Hard Tackle (A Stepbrother Warriors Novel) Read Online Free PDF Page A

OK. Yeah, alright," I stammer. Any shopping
trip where I don't have to try on more than one item of clothing is a success
in my book.
    "Let me just get some measurements," she says,
pulling a tape measure out of her pocket. I run my fingers over the gold
beading as she mutters to herself, pulling out the bottom of the dress, and
then picking my foot up from the shoe and measuring that as well. "Let me
help you out of it," she finally says, unzipping the side and pulling the
halter over my head. "Roberto will do the hemming, and I'll find the shoes
in the right size, and we'll deliver them to…are you living at the same address
as Jack?"
    "Yes, I forget the number, though," I murmur,
hands over my exposed chest again.
    "We have all of his information on file," she
tells me, letting the drape close behind her as she leaves. I nod, though she's
already gone.
    I turn back toward the mirror, then let my hands drop.
Normally I rush through my bathroom routine, barely looking at myself. But this
lighting is very flattering…I turn from side to side, studying the small curve
of my waist, and my high, small breasts. I lay my hand on my stomach and
imagine it belongs to someone else…
    "Lydia?"
    I screech as Jack's face appears in the mirror, poking
through the drapes behind me. "Jack! What the fuck!" I yell as his
face registers shock and then quickly disappears.
    "Sorry!" he calls out from the other side. I jump
for my sports bra and yank it on. "I was just going to say that—"
    "Forget it!" I call back furiously as I pull my
clothes back on. I stuff my shoes back into my sneakers and push the drape
aside, storming out past him. I can feel how red my face is.
    He follows me out into the store, pausing only momentarily
to pull his baseball cap back on. Now he's the one trailing me as I walk
quickly back out through the mall and into the parking lot. I walk right up to
the passenger side door of his car and wait for him to unlock it, my cheeks
still burning.
    "Will you just hang on a second?" he asks,
cornering me against the locked door.
    "Let's just pretend it never happened."
    "OK. I am sorry," he says, turning away. He pauses
for a moment. "Not that you have anything to be embarrassed about,"
he adds, then walks quickly toward the driver's side door.
    I frown. What does that mean? Was
that a compliment? Or was he just trying to make my feel better? I hear the
doors unlock and leap inside, looking straight ahead. We ride back to the house
in awkward silence.

 
    Chapter Five
     
    I stand outside on my balcony, feeling the wind whip my
dress over my legs. It's a beautiful night for a party, and thankfully free of
rain. I look down over the guests from my perch, invisible with my bedroom
lights turned off behind me. No wonder the dance floor was giving my mother
trouble earlier; she's had it set up over the pool. It's completely clear, and
the pool's lights are on underneath it. Some of the guests are already walking
across it, pursuing the white-jacketed cater waiters who carry champagne and trays
of hors d'oeuvres .
    I hear my cell phone ring and walk back into my bedroom to
answer it. "Where are you?" my mother asks, the noise from the party
behind her filtering through the line.
    "In my bedroom. I'm coming down now," I promise.
    "Will you stop in Ray's study? He took a call and disappeared."
    "Yeah, OK," I tell her, and hear her hang up. I
haven't been there since I set off the silent alarm. I brush a hand across my
hair, pulled into a low bun on the nape of my neck, and head out of my room,
shutting the door behind me. I smile shyly at a few of the guests who are
gathered in the foyer as I walk down the staircase. My mom told me that I'm one
of the hosts of the party, but I don't even feel like I really live here yet.
    I head down the south wing to Ray's study. After my
self-guided tour when we arrived, I know it's all the way at the end, giving
him corner views of the front and side of the house. I pause as I hear