A Night of Misbehaving Read Online Free PDF Page A

using her as bait to establish rapport with his new boss, a single dad, and ensure a promotion. Now he wanted common courtesy? Rise above. She curled her fingers into a fist, her nails biting into her palm. “We have nothing to discuss, Shawn.”
    He took a couple of steps toward her, and she didn’t move an inch.
    “Still so abrasive, Georgia. And you wonder why men never stick around.”
    She lifted her hand and punched him, hard and strong, just like the resentment she’d tried to suppress all those years. The anger she’d let out on other people. Other men.
    He jerked back and produced a wimpy sound. Moving his hand to the reddening cheek she’d just hit, he was about to open his mouth when another voice came from behind her.
    “Georgia,” Brent said softly, striding to her side.
    She blinked, toying with her purse. Shit. A quick scan around them, and it dawned on her that people in line were all looking at her.
    “Are you okay?” Brent gave her a sideways glance before raising an eyebrow at Shawn.
    “I am now,” she managed to say.
    “Get ready, buddy. This could be you tomorrow.” Shawn pointed at his face, scorn lacing his voice.
    “If you know what’s good for you, get out of our way. Now,” Brent said with a growl. He stretched to his full height, jaw clenched and hands perched on his waist.
    Shawn gave them a dismissive shrug, the confidence fading from his eyes. Georgia glared at him as he strode away. A long-awaited sigh left her lips.
    The wave of relief didn’t last long. She turned her focus to Brent. No more threats in his countenance, just curiosity making his eyes spark. Crap.
    “Come with me.” He stretched out his hand to her. “We never got to eat. My car is parked on the street, and we can go somewhere casual and talk.”
    Talk? She bit her lower lip. A different type of anxiety rocked her. Her insides were still shaking from her past and present colliding. What present? She was about to go to her house and scavenger hunt the fridge for an obscene amount of carbs.
    “Georgia, no pressure. We’ll just talk.” A genuine smile formed on his lips.
    “Okay,” she whispered, wondering which was more dangerous. Kissing him or talking to him.

Chapter Four
    “Not bad, huh?” Brent asked before he brought the monster hot dog to his mouth. They strolled away from the busy, neon-lit food trailer and onto South Congress Avenue, Austin’s trendiest street. She’d pretended to look at the hip vintage stores and hole-in-the-wall restaurants while she munched on her own chili dog, but the lingering tension remained, no matter how he’d tried to make her feel comfortable.
    “How many calories are we chowing down?” she retorted in an attempt to lighten the mood.
    “About a thousand.” He took another big bite. This time the thick sauce stayed on the corner of his mouth, and he slid his tongue out to fetch it. The quick appearance of the tip of his tongue sent a thrill of excitement through her. The image of Brent licking her neck, grazing her skin, fondling her breasts… “I’m not the food police. I just care about exercising, because I lost both my parents way too early.”
    “I’m sorry.” She cleared her throat and willed her intrusive thoughts away. Far, far away.
    He pulled a small bottle of water from his pocket and took a drink. “They both had high cholesterol and high blood pressure and didn’t do anything about it,” he said with a quiet voice, his eyes remote.
    “I’m sure they’d be proud of you for not following the same path,” she tried, unsure of what to say. She ate the last bite, wiped her mouth with the napkin, then tossed it in the trash. They reached the end of one street but had to wait for passing cars and the light to continue.
    Unable to tear her eyes from him, she studied his Greek-like profile, the strong planes of his handsome face. Somehow, the beauty she’d held against him had demolished her every reserve as the night wore on. Who knew it