INEVITABLE: An Alpha Bad Boy Contemporary Romance Book Read Online Free PDF Page A

you do for fun around here, Charlie? It looks like nothing much has changed.”
    “Nothing much ever changes around here, but if we run out of trouble to get into around here, the city is less than an hour away.”
    “True, I got into plenty of trouble there as a kid.”
    He laughed, a beautiful sound. “Not me, I was the good one remember?”
    I found it hard to believe he didn’t get into any trouble as a teenager. I tried hard to remember seeing him at any of the parties I went to…or even hearing who he was dating back then, but I couldn’t. The fact was as much as I hated to admit it; I was kind of self-centered back then. I was just about to ask if he was dating anyone now and the radio he was wearing crackled to life.
    “One Alpha-6 this is dispatch. We have a non-injury accident out on Old River Road. I’m sending the coordinates to your GPS now. Please respond. A tow truck is enroute.”
    He looked disappointed but he put the radio to his sexy lips and said, “One Alpha-6 responding. Seven minutes en route.” He smiled at me as he stood up. I craned up to watch him, feeling my cheeks flush with heat. He was raw masculinity and power, an toxic mix that I wa s no t used to. Pulling a twenty out of his pocket and placed it on the table, his golden eyes never leaving mine. “Will you make me a promise?”
    “Uhm sure.”
    “Stay here for a while until the rain slows down…and don’t speed going home.”
    “I’m not sure if I can promise that officer.”
    He quirked an eyebrow but his soft smile was amused. “Why’s that?”
    “Well look what I got for driving in the rain and speeding. I think you’ve just positively reinforced my bad behavior.”
    His smile was dazzling as he took a pen from his pocket. Writing his phone number down on a napkin he said, “Next time you’ll be punished severely.” Then he winked. I gulped. “Take care of yourself Jackie and call me if you need anything while you’re in town.”
    “Thank you, Charlie.” I handed him his jacket and watched him pull it on as he went out the door. There was a little fire burning in the pit of my belly that my head tried hard to stomp out. The last thing I needed right now is to jump into another “doomed to fail” relationship. I finished my coffee and as I stood up to go I looked down at the napkin. I picked it up and stuffed it in my purse. It wouldn’t hurt to have his number…just in case.
    By the time I got home the house was quiet. I assumed Mama was in bed and Daddy was in his office. I tiptoed up the stairs and into my room. I was showered and in my flannel p.j.’s when I heard the knock on my bedroom door.
    I found my mother there with a little tray with a teapot, two cups and two of Desiree’s famous Beignet’s. She smiled. “Can I come in? I come bearing gifts.”
    I stepped back. “Of course you can come in…and you didn’t have to bring gifts.”
    “Oh…you don’t want the beignet?”
    “If you try and leave with it I’ll tackle you.” She laughed and sat the tray down on the little table next to the fireplace in my room. Then she opened her arms and I fell into them. Her arms were warm and welcoming…and forgiving. She held me for a really long time until I pulled back and looked at her face. I didn’t see any of the judgement there that I saw each time I looked into my father’s eyes. “Thank you, Mama.”
    She took my hand and led me to sit down. After pouring us each a cup of tea she said, “Your Daddy loves you.”
    I nodded. “I know. I just wish he wasn’t so.. . ashame d of me.”
    “Oh baby. He’s not ashamed of you. He’s just old school and he doesn’t understand the passion that you feel for what you do. He runs our home like he runs his companies. Like an old overseer. The only difference between him and his great-great grandfather is that he pays his employees well and treats them a lot better. But as good as he is at running this place; he’s just never been passionate about