Chosen Read Online Free PDF

relief. She just had to wait for him. That is, if the idiot thought to search for them in here.
    As Emma turned to check the hallway, she saw a man approaching. Here we go .
    “Can I get you a drink?” He looked young, probably younger than her. Instead of the usual leer, he appeared genuine in his request.
    “No thanks.” She raised her glass to him.
    He sat down in the empty seat next to her. “Hi, I’m Eric. I haven’t seen you here before.”
    Great, I picked a place full of regulars . But then again, it wasn’t surprising. Small town, honky-tonk bar. “Just passing through.”
    “Lucky you. Everyone who lives here wishes they were passing through.” He leaned his elbows on the table and smiled.
    She sucked in her breath. Longing seeped through the crack of the door that she shut on her dreams years ago. He was cute and had a freshness about him, an earnestness that tugged at Emma’s heart, making it heavy with regret. She sighed. If things were different, she could have had a life with someone like Eric. She had forced herself to accept her fate and never look back. She wasn’t about to start now.
    “Actually, Eric, I’m waiting for someone.” Emma pointed to the scotch. “He just hasn’t shown up yet.”
    Eric’s grin fell and he stared at the glass in his hand. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to bother you.” He got up to leave and Emma had to resist an urge to tell him to sit down.
    “That’s okay. No harm done.” She smiled, ignoring the ache that gnawed at her resolve. As he turned and walked away she wondered how long it would take for the next fool to show up. She didn’t have to wait long. Two men dressed in jeans and black tshirts walked through the front door, and it was obvious they didn’t belong there.

CHAPTER THREE
     
     
    Emma really regretted sending Eric away.
    The two men stood in the doorway, gazing around the room. A few patrons turned to check out the newcomers, who looked like they belonged on the cover of GQ magazine, not a small country bar. They sat at an empty table close to the door.
    Emma shifted her gaze toward the stage, resting her chin in her hand. She fanned her fingers across her cheek to hide her profile.
    Crap . She worried Jake might be upset with the Bad Men this close, but she didn’t dare go check. She couldn’t risk leading them to him. Instead, she sipped her water, pretending to be fascinated with the band, and hoped they didn’t recognize her. A few moments later, another man approached her. A cigarette hung from his mouth and he held a glass in his hand. Cockiness oozed from his lanky frame as he slid into the chair next to her. “Hey there, sweetheart. How’re you doin’?”
    Resisting the urge to cringe, she plastered on a coy grin. “Just waitin’ for you, sugar.” Her voice dripped with her best Texas drawl.
    A lecherous smile spread across his face in response and he leaned his shoulder into hers. “Well, then it’s your lucky day.”
    Smoke from his cigarette blew into her face. She would have loved nothing more than to shove the cigarette up his ass. Her gaze shifted to the men at the table. They were watching.
    Emma ran her fingers down the man’s arm and glanced up at him through her eyelashes. “What’s your name, handsome?”
    “Carl.” Carl looked like he was about to shit his pants with glee. She doubted his approach had a high success rate.
    “Hi, Carl. I’m Lisa.” Her fingers trailed down his arm to his hand. The men still watched but appeared less alert. Now, if she could just keep Carl here without having him jump her until she figured out what to do. “Tell me about yourself, Carl.”
    Carl’s wrinkled eyes lit up as he began to give her what she was sure was the exaggerated version of his life. The men began scanning the room again. Emma nodded and fawned in the appropriate places, stifling a yawn. A woman went into the women’s restroom and came out a short while later. Emma wondered when the men would leave.
    The