Sinful Pleasures Read Online Free PDF

chair by one arm. “Both of you. Both of you are coming with me to the office.”
    Pinching their arms tightly, she hauled them down to Mr. Tucker. He listened to her rant for half an hour before asking to speak to the boys alone. Mr. Tucker sat solemnly across his desk from them, paying attention to their side of the story. The principal’s gaze frequently shifted from their faces to stare at their bare arms. He frowned at the bruises forming on their tender young skin.
    “You shouldn’t call your teacher a jerk.” He hesitated as if weighing the wisdom of his words. “Even if she is one.” The boys giggled, and Mr. Tucker went on. “
Dallas
, I know your father. He wouldn’t approve of you being disrespectful. I also understand that Mrs. Daniels had no cause to embarrass you in front of the class. I’ll get you transferred tomorrow.”
    Then Mr. Tucker turned his attention to Morgan. “Were you allowed to talk to your teachers in
Phoenix
like that?”
    Morgan shook his head no, keeping his eyes firmly on the floor. Mr. Tucker sighed heavily. “Don’t let it happen again. I suppose I’ll have to transfer you into another math class, too. You boys are dismissed, but don’t let me hear about you being in any more trouble. Do you understand?”
    In the hallway, the two of them stared at one another in disbelief. Then they started laughing with the kind of lightheaded hilarity that eight-year-old boys get when reprieved from certain doom. From that point on, Morgan and Dallas were inseparable throughout school. They fought each other’s battles, sharing the victories and defeats.
    Dallas
knew Morgan joined the firefighting academy more to watch his ass than to be a hero, but together they made a damn good team.
    Morgan turned to give him a thoughtful look. “We should check with Jude after our shift tonight. We can pick up the gifts for Tom and find out what time she wants to leave on Saturday.
    “Sounds like a plan to me.”
    John Grayson whirled around to stare at them in surprise. “You’re talking about that hot little number who owns Sinful Pleasures? That’s who you two are planning to share and share alike? Wooo-eee!”
    Morgan nodded. “Yeah, what about it?”
    John held up his hands. “Nothing, man, but she’s a real piece of work. You really got her to model some clothes for you? Is that who you were talking about? For real?”
    Dallas
laughed at the memory. “We picked out some things for Tom’s honeymoon and told Jude the bride is about her size. We promised not to touch if she modeled the clothes for us so we could decide what we liked best.”
    John groaned. “She fell for that?”
    “Not really,” Morgan answered, “but the promise of a big sale sure helped.”
    John shook his head in disbelief. “She’s a class act, guys. I don’t know what the hell she sees in you two, but she definitely makes allowances in your favor. The rest of us poor schmucks get the polite-but-distant treatment.”
    “That’s because she knows who the real studs are.”
Dallas
smirked, smacking him playfully in the back of the head.
    John raised both eyebrows in disbelief. “Yeah, right.” Then his grin turned into a frown, and he stared back at them in the mirror. “Does the old witch know about this?”
    “By witch, do you mean Genevieve Wheeler?”
    John nodded seriously. “I’m not kidding guys. That woman is evil. I’ve run up against her in court a time or two over minor ordinance issues. She’s got her hand in everything going on in Parrish. It’s no secret she’s trying to destroy Jude for divorcing her son.”
    “Jude’s not married to her son any longer. She can date who she wants.”
    “I’m not arguing with that,” John answered, “but I think Mrs. Wheeler is going to pitch a royal fit. You know what she’s like with all her self-righteous bullshit.”
     
    * * * *
     
    Standing in the shower cubicle beside his best friend, Dallas lathered up his chest and arms before speaking.