Complicated Read Online Free PDF Page A

what he’s doing. It’s the best sex of my life. Plus, I don’t
have to worry about annoying complications or getting hurt.”
    Jeanie looked skeptical again. “I guess so.
But if I were having a fling with this skillful, patient hunk of a man, I might
want to do a little more than fuck him.”
    Victoria shook her head. “I’m not saying I
don’t like him. But I’m not about to fall in love. There’s no reason things
have to be as messy as people make them.” She finished off her coffee and
poured herself another cup.
    “Who would have thought little-miss-prim-and-proper
would be having a sordid affair.” Jeanie looked delighted at the thought.
    Victoria frowned. “It’s not sordid. And I’m
not as traditional as everything thinks.”
    She was traditional in a lot of ways—at
least, she always had been. She had a quiet upbringing, her life had revolved
around school, and her family and her social circle had always been small. She
hadn’t lost her virginity until she’d been twenty-two years old.
    She’d thought she’d been in love with that
guy, but he’d moved on a few months later.
    About a year ago, after her failed
relationship with Mark, Victoria had taken a long look at her life and decided
it was all right, but kind of boring. Since then, she’d been trying to take a
few more risks, to try some different things. She’d taken a vacation to the
Caribbean six months ago by herself. And she’d volunteered to work on a
political campaign she never would have bothered with before.
    Then she’d met Greg, and she’d done the most
irresponsible, spontaneous thing in all thirty-one years of her life.
    And she was loving it.
    “I’m having a good time,” she said at last.
“And for once I’m not making it complicated.”
     “All right. All right.” Jeanie muttered
under her breath. “But sometimes complications are fun.”
    ***
    That afternoon, Victoria was heading back to
her office when she noticed that no one was behind the check-out desk and two
female students were waiting with books in their hands. The workstudy student
usually handled check-outs, but Victoria walked over to the desk and smiled a
greeting at the students.
    “Sorry you had to wait. Did you want to
check those out?”
    The taller girl handed the books to
Victoria. The girl looked like a freshman, although sometimes it was hard to
tell the difference. She was young and pretty—with dark hair, brown eyes, and a
slim figure. Something about the line of her jaw struck Victoria as familiar.
    Instead of returning her smile, the girl
just stared at her intently, her eyes taking in the wrinkled vintage suit, the
small glasses, and the Mary Jane heels. “Are you Victoria Ray?”
    Victoria blinked. “Yes. I am. Can I help
you?”
    The girl’s blank stare transformed into a glare
of cold resentment. “You must be the bitch who’s fucking my dad.”
    Victoria’s mouth dropped open.
    Her life had just gotten complicated.

Two
     
    “I’m not mad at her,” Victoria insisted,
pushing her hair behind her ear distractedly. It was long—falling down to the
middle of her back—and she was used to pulling it back in a chignon. She’d let
it down when she was finally able to take a shower after work, and she hadn’t
had time to put it back up before Greg had stopped by her apartment.
    He’d never been to her apartment before. But
after getting the nearly incoherent message she’d left him this afternoon, he’d
evidently decided it would be wise to stop by on his way home.
    “I just don’t want her to be mad at me .”
Victoria was wearing a clingy bathrobe, which was more than she’d been wearing
last night. But she still felt self-conscious and undressed next to Greg in his
expensive gray business suit and red tie.
    “She’s not mad at you,” Greg began, reaching
out to put a conciliatory hand on her shoulder.
    She jerked away from his touch, unable to
explain her defensive reaction. “She called me a bitch. There was