Envy (Seven Deadly Sins) Read Online Free PDF Page B

thigh.  I lowered my right hand down to cover his, and the instant I trailed my fingertips across the back of his hand I felt myself relax.  Yes, Benton was driving more than just my nerves, but even those of the ‘man of steel.’
    I wasn’t sure how long Carlton was going to just sit there listening to Benton ramble on, but I got the distinct impression we were all about to find out.  Benton began some crazy story about his friends as Carlton slowly drank his bourbon, and I was just hoping that a bolt of lightning would somehow magically find its way deep into the Edison Ballroom and just kill me graveyard dead.  Finally Carlton leaned in, almost reengaging himself into the conversation.  I was hoping for some really cool questions that would stump Benton, making him feel small and inconsequential.  I stared at his chiseled jaw, the perfect lips that I longed to feel all over mine, and those eyes, so inviting and creamy that I melted every time I saw them.  I felt an incredible urge building inside, and once again I wanted him more than ever.  Carlton parted his lips, his eyebrows raised and asked, “So tell me, Mr. Frazier, how long have you known Ms. Martin?”  The nervous ball of energy welling up inside me turned instantly into stone, sinking down into the pit of my stomach with a thundering thud.  Shit , I thought here it comes .
    I wanted to jump up and hug our server as she reappeared.  “Is everyone okay?” she asked.
    I looked up at her as if to say, ‘throw me a lifeline; help a sister out?’  I couldn’t stand this entire ordeal any longer!  The smiling waitress caught my glance, “The restroom is down the steps on the left.”
    I excused myself so that I could hide out in the ladies room and avoid the fatal train wreck that was sure to happen.  I nearly ran down the stairs and ducked into the powder room, preparing to wait out the entire evening if need be.  I was frustrated.  Carlton Michaud could have, hell should have, crushed this arrogant piss ant of a sleazy, greasy, slimy scumbag lawyer with a few lashes from his silvery smooth tongue, but no.  He was going to allow him to dangle, to hang around and feel like he belonged, let him dig his own fiery pit.  It was an interesting contrast in men.  Benton would have laid waste to some out of town, arrogant lawyer right away, never giving it a second thought.  But Carlton was a kid who liked to play with his food; the cat that played with the mouse, at least until he got bored and killed him.
    I ordered a drink in the ladies room, that’s how long I planned to stay camped out in there.  I scanned a thousand reasons to just text Carlton and slip into a cab and head for home, but none of them seemed plausible.  And I really enjoyed the place, which was one of the things that was pissing me off as well.  I would love to eat a nice meal that’d been prepared by a renowned chef, listen to some good music, maybe dance a little.  No, no, I felt I had to barricade myself into this feminine fortress to keep from getting caught in the carnage surely happening at our table.
    And I would have stayed in there until I heard the band begin to play.  The music was faint, but familiar.  It was enough to pull me out of the ladies room, and the music got so much louder the moment I stepped into the hall.  Could it be , I thought, Beach music?  I turned the corner and walked out towards the dance floor, and sure enough, Beach music.  I don’t know where the band was from, but their rendition of ‘Give me just a little more time’ was like opening a care package from home.  Benton stood next to the stage looking so quintessentially southern that I smiled.  He saw me, waving his hands frantically, motioning me to come to him.  He was a wolf in sheep’s clothing, but he had moments like this when he knew exactly what I needed.  As I got closer to him, I heard him yelling over the band, “C’mon Liz, hurry.  I don’t think they know