Entice (Hearts of Stone #2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

speaking again, it's to ask me why I was fired. I tell her about the meeting with Davenport. About the demon giggles that possessed me at just the wrong time.
    "God, did they have to fire you this time of year?"
    I almost laugh. My sister has a parental blind spot when it comes to me, extracting from my story only what was done to me and not everything I did to deserve it.  
    But she does have a point. It's nearly Christmas, a shitty time of the year to be out of a job. I don't mention the part about my lease expiring, not seeing the point in bringing it up tonight.
    "Yeah, well. It's done," I announce, with as much maturity as I can muster. I'm on my feet, walking back to the kitchen before I have a good reason to. "And now…I need a drink. What do you have?"
    Ignoring the assortment of wine bottles on her counter, I go to her fridge and see, to my surprise, a six-pack of beer in there with four bottles left. Lex doesn't drink beer. I grab one and make a mental note not to ask if these are remnants of Leo's presence.  
    Lex goes off to sleep and I stay on the couch watching television. After draining the second beer too soon, I'm left wanting something stronger. I've had a long day and would love something to help ease me into a dreamless sleep.
    With reluctance at the limited choices, I sort through the wine bottles on the counter. These are the ones Lex doesn't care much for. The stuff she actually drinks awaits in her small wine cooler. I don't care for wine. Lex loves the stuff because anything stronger knocks her on her ass. Of us two, I've always been able to hold my liquor better. I'm not sure if that's something to be proud of, but there it is.  
    My fingers trace the curved labels absentmindedly until, pushing aside a large bottle of red wine, I find a frosted bottle full of crystal clear liquid. It's the vodka I bought for Thanksgiving dinner a few weeks ago, but never got around to opening it. What a sight for sore eyes.
    Hello, gorgeous.  
    I know we just met, but I need you to help me not feel feelings anymore.
    I pour myself a shot and down it in a gulp. Rummaging through the refrigerator, I search for something to mix with a second shot. Lex doesn't drink soda. However, she has an almost completely full bottle of ginger ale. I don't want to know how long it's been there. Probably from a time she was sick and needed to soothe her stomach.  
    Left with no viable alternatives, I pour myself a glass of straight vodka and sip on it slowly while letting my brain numb to the nonsense playing on the screen.  
    The next thing I know, it's after midnight and I'm jarred awake by an unnecessarily loud commercial blaring from the television. I shut it off and slink into the guest room. My thoughts hazy, I slip slowly out of consciousness, desperate to ignore the dread of dealing with my predicament in the light of day.

    Lex stands in the kitchen, securing the lid on her coffee thermos. When she notices me in the doorway, I make a show of pretending to stumble backward in surprise.
    Her electric-blue button down is tucked into a black pencil skirt, showing off her legs, lean and smooth. The outfit is amped up by sleek black heels, and her golden brown hair is pinned up into a bun, not a strand out of place. I've never seen Lex wear this much makeup before. The skin on her face is velvety smooth, her lips a deep red color, her eyes lined with a rich black that brings out the piercing color of her green eyes.
    "Holy shit. You clean up nicely."
    "Can't let them see you sweat." She takes a sip of her coffee. "You're up early."
    "Hard to sleep in on a day I should be at work."
      She takes in my appearance. "I see you found the stuff you left here."
    "Yeah, well, it's not much. A pair of jeans and the workout stuff I wear when you force me to go running with you." I tug at the baggy t-shirt I've paired with some running shorts.
    "Feel free to go through my closet, grab whatever you want."
    I nod. It's what I intend to