Let Me Be the One Read Online Free PDF Page B

Fun. Yeah.
     
     

Chapter 3
     
    Present
     
    Suzi tried to focus out the window when Brett pulled into the entryway. She’d been asleep too much of the trip, but sleep was the only refuge she had. This wasn’t Brett’s house. It wasn’t anybody’s house. The rambling adobe structure could have been carved out of the desert. A valet in a crisp red and black uniform walked over to open her door as she scanned the surroundings. Not in LA anymore. How long had they been on the road? Somewhere between twenty minutes and six hours.
    “I always thought Logan was a total territorial dickhead when it came to you. And the way he was about the groupies. Like he was better than the rest of us. Which he kinda was. But still. That doesn’t mean he gets to rub our noses in it.” Brett’s voice was rough, as if he hadn’t stopped talking the entire trip.
    The valet opened her door. Suzi kept her mouth shut while they went through the check-in process. No one seemed at all surprised that they had no luggage. The lack of luggage, and Brett’s apparent frequent flyer status, got them into a room in record time. The room was Southwestern themed. Water from the hot tub on the balcony cascaded into an infinity pool overlooking the desert.
    Suzi stood in front of the mirror over the dresser. The people at the desk were pros. No one had batted an eyelash despite the fact that she looked like she’d escaped from an Alice Cooper road show. She should have invested in waterproof mascara. Did the hotel staff know?
    Men screwed up, and women were supposed to forgive them. This wasn’t her first miscarriage. It wouldn’t be her last. She needed to toughen up already.
    She wanted to curl into the fetal position and cry for a week, and she wanted Brian to hold her while she sobbed.
    That wasn’t an option.
    “Why did you bring me here?” she asked.
    “You know all those guys are gonna be looking for you. I figured you needed the time away. Nobody knows I come here.” Brett wrapped his arms around her shoulders and kissed her forehead. “A little hot tub and a little weed, and you’ll be feeling fine.”
    Weed. All her life she’d been avoiding stuff like that, and what had it gotten her? About now, she could see the allure of heroin. And what was she supposed to wear in the hot tub? Dumb question. She’d left the party with an infamous sex fiend. There were expectations. Plus, sex was great for getting rid of cramps. Might just be cramps.
    In the bathroom, she washed her face. She didn’t have anything to take off her make-up. The effort to call the desk and ask for something better than soap seemed like too much trouble. All her things were at Logan’s hotel room or Logan’s house. God, she’d even forgotten her cell in his car.
    Wrapped in a thick terrycloth robe, she walked into the room. Brett stood on the balcony staring at the scenery. Thankfully, not naked. Yet. She sat down on the foot of the bed.
    Brett heard her and strolled back into the room. “I love it here. It’s so peaceful. It’s a great place to get away from all that bullshit in town.” He sat down beside her. “I’m tellin’ ya. A little hot tub. A little swim. A little weed. You’ll be back up to normal in no time.”
    She put her hands on his cheeks and kissed him. His lips parted under her assault, but instead of pulling her closer, he put his hands on her shoulders and pushed.
    “Are you sure this is what you want?” he asked.
    “No, but it’s what you want, and at the moment, I could use the distraction.”
    “Don’t think that I’m not totally game. You are the Holy Grail, but I don’t want you doing anything unless you want to.” He draped his arm around her like a big brother. “If you want, we can work on some good excuses. Relaxation. Revenge. We could get you drunk. A combination of all three. No one would blame you if you got drunk trying to relax and screwed me to get revenge on Logan.”
    A killing cramp sliced through her.