Read Online Take Me As I Am by Erin O'Reilly, JM Dragon - Free Book Online Page A

offers the right temperature, I guess.”
    Tony scowled. “Come on, John-Henry, I haven’t got all day. Oh, and talking of icicle lady, the boss said to get her to come to the table for a drink with them after she’s done. Boss doesn’t take kindly to no as an answer. You might tell her that.”
    He picked up the tray and sauntered back toward George, leaving John-Henry disconcerted by the request.
    Jo leisurely walked to the bar and sat down on a stool vacated by an eager ranch hand. She gave a smile that didn’t reach her eyes and sat down heavily upon it. “I’ll have a beer and then I’m out of here, John-Henry, as we agreed.
    John-Henry nodded. “Let me get these, give me a minute,” he said indicating the drinks he was serving. When he came back to her, he was feeling a bit sheepish and tugged at his chin. He didn’t know exactly how Jo would react when she heard the news but he had a good idea. “Sure, it’s okay with me, Jo,” he said and hesitated. “But I’ve had a personal request for your company.”
    Jo raised her eyebrows. “I don’t do personal requests for anyone. Thought you knew that.”
    “Yeah, sorry. Wrong choice of words.” John-Henry sucked in a breath. “Andrews the banker would like you to join him and Ms. Danvers to celebrate with a glass of champagne.” John-Henry watched Jo’s eyes cloud before shifting their gaze to the corner table.
    “As I said, I don’t do personal requests…for anyone.” Jo moved from her stool.
    “You never asked what they were celebrating.”
    Okay, here it comes.
    John-Henry held his breath and watched Jo raise her eyebrow again.
    “Okay. What are they celebrating?”
    “Andrews and Ms. Danvers have just become engaged this very evening.” He waited for her reaction.

    †

    Jo couldn’t believe her ears. True, earlier in her set she saw Thea deep in conversation with the man. The sight brought a decidedly ugly hatred to her gut but this this couldn’t be true. It felt that someone had punched her in the diaphragm making it difficult to breathe.
    No way. No fucking way was Thea engaged to that bastard. She doesn’t even like him.
    Jo could feel her breathing become ragged and everywhere she looked it felt like the walls were closing in on her. She needed to get away as quickly as possible but she needed to know why first . “Pull the other one, John-Henry. What would she want to marry him for?”
    “I explained what the situation was to you earlier. Remember?” The man said softly. “She might not have a choice in the matter.”
    “Yeah, yeah sure.” Jo gave him a strange vacant look.
    “He doesn’t take kindly to people saying no to him you know,” John-Henry said gently.
    Jo looked around in a disinterested fashion and her eyes met the young man who had gallantly offered her the stool. He couldn’t be more than a boy really.
    He’s barely out of diapers in the adult world. He’ll do.
    “Hey, want to join me in celebrating a friend’s engagement?” Jo flashed her impossibly long lashes at the man and grinned when he beamed at her. She knew that all the men in town had been angling to be with her and it was his lucky night to be on the receiving end.
    “Sure…sure,” he stuttered, looking at her with what looked like devotion.
    Jesus, do men only ever think with their dicks?
    Jo snaked a long arm around his shoulders and placed a warm kiss on his surprised lips before leading him toward the corner table. Jo had practiced at keeping men attentive and the wolf whistles that accompanied her and the young man as they made a very public display of kissing on the way through the other customers, made for a very interesting sight.

    †

    “I see your new friend is proving the old saying about how free and easy these singers are with their favors.” George had a smug I told you so expression on his pudgy face.
    Thea turned to see where he was looking and her heart stuck in her mouth as she saw Joanna kissing a man as they made