GirlNextDoor Read Online Free PDF Page B

surfing.
They caught viruses on a sadly regular basis. And though they wouldn’t let him
be a member of their team because he was gay, they were all too quick to summon
Nolan Crane to fix their mistakes.
    Nolan, John knew, couldn’t tell them no, any more than he
could tell John no when he’d brought his laptop to him with an alarmingly blank
blue screen. It wasn’t in his nature.
    But. “I, uh, I have plans,” he lied.
    “You do not,” Nolan said firmly. “Look, just meet her at
Chelsea’s. If it’s something quick on the computer, I’ll meet you two there. If
not, just feed her dinner, maybe take her dancing.”
    “I’m not taking her dancing. I’m not taking her to dinner.”
    “John, please.” Nolan reached for his wallet.
    “Not even if you’re paying.”
    Nolan looked exasperated. He flipped the wallet open and
held out a picture in a plastic sleeve. “This is Lucy.”
    “I’m not…” John paused and reached for the wallet for a
closer look. He rubbed his chin, wondering if he should shave again before he
met her. “All right,” he agreed, with token reluctance. “If it’s that important
to you. But just dinner. I’m not buying her flowers or anything.”
    Nolan grinned. “Thanks, John.”
    John studied the picture again. “But not Chelsea’s. The
Lighthouse.”
    “Whoa.”
    “Hey, for a friend of yours, partner, nothing is too good.
Especially when you’re buying.” He held his hand out, palm up.
    Nolan barely hesitated before he pulled out his Amex card
and put it in John’s hand. “Try not to burn it up, okay?” he pleaded.
    “No promises.” John grinned. “And you still owe me.”
    An odd smile crossed his partner’s face. “You’re right, I
do. But not for long.” He picked up the supply box and started down the hall.
    “Hey,” John called after him, “what’s that supposed to
mean?”
    There was no answer. Krulak rubbed his chin again.
Definitely a shave after work.
    * * * * *
    He was checking out the woman even before he realized she was
the one in the picture. She wore a t-shirt-knit dress, red, just a bit tight
over her nicely proportioned curves, and flat sandals, no nylons. She didn’t
need them over her perfectly tanned legs. To John’s practiced eye, the tan was
natural, not spray-on; it matched her arms and face. Invitation to skin cancer,
his medical mind knew, but the rest of him just admired the way it looked on
her. She had a dark complexion naturally, long black hair soft around her
shoulders, beautiful dark eyes. Her mouth was small, but her lips were full and
red, like a Kewpie doll.
    He’d finished his physical assessment of her in the time it
took her to pause in the doorway and look around. She seemed a little lost.
John left his drink on the bar and went to greet her. “Lucy?”
    She smiled warmly. “Are you John?”
    “John Krulak,” he answered. She offered her hand and he held
it, not shaking it and not letting go. “Our table’s not ready yet. Can I get
you a drink?”
    Lucy nodded and he led her back to the bar. He had to let go
of her hand then. She ordered herself a Scotch, neat. As if he needed another
reason to like her.
    “I’m really sorry about this,” she said sincerely. “I know
Nolan roped you into this at the last minute. If you had other plans…”
    “I didn’t,” John assured her quickly.
    “I know how Nolan can be when he wants something.”
    “Relentless,” Krulak agreed. “But believe me, I’m glad to be
here. Really.” He meant to leave it at that, but he heard himself add, “You
broke about six hearts when you sat down with me, you know. You’re the most
beautiful woman here.”
    Lucy smiled, flushed and looked down at her drink.
    “I’m sorry,” John blurted. “I didn’t mean to say that. I
mean, it’s true, but I… I’m not hitting on you, I know you’re Nolan’s friend,
but it is true.”
    Her smiled brightened. “I was just thinking the same thing
about you. Not that you were