Hard to Handle Read Online Free PDF Page A

“I’ll watch you on pay-per-view.”
    So she did watch. For unknown reasons, that gave Harley a lot of satisfaction. Perhaps because it meant she wasn’t so disinterested after all. “And wish I was closer?”
    That got her laughing. “You’re incorrigible.”
    True. Maybe he wasn’t the draw for her at all. Maybe she was just a fan of the sport. To find out, Harley asked, “You follow MMA competitions?”
    â€œNot really. I’ve never gotten into any sport too much, but especially not the brutal stuff. I’ve only watched on the nights you’re fighting, and truthfully, I still don’t understand all the rules.”
    He leaned against the wall. “But you still watch. When I fight.”
    Her shoulders lifted. “I guess knowing someone makes it more interesting.”
    Harley started to tell her just how interesting he could make things, and his cell phone rang. “Sorry. Excuse me a second.”
    â€œOh, sure.” Anastasia moved back to the dining table and began clearing it.
    â€œHello?”
    â€œHey, bro, how the hell are you?”
    â€œBarber.” Harley glanced at his watch. “What are you doing up so early? Or haven’t you been to bed yet?”
    â€œI’ll have you know I just left a warm bed. Not my own.”
    â€œBraggart.” Harley grinned. “So you get laid, and then decide to call and pester me, huh?” Barber—who was not his brother—had the attitude and ability of a fighter, and the talent and career of a born musician. He was also funny as hell. From the start, they’d hit it off.
    â€œSure. Why not?”
    â€œDumbass. What if I’d been in bed?”
    â€œYou mean you aren’t? Damn, man, I’m disappointed. You’ve just sunk drastically in my esteem.”
    Harley glanced toward Anastasia, saw she had her back to him, and murmured, “Actually, like you, I left a warm bed not that long ago. Then I saw my landlord chopping wood and stopped to help.”
    â€œLandlord, huh? Well ain’t you a regular Boy Scout? I’m sure the guy appreciates it.”
    Harley sent another quick look toward Anastasia. Glossy and thick, her dark hair lay over her shoulders. Humming, she pretended to be busy. With every movement, her sweatshirt pulled against tempting curves. “I’m sure she does.”
    â€œShe?” A lot of innuendo hung in that single word. “Now it’s getting interesting.”
    â€œSorry, but it’s not.” Not really. “So how about you? What’s been happening? You wallowing in your new fame?” Barber’s band had recently landed a deal with the SBC fighting organization to provide music tracks to the biggest events.
    â€œI’ve been known to wallow,” Barber admitted. “Things have been crazy busy, but right now I’m chillin’ and getting back to my roots. For the next month or so, the band and I are hanging out in Harmony, doing a gig for Roger’s Rodeo. So I’m here—and you aren’t. Dean said you were off licking your wounds. Sounds kinky and self-gratifying to me, but Dean wouldn’t elaborate.”
    â€œDean’s full of shit and you can tell him I said so.” They both respected Dean, so Barber took the comment as the good-natured gibe Harley meant it to be. “I was rehabbing my friggin’ elbow, and you know it.”
    â€œStill? Man, it seems like eons ago that you dislocated that bitch.”
    â€œSix weeks.” Six long, agonizing weeks—and another missed opportunity at the title belt.
    â€œSo where are you? I’ll come to you and you can share your stash of hot babes.”
    Again, Harley’s gaze went to Anastasia. In the small space, how could she not hear every word? “Sorry, no harems here, only a limited selection of snow bunnies.” He saw Anastasia smile, and it annoyed him.
    Why wasn’t she insulted?
    Or more