Sanctuary (Freaks MC Book 2) Read Online Free PDF

times when my life would be easier if I didn't. But I do. So I deal.”
    “ It's that simple?”
    “ It really is.” She looked up and her eyes met his. “Bring her to the wedding, Samson.”
    “ This has nothing to do with...”
    “ Yes, it does.” She reached across the table and touched his hand. “I know you, too. You like her, and I'm guessing she likes you. It's just a little wedding, what's the big deal?”
     
     
     

 
    FIVE
     
    It always took a few days for Emma to adjust after Deke left. Her little house always felt too empty, and she missed waking up with him next to her. But she had always enjoyed her own company, and she wasn't the type to sit around twiddling her thumbs waiting for his next visit, so she quickly pushed him to the back of her mind and fell back into her old routine.
    The last few visits had been different. He'd stayed longer than normal, and it felt like something had shifted between them. She couldn't quite pin it down. They'd always been good together. He was easy to be around and was good company, but recently she'd felt herself wanting more, and she was beginning to think that he did too.
    She finished wrapping the canvas and sighed inwardly. There was no point getting all bent out of shape over what was going on between them. It was what it was, and as much as she'd like to, she couldn't see it being anything else. And her life was pretty good without him in it. She didn't really need him at all. She loaded her paintings into the trunk of her car and set off for nearby Boise. She was just fine.
     
    “ Emma, sweetie. You're early.” Harlow James, proprietor of Harlow Art and self proclaimed society queen, tottered across the gallery in her ridiculous heels and kissed Emma on the cheek, enveloping her in a cloud of Chanel. “And that looks like only two canvases.”
    “ Hey. Yeah, I know I said I wouldn't be here till after lunch, but I've been landed with an evening shift.” She leaned the canvases against the wall. “And I know I said I'd be bringing three, but I've been kind of busy these last few weeks, and I just haven't had time to do the last one.”
    “ Don't tell me you've gone and got yourself a life. Because I absolutely won’t believe you.” Harlow took her arm and led her to the desk in the corner. “So what was it. Wild parties? Orgies?”
    “ Moving the chicken run, extra shifts at the diner and I had a friend stay for a couple of weeks. If I'd known he was coming, I'd have finished it sooner.”
    “ He? Tell me more.”
    “ Nothing to tell. He's an old friend is all.” Emma shrugged, ignoring Harlow's arched eyebrow. “He swings by if he's in the neighborhood.”
    “ Oh no, sweetie. Not good enough. He stopped you painting, no one stops you from painting. What's he like? Is he hot?”
    Emma grinned. “Yeah, he's hot. He's a big bear of a man, but he's kind and he makes me laugh. And yeah, he is the reason I didn't finish the painting.”
    “Well, obviously I'm thrilled for you, but you'd better learn to paint between hot sex sessions, because you are one of my best sellers.”
    “ It's not like that... He's a just a friend.”
    “ With benefits.”
    “ Yes, Harlow, with benefits.”
    “ Right. That's it. I'm closing up for an hour. Lunch.”
    “ I don't have time...”
    “ Make time. I'm hungry, and I need to know why you haven't snapped up Mr. Perfect.” Harlow grabbed her hand and dragged her to the door. “Come on. It's confession time.”
     
    Emma stirred her coffee and waited for the interrogation to begin. She had known Harlow for years and had, until now, successfully deflected questions about her private life and the many attempts to get her to go on dates with the latest 'perfect man' she'd found. This time, though, she was trapped under the scrutiny of the woman opposite her. She looked around. “I've never been here before. It's very nice.”
    “ It's okay. Not really my thing, of course. Now tell me about this man of yours.