Breathing His Air Read Online Free PDF Page A

to the mystery of what exactly she wore underneath the material. That explained why the men were huddled around her.
    She’d piled her long hair, the color of cinnamon, on top of her head in a messy array, showing off a slim neck. He’d stepped forward to drag her into the house when a loud buzzing came from behind her.
    She bounced out of the chair with a laugh. “Last batch, boys.”
    The crowd groaned. He stared after her as she flounced into the house out of sight.
    “Johnny.” Dave, his part time driver at Cozy Inn, put his foot on the porch and leaned against his knee. “You calling dibs?”
    Johnny pushed back his hair and studied the ground. “Nah. Not ready.”
    What was the matter with everyone? Moreover, what was with Johnny spilling his guts to a total stranger when it had taken Rain and a couple of the guys to get him to talk about what he was going through at home the last several years? The hell he’d allow any one of the men to call dibs on Tori.
    Tori returned with a plateful of cookies. “A dollar a piece and free love advice. Who wants one?”
    She had to be kidding. He stepped out of the way when the others pushed forward. Unprepared for what she’d planned, he could only stand there in shock and listen.
    “Will my wife come back to me?” Pete, a member of Bantorus, handed Tori a dollar.
    Tori held out the plate. “Why’d she leave?”
    Pete took a bite of the cookie he’d bought, cleared his throat, and dug the heel of his boot into the gravel. “Uh, she caught me with someone else.”
    “Bad move, Pete.” Tori laid her hand on his arm. “Would you go back to her if you caught her with another man?”
    “Hell, no.” Pete frowned, his blond brows coming together.
    “There’s your answer. All you can do is move on with your life and learn from your mistake.” She leaned closer. “She’s watching you, though. That’s what women do. Shape up and prove you’re not that type of man anymore. If she wants you, she’ll contact you.”
    “What if she doesn’t?”
    “Then you’ve taken the time to heal and learn from your mistake, and you’ll be able to move on to someone else who you can cherish without worrying if you’ll screw up again,” she said. “Cheating is bad news, but people have and do change if they’re serious about changing.”
    “Thanks, Tori.” Pete turned and let someone else have a turn.
    Skeeter, a wannabe who hung out at the bar every day from the time he got off work until it closed, stepped forward. “H-how do I g-get the attention o-of” — he paused and swallowed — “someone I w-want to ask out?”
    Tori collected Skeeter’s money, passed him a cookie, and tilted her head. “It’s not what you say, but the ability to leave yourself open to communication. Remember, body language tells women more than pretty words. Offer your hand during a dance, and she’ll walk into your arms. Smile and hold her gaze over dinner and let her talk to you. She’ll know what you want without you having to say a word.”
    Skeeter grinned, his crooked eyetooth showing. “Th-thanks.”
    “You’re welcome,” said Tori.
    Hell, she’d pegged Skeeter’s whole problem. He let his stuttering keep him from going after what he wanted. In his own right, he had the looks, the bike, and although he couldn’t cut the club life, he had a full time job at Cozy Inn in maintenance. Rain had hired Skeeter because the man was good with his hands and kept Rain’s business in prime condition.
    He watched Edge move forward, and he stepped closer. Edge had left the Lagsturns two years ago, begged admittance into the Bantorus, and had hidden out in Pitnam ever since. Rain couldn’t remember the last time he even saw Edge around other people. If anyone from Lagsturns spotted him, he’d get his ass kicked from here to Seattle.
    Edge leaned down and whispered in Tori’s ear.
    Her smile fell. He spotted the moment Edge filled her in on his life because her eyes widened, and she