High Stakes Read Online Free PDF Page A

process of calming herself when he reached over and tipped her chin. “Too much makeup. You don’t need it.”
    “Dear God, is that a compliment?”
    He spoke, as if he was driven to. “I suppose. You gotta know you’re just as pretty without it.”
    “If we can leave my appearance for a moment, I wanted to tell you I read your column today.”
    “So did thousands of others. I have a following.” Lazing back, he hooked his arm over the chair, making his green sweatshirt with the Bailey’s Pub logo stretch across his chest. “What’d you think of it?”
    “Solid points. Good queries. But I wonder why you’ll give KPRAY a second chance to convince you of their validity and not me.”
    Springing forward, he grabbed her wrist and she gasped. “You know, I might have reconsidered it if you hadn’t pulled this last stunt.”
    “Stunt?”
    “Sleeping with me.”
    “We made love.”
    “It takes two to do that. I still don’t know what you got out of it except three orgasms.”
    Oh, God, Dylan. Yes, right there. I can’t believe…
    “I told you why I did it.”
    “You knew you’d never have a chance to fuck me again.”
    She looked at his hand vising her wrist. “You’re hurting me, Dylan.”
    Letting go of her, he stood, dug in his pocket and threw some money on the table. “Then we’re even. You’ll get a second chance when hell freezes over.”
    Giving her his back, he stormed out of the restaurant. She watched as he turned up the collar of his leather coat and headed south. Swallowing hard, she chose to get mad.
    oOo
    Deciding to help out with lunch, Dylan went to the pub. Its warm interior, the rich scent of food and the camaraderie among his family always made him feel better. The noon crowd hadn’t arrived and he found his brothers gathered around the bar, staring at something. His stomach tightened when he saw Aidan, who didn’t yet know about the segment in Rachel’s show on his wedding.
    When he reached them, he put his hand on Aidan’s shoulder. “Hey, buddy.”
    Aidan turned. A rested, happy and satisfied expression claimed his face. Had Dylan ever felt that way? “How was the honeymoon?”
    Hugging him first, Aidan grinned from ear to ear. “Wonderful. I’m even sappier now.” His eyes teared. “Hell, I’m gonna be a dad.”
    They hadn’t had much time before he left for Hawaii to discuss C.J.’s announcement at the wedding, which poleaxed them all, even her six beautiful sisters. “You’ll finally be one of us.” There were times to bust balls and times to be genuine. “It’s the best thing that ever happened to me.”
    “How’s Hogan?”
    “Still on February break in Paris with his mother. It killed him to miss the wedding.” Stephanie had made the arrangements for him to go to her place in France before Aidan and C.J. set a date. She refused to change her plans.
    “We all missed him. He gonna be okay with her over there?”
    “The jury’s out on that one.” Dylan hoped she didn’t leave his fourteen year old son alone too much. Hogan was a good kid, but he’d get in trouble, even in a foreign country, if his mother spurned him again. Sometimes, Dylan’s dislike of his ex-wife and how she handled his boy bordered on hate.
    To change the subject, he pointed to what was spread over the bar. “Pictures?”
    “Uh-huh. The resort in Hawaii was beautiful and just what we needed to reconnect.”
    Patrick rolled his eyes. “Christ, boy, if you two connect any more than you already are, you’re gonna burn yourselves up.”
    “Nah. You know we had a hard time after she got shot.” C.J. had been on protective duty for a foreign dignitary and had gotten hurt during an attack.
    “That I do, little bro.”
    Dylan nudged Pat out of the way. “Let me see the photos.”
    There were about twenty of them spread out on the dark oak surface. Each one was better than the next: teal blue water, glittering sunshine, breathtaking sunsets. “Gorgeous, kiddo.”
    He snuck a