Bad Taste in Men (Clover Park, Book 3) Contemporary Romance (The Clover Park Series) Read Online Free PDF Page A

you tomorrow at seven a.m. sharp for our run,” Ry said with a devious smile before hightailing it home. Shane knew his brother would carry through too, pounding on his door until he got up and joined him.
    Shane groaned. Fucking older brothers with their fucking advice. Ry told him to cool it, but Trav probably would’ve told him to do the opposite. He’d pursued Daisy for a good six months before he caught her. Now they were on a honeymoon in Bermuda.
    He walked slowly, trying to breathe through the pain in his side. He got to Rachel’s shop and saw her sitting at the front register, head bent over her papers.
    He broke into a run. At least if she looked up, she could see him running, not staggering like an old man. He made it across the street, up the stairs, and into his apartment.
    He collapsed on the floor, where he planned to stay for the foreseeable future.
     

Chapter Four
    Rachel moved off crutches just in time for her loan meeting at the bank. Shane had been, um, helpful with all that carrying her up and down the stairs gallantry, but she was an independent businesswoman who needed to face this next step alone. Her mind flashed to Damon or, as she liked to call him, Demon. Her old boss at the accounting firm. She’d worked her ass off her first two years in no small part due to his demands on her time, his harsh tirades against even the smallest error, his constant micromanaging over her shoulder. Until one night in the late hours of a long day she’d finally snapped and told him off good.
    Instead of firing her or yelling at her, he got up, walked around his massive desk, and stood very close to where she was standing clutching a client’s folder. He stroked a finger down her cheek. “I wondered when I’d break you.” He flashed a predatory smile. “You lasted longer than most. Come home with me. I’ll show you what you need.”
    “I’m not going home with you.” She backed toward his office door.
    “I want you. And when I don’t get what I want, it shows.” He put a hand on the door above her head, blocking her exit. “You think I was tough on you before?” He shook his head, an evil smile playing there. “Make the easy choice and you will be richly rewarded.”
    “Okay.” She kneed him in the groin, and he dropped like a rock. She made her escape and filed a sexual harassment suit the next day. Demon lost his job.
    Work was no picnic after that. The mostly male management gave her a wide berth, and no matter how hard she worked, she was passed over again and again for the higher level jobs. She couldn’t wait to own her own business and work only for herself. She took another job at a competing accounting firm out of necessity and spent the next several years squirreling money away for her dream of owning her own bookstore. Finally, she’d broken free. Book It was all hers, and she answered to no one.
    She took in a deep breath of still-cool early morning air, feeling optimistic as she made the short walk down the street to the bank. She’d dressed up a bit with a black pencil skirt and white button-down short-sleeve shirt with a purple floral scarf. The ensemble was unfortunately less than stellar because she had to wear hiking boots for the ankle support.
    Her small-business contact, Zach Cukor, already knew her well from when she’d applied to start Book It two years ago. He’d been so friendly and helpful the last time she’d applied for a loan. Most independent bookstores were struggling with the ease of online shopping, but he’d agreed with her that Clover Park needed a bookstore. Plus, there was no competition within thirty miles of her shop.
    She stepped into the air-conditioned lobby and crossed slowly to Zach’s office in the back, still limping a bit. “Hi, Zach, how are you?”
    He stood in a sharp navy suit and shook her hand. “Good. But what happened to you?”
    She maneuvered herself into a chair and blew out a breath. “Sprained my ankle when a wave hit me on