Stoned: A Billionaire Stepbrother With Benefits Romance (My Brother's Keeper Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

grind against what I do. I mean, besides being boring
and second-rate compared to me. It’s not like I’m Hugh Hefner.”
    She narrowed her eyes further. “Might as well
be.”
    “Oh, Goldilocks, stop being so jealous.”
    “My name is Allison, and I will be getting
the account back.”
    “I doubt it,” he said, and then he shocked
her completely by kissing her.
    She stood stock still for a moment, frozen
with confusion and indecision. It was the last thing she expected
from him, didn’t seem to complete the gloating party he was having
all on his own. Then his tongue eased into her mouth and, despite
everything, she relaxed, feeling the caress of his tongue against
hers, the passion brimming between them. He reached lower with one
hand and stroked the small of her back, and she reached up to rub
his cheek, somewhat amused that for the first time in a long time
that glasses weren’t getting in her way.
    Heat flared in her stomach and suddenly she
was feeling passion she’d never felt before.
    He moaned a little and the resonance of it,
the pitch, reminded her that he wasn’t her actual fiancé. Allison
pulled away then, even if a large part of her was begging her not
to stop, reminding her that this was something she’d been missing
in her life a long time. The rest of her, the part that felt the
weight of her engagement ring on her finger, told her to stop it.
Shaking her head, she just glared back at him.
    “This is not happening. I’m not just another
conquest for you or a story for the water cooler.”
    He reached down and stroked her hair. It was
surprisingly gentle and that confused her. “I wouldn’t do that to
you.”
    She licked her lips and gathered control over
herself. Pulling away, she gave him a quick slap to the cheek, well
aware everyone else was gathered around and watching both of them.
“I’m not something for you to take, Arrow, so have a nice
night.”

CHAPTER NINE
     
     
    “Wow, man, you were shot down,” Oliver chimed
in as Robert ordered a second Scotch from the bartender.
    He was hunched over, trying to avoid eye
contact with anyone and hoping all the guests had gotten the
complete and accurate impression that he had no interest in being
talked to right now. In fact, he had no interest in even talking to
his best friend and usual wingman. Robert had never been rebuffed
like that in his life, and the fact it had been from someone on
such a high horse graded more.
    But she seemed so shocked too; it wasn’t like
she wasn’t receptive…
    And then, oddly, he felt worse about that.
He’d noticed the glimmer of a diamond on her finger as she’d fled.
He barely knew of Allison Shepard and by reputation only. It had
been more than a joy to steal a contract away from Old McDonough at
Vision. He had a score to settle there after all and taking things
away from him piece by piece so far had been a joy. However, now
that he saw her here in person and so wounded, well, some of the
games weren’t as fun anymore.
    Robert sipped his Scotch and shook his head
at his friend. “It wasn’t that bad.”
    “Every eye in the room was on you, your
cheek’s a little pink, and you’re brooding---”
    “Thinking, it’s different,” he objected.
    Oliver rolled his eyes and drained his
Jaeger. “Same thing. She did a number on you. Who the Hell was she?
Former one-night stand?”
    “No, she’s from a rival firm.”
    “Oh, so someone’s jealous about how
capitalism works? Man, let her go. We’ll head out to the Hard Rock
first and hit the scene later.”
    “I…not tonight,” he said, standing up from
the table. “I think I need to apologize to Ms. Shepard. I didn’t
mean to do that.”
    “Looks like you did buddy. Besides, she
seemed to enjoy it, probably why she acted like such a prude. We’re
in the home of strippers, prostitutes, and gorgeous showgirls and
you’re upset what one uptight chick who’s too short thinks of you?
Man, you need to vacation for real and