Ex-Con: Bad Boy Romance Read Online Free PDF Page B

imagined was that one day I’d find myself standing face-to-face with the daughter of the man who’d written “Crying Angel.” The song my mother had sang to me almost every night up until I was too old for her to sing to.
    Then, as she'd lay dying, I sang it to her.
    “Crying Angel” might not have seemed like a kid’s lullaby, but my mother had been a die-hard Phoenix Prince fan, and the song had been playing when I was born. It had also been playing the first night she brought me home, and according to her, it was the only song that had been able to get me to sleep.
    Even now, the sound of it soothed me. Bittersweet memories always came with it, but it was my go-to when I needed out of my head.
    “Son of a bitch,” I whispered again.
    “Well, some people say he was.” She laughed a little. “I honestly wouldn’t know.”
    My face went red. “That’s not…I wasn’t…”
    “I’m messing with you.” She waved a hand dismissively as she took a seat at the table, leaning forward in a position that put her ample breasts on display.
    Dammit.
    I kept my gaze on her face.
    She was Phoenix Prince’s daughter .
    “I know that wasn’t what you meant.” A sad smile curled her lips. “I take it you’re a fan.”
    Feeling like an idiot now, I glanced around. Finally, I moved over to the seat across from hers. “Yeah,” I said. “My mom...” I shrugged, trying to keep my own emotions in check as I spoke, “She loved him. Got me into his music...well, all music, but especially him.”
    “Loved...” Carly studied me. Her voice softened. “She’s gone, isn’t she?”
    “Yeah.” I jerked a shoulder. “Cancer when I was in high school.”
    “I’m sorry.” The words weren't rote. They were sincere.
    Nodding, I focused on anything and everything but her. I couldn't take seeing pity on her face. I swung my knee back and forth, too much energy coursing inside me. I wanted to get up and pace. “Well, I guess I get why you need bodyguards.”
    She smiled and I saw it then.
    She had his smile. And his eyes, I realized. Those deep, vivid blue eyes were her father’s eyes. I didn't know why I hadn't seen it before.
    My brain kicked in then, and I began to remember things I'd heard about her. There had been attacks on her life. Multiple attacks. Somebody had tried to kidnap her. Not once, but twice. There had even been something with a teacher. It'd been this elaborate scheme. The teacher had gone through the whole deal, applying for a position at the girl’s school, biding her time.
    When she’d ended up in Carly’s class, she’d asked Carly to wait for a few minutes after class one day, and she’d attacked the girl. It had been a passing teacher who’d saved Carly's life.
    I hadn't been following news about her, exactly, but because of my mom, I tended to absorb whatever I heard about Phoenix Prince. Including...
    “Your mom. She still batshit crazy?”
    Even as I said it, I wanted to kick myself. My stomach churned, and I felt like I was going to be sick. Fuck. Why had I said that?
    The hotel suits looked appalled, but Ryan started to laugh and Jake looked mildly amused.
    Carly reached across the table and caught my hands with hers. “Oh, honey, I think you and I are going to get along wonderfully.” She squeezed my fingers and then pushed back from the table. “You’re taking the job. Say you’re taking the job.”
    She stood and walked past me. I forced myself to think and not stare at her legs.
    The apology tripped out of me. “I...look, my head – I mean, my brain and my mouth, they aren't always connected right. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”
    “Oh, please.” Carly rolled her eyes and shot me a rueful look. “Trust me. I’ve said much worse. Or at least, I’ve thought worse.”
    That stopped me.
    “What?”
    Her eyes widened. “You think I don’t know what my own mother is like?”
    For once, my brain worked and I said nothing.
    Carly winked at me and then turned