Bone Cold Read Online Free PDF Page B

brothers was marked: both possessed the trademark Malone blue eyes and dark, curly hair. Percy, however, had yet to grow into his lanky six foot three frame and Spencer, the street-brawler, had the profile of a prize fighter who had taken one too many pops to the nose. “Currently I’m trying to stop my partner from making an ass of himself.”
    The younger Malones followed Quentin’s gaze. Percy grinned. “She’s hot, no doubt about it. You feel likebeing burned, Terror?” he asked, using the nickname Terry had earned his first year on the force. “Spencer here went down in flames ten minutes ago.”
    â€œNo comment,” Spencer muttered, sending his brother an irritated glance.
    Terry smoothed back his hair. “Watch a professional at work, fellas.”
    The three Malone brothers hooted. “I don’t know,” Quentin called after him, “you’ve been out of circulation awhile.”
    Terry glanced back at the other men, his grin cocky. “Once a lady-killer, always a lady-killer.”
    Even three sheets to the wind, Terry was indeed, a lady-killer. Tall and lanky, with the dark hair, eyes and patois-on-demand of his Cajun ancestors, Terry cut a damn dashing figure. Quentin gave him a better than fifty-fifty chance.
    His friend sauntered over to the woman and began swaying with her to the music, moving in close. She turned her back to him, not missing a beat of the music.
    Terry glanced over. Quentin grinned and mimicked a plane going down with his right hand. Percy and Spencer chuckled.
    Terry didn’t give up. He tried again. Again she made it clear she wasn’t interested, this time more pointedly.
    The third time, she didn’t waste time on subtlety. She stopped dancing, looked him squarely in the eyes and told him to get lost. As she spun away, she shook her spandex-encased hips, as if taunting Terry with what he couldn’t have.
    Far from deterred, Terry swaggered back to his friends. “She wants me. No doubt about it.”
    The three men howled. Spencer leaned toward Terry. “First round—woman one, The Terror zip.”
    Quentin shook his head. “Give it up, partner. The lady’s not interested.”
    Terry laughed. “She’s playing hard to get. You just watch, she’ll come around.”
    â€œYeah, she’ll come around, all right. To slapping your face.” Percy looked at Quentin. “Why don’t you give her a try, bro. Turn that legendary smile of yours on her.”
    â€œNo thanks.” Quentin took a swallow of his beer. “I like my ego intact, thank you.”
    â€œYeah, right.” Spencer looked at Terry. “You ever hear the story about cute little Miss Davis? She was Quentin’s English teacher his senior year of high school.”
    â€œOh, please,” Quentin muttered. “Not this story again.”
    Terry sank onto a bar stool, signaling Shannon for another drink. “I don’t believe I have. Fill me in.”
    â€œWell,” Spencer continued, “seems big bro here didn’t spend enough time in class cracking the books and had earned himself a big fat F.”
    â€œThings looked grim,” Percy embellished. “Not graduating with his class. Summer school. Dad kicking his ass. The whole bit.”
    Terry yawned. “Is this story actually going somewhere?”
    The two younger brothers grinned. “Rumor has it,” Spencer said, “that after a couple of private meetings with pretty Miss Davis, that F jumped to a C. Just like magic.”
    â€œSome magic. He used that devil smile on her, the one that—”
    â€œDevil smile? Give me a break.” Quentin rolled his eyes.
    Ignoring Quentin, Spencer picked up where Percy had left off. “Even though he won’t talk, he used more than the smile, my men. Trust me.”
    â€œThat true, partner?” Terry lifted his eyebrows. “You sweet-talk yourself into a