The Jock Read Online Free PDF Page A

them
until she was fif—no six teen. Definitely sixteen.
    Sam
stilled when a thought struck him. He was already planning to attend Harry's
campaign dinner at the
    University
of Tampa in a couple weeks. Maybe Gwen would be there too. Hell, of course
she'd be there! She and Harry were tight, always had been. Cupcake would never
miss an opportunity to be there for her big brother.
    Sam
smiled when another thought came to him as bold as it pleased.
    Gwen
wasn't a little girl anymore.
    Cupcake
was all grown up.
    Sam's
groin grew heavier. Sweet Jesus, he couldn't wait to get back to Tampa.

Chapter 3
    After
paying her fare, Gwenyth alighted from the inside of the cab and slung her
duffel bag over her shoulder. She walked at a leisurely pace toward Sherry's
Place, a diner she frequented in Culver City whenever she happened to be in the
LA area. The eating establishment's eccentric staff and owner reminded her of
the old episodes of Alice that still occasionally ran on TV. Her
favorite waitress Liz even looked like the woman who played "kiss my
grits" Flo on the situation comedy.
    As
usual, a long line of hungry patrons was waiting on the curbside for seating in
the trendy dive. Groaning, Gwenyth shuffled to the back of the line, preparing
to wait her turn. She wasn't patient by nature, but Sherry's cooking was worth
the inconvenience.
    Crossing
her arms over her chest, she bided her time in the same courteous, stoic manner
as the rest of the patrons. Bored, her mind soon wandered to this morning's
photo shoot at Vantry Sportswear. She had been delighted to call back home
afterwards and let Grandmama know that the first session had gone extremely
well and that the assignment was turning out to be a highly enjoyable
experience.
    "I'm
so glad to hear it, sugar," Verlene had enthused. "How long do you
expect the whole shoot to last?"
    "Perhaps
four more days, a week at best. I'm cataloguing their entire swimwear
collection for women. No matter what, I'll be home in time for Harry's
reception, though." Gwenyth smiled into the phone, her excitement
radiating over the connection. "I'm hoping if I do a good job they'll ask
me back next month to do the same for the men's swimwear line!"
    "I'm
sure they will, sugar. You're more talented than even me," Verlene
admitted with a touch of pride. Gwenyth blushed. "You go too far,
Grandmama. No one is that good."
    Verlene
chuckled. "You are, honey. By the way, did I mention that Sam Trevianni
will be here the day after tomorrow?"
    Gwenyth's
heart rate accelerated. A fact that annoyed her mightily. "So soon?"
She cleared her throat, aware of the fact that her tone had risen a few shrill
notches. "So soon? I thought he was coming into town only for the night of
Harry's reception?"
    Verlene
sounded amused. "Said something on the phone about seeing you in the
paper." She clucked her tongue. "The boy was awfully concerned about
the skirmish you had with Webster Carr. Claims he's gonna kill the man."
    Gwenyth
was disgusted with herself for being so elated by Verlene's proclamation. She
ruthlessly squelched the traitorous feeling of pleasure that arose from the
knowledge that Sam still cared about her. Besides, he'd always thought of her
as a little sister. He'd never viewed her in the same amorous light she'd seen
him in. Gwenyth sighed. Sam's anger was no doubt a manifestation of his
continued, brotherly feelings of affection toward her. Well, she thought
morosely, he could keep them.
    "Uh
huh. So like I was saying, Grandmama, Isabelle Vantry has already been dropping
me a bunch of not so subtle hints that she still needs a photographer for the
men's wear shoot next month." Gwenyth squirmed restlessly in the hotel
room's chair. Whether it was from worrying that Verlene had failed to pick up
the cue and drop the subject of Sam Trevianni altogether or from the fact that
her underwear was wedging up her butt in the worst way, she couldn't say.
"Do you think she might ask me back?"
    Verlene
made an