Love Gone Wild: A Contemporary Romantic Comedy Read Online Free PDF

won't do that to me." He grabbed her arm. She snap-kicked her leg. Her shin contacted his groin then she threw a power punch to his stomach with her free hand. He fell backwards, aided by Marissa's thrust kick to his stomach, rapped his head solidly against the concrete, and joined Snipe in unconsciousness.
    "Marissa!"
    She turned to see Dane, dragging the skate-less purse snatcher in a headlock, walking toward her.
    "What the hell are you doing?"
    "They started it. I was only defending myself."
    "They...you..." Dane clamped his jaw shut. "I told you to stay put."
    "You did?"
    "Yes, damn it. I did."
    "I'm terribly sorry, Dane."
    He stared at her. "You are?"
    "Of course, I am. I didn't hear you tell me to stay put."
    "You're apologizing to me and admitting you should have listened to me."
    Dane acted like he'd never received an apology before. She touched his arm. "Do you forgive me?"
    "C'mon, man, forgive her before you cut off the rest of my oxygen," said the thief.
    "Shut up." Dane's gaze pierced Marissa. "How did—" He sighed. "We need to have a long talk, princess. You're going to explain to me why you need protection if you're a black belt in karate."
    "I'm a brown belt."
    The thief squirmed and Dane tightened his hold. "I should let her beat the crap out of you, too."
    The boy's gaze drifted over the punks' prone bodies. "It wouldn't be good for my rep if I got beat up by a girl."
    "One should never employ the use of martial arts for anything but defense. Dane, I think your prisoner is turning blue around the lips."
    Dane abruptly let go of the kid's neck and grabbed him by the arm. "Give the lady her property."
    "Name's Tuesday Jones, ma'am," he said. He winked at her as he gave Marissa the orange monstrosity. "That's the ugliest purse I've ever stolen."
    "I caught him before he could take anything, but you better look through it and make sure."
    "You're a rather charming thief, aren't you, Tuesday?" Marissa made sure the purse's contents were intact. "Is Tuesday your real name?"
    "Yep. I don't believe in aliases. If I get caught, I take the rap."
     Dane snorted. "A responsible thief. Yeah, right."
    "Your mother named you Tuesday?" asked Marissa.
    "I'm the sixth of seven kids and Momma was tired of naming us. I was born on a Tuesday and that's what she called me." He grinned. "Better than answerin' to Number Six."
    Marissa closed the bag. "Everything's here." She stepped closer to Tuesday. "Do you steal because you're poor? Do you need money?"
    "Look at his clothes, Marissa. He wears top of the line stuff. Those blades he was wearing cost a fortune."
    "Do you steal because you can't afford nice things?" asked Marissa. Pity at his misfortune crept into her heart.
    "I steal because I can." Tuesday's shiny smile dimmed. "I get on just fine. Don't feel sorry for me, lady."
    "Why not?"
    He frowned. "What do you mean 'Why not?'"
    "Why shouldn't I feel bad about your situation? You're one of seven children. I imagine you dropped out of high school and you live in a gang-infested area. Are your parents divorced? You don't sell drugs, do you?"
    Tuesday's brows rose. "Are you for real?"
    Tears crowded Marissa's eyes. She had more money than she could spend in ten lifetimes. The least she could do was share it with someone needy. Someone so needy, he'd turned to a life of crime. She dug in her purse and pulled out a fistful of hundred-dollar bills.
    "Here, Tuesday. Go back to school. Don't do drugs, okay?"
    "Marissa!" The censure in Dane's voice made her look at him.
     "He needs it more than I do."
    Tuesday's eyes bulged. "You had that much dough in your purse?" He stared at the money in Marissa's hand. "You better put it away before someone steals it."
    "You stole it," said Dane. "C'mon, Marissa. We need to call the police."
    "No! Let him take the money. He can start anew."
    "This isn't a television sitcom. It's real life. Giving him money won't solve his problems."
    "Oh yeah? What do you know?" Tuesday's charm disappeared under