject too personal for our first date?”
    â€œWhat, sex? Have another beer,” he said. “Then you won’t care.” He paused. “Is that what this is?” He glanced at the duvet, the pillows, Darcie. “A date? ”
    â€œWell. I guess not.” She murmured, “No strings.”
    Warm and scented with sex, with each other, they lay close under the covers, drinking tall cans of Foster’s lager. Another, then another. Ugh. Still, beer didn’t taste so bad by the third bottle. Or was it fourth? At some point he’d called room service after they finished the minibar supply to have it restocked.
    â€œFor a woman who hates beer,” he finally said, “you’re holding your own here.”
    The room spun a little. “It’s cheaper than the hard stuff.”
    He kissed her again, tasting of beer and man. “You live where?”
    She hadn’t told him. “New York.”
    â€œCity?”
    He sounded horrified. She took another swallow. “Uh-huh. Right outside of Manhattan. You know, the island the Native Americans sold to the Dutch.”
    â€œBy yourself?”
    No, with my grandmother. She couldn’t say that, either. Didn’t want him to know too much about her. Darcie pushed away the memory of home, even of Gran, who would appreciate more than anyone else this little tryst, and of course banished any thought of her mother. Tonight was tonight. Her one-time, one-night stand. Tomorrow was…
    â€œNo way. I have a roommate.”
    â€œMale or female?”
    â€œUh…female.” Two actually. Eden Baxter and Sweet Baby Jane, the devil’s spawn. Nearly a week later Darcie’s punctured calf still hurt. She tried to recall her last tetanus shot but couldn’t.
    He