Ash to Steele Read Online Free PDF

will.  The man in Gavin’s left fist swallows his pride first, giving a small nod, and his opponent follows his lead. 
       Easing his grip, Gavin releases the men.  “Shake!” he demands. 
       The men immediately comply. 
       Turning his attention back to me, Gavin grins, “Let me call you a cab.”
       “I’m alright,” I assure him, “I only live a couple of blocks down.”
       “Damn, woman, you really aren’t from here are you?” he scolds, pulling his cell phone out and making arrangements for a cab to be sent to the bar.  “Stay put, it’ll be here in a few.”
       I’m a little leery of arguing with him after what I just witnessed, so I thank him instead and silently wait for the cab to take me home so I can shed this dress, fall into bed, and forget this night ever happened.
     
     

     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Two
     
     
       Imagine Dragons is busting my drums, and I’m lost in the lyrics as I step back, scrutinizing my work with squinted eyes and a chewed lip.  Deciding more crisp green is needed, I begin to mix the colors when the flash of light and shaking vibrations of my cell catch my attention. 
       “Where the hell have you been?” Jess yells when I answer the phone.
       “Painting.”
       “Damn, Em, the world could go into triple-apocalypse and you wouldn’t even know it if you were in front of one of your pieces of art.  I’ve been trying to reach you since midnight.”
       “Sorry,” I mumble, still studying my half-finished painting, “whatcha need?”
       “I forgot my keys at home and Jason left for his pansy-ass weekly poker game to throw more money down the drain before I had time to ask him to leave his keys.”
       I can tell by the way her earlier agitation is softening that she’s getting ready to ask me to bring my copy, so I beat her to it while suppressing a sigh at having to stop painting, “I’ll be there in a few.”
       “I knew giving you a copy was genius of me.”
       “No, not forgetting yours once or twice a month would be genius of you,” I counter, “then you wouldn’t have to stash a spare with me.”
       “I’ll make it up to you,” Jess promises.
       “I’d rather you not,” I laugh, “the last time you made it up to me, I ended up having to sweet talk our way out of a night in jail.”
       “From the looks of that cop, I would’ve let him handcuff me anytime he wants, repeatedly.”
       Rolling my eyes, I can’t help but smile, “I’m on my way.”
       “You’re the best.  Love ya!”
       “Love you, too.”
       Glancing at the clock, I let out a loud groan.  It will be almost 1:30 a.m. before I get back and I really wanted to finish this painting before going to bed, not to mention that I have no desire to return to the place that left my head reeling from new, unwanted emotions last night. Chastising myself, I know that I can’t blame it on the place when the guilt actually belongs to the person who was in it. 
       The cool night air sends a shiver up my spine as I briskly make my way the two blocks to the Dark Hole.  Wishing I’d changed from my usual painting attire, the wind seeps through my threadbare jeans, leaving a rosy tone to the exposed skin where holes are worn in the well-loved denim. 
       Despite the late hour, there are still a few stragglers at the door hoping to get in before the last call of the night.  Not wanting to cut line again, I use the key to go in through the side door down the alley where I’ve met Jess the other times she’s forgotten her key, and I wish I had enough intelligence to have thought to bring the key last night.  Sending Jess a quick text, I let her know I’m here so she can meet me outside. 
       A few seconds later, Jess returns the text, asking me to come inside and meet her in the hall.  Thoughts of Breck snake their way into my brain as I lean against the wall next to the room where he was getting his