Whats Your Pleasure Read Online Free PDF Page B

in place, went to Mass every day. When she was sixteen, though, the whole neighbourhood had awakened to sounds of sirens as an ambulance and police car pulled up outside of her home. Apparently, Mr. Novack had been beating both Mary Sue and her mother for years, just not where anyone could see the bruises. That night, the ambulance carried away the body of Mrs. Novack and a battered teenage girl while the police car delivered Mr. Novack to a prison cell. Mrs. Novack’s sister had moved into the house to care for Mary Sue, but the poor girl had never been the same.
    “Yeah, I remember. Didn’t she commit suicide a few years back?” Vincent answered.
    “That’s what I heard,” Nathan agreed.
    “So, what does she have to do with Joe?” Vincent asked, already suspecting the answer.
    “Now, Blondie’s only been here, what? Two days? So I could be way off. But I’ve seen her jerk away from folks a few times, almost like she’s afraid a left hook is aimed for her,” Nathan explained.
    Vincent nodded. He’d noticed that, too. He gripped his empty beer bottle. No one, ever, had the right to abuse anyone, at least not in his mind. Catching Joe’s friendly gaze, he nodded and smiled but resolved to keep a close eye on her and protect her if necessary.
    “Got your back on this one, Vince,” Nathan assured him.
    Some of the tension drained from Vincent. He knew he could count on Nathan for anything.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

Chapter Four
     
     
     
    Ladies’ Nightini
     
    1 part gin
    1 part vodka
    1 dash vermouth
     
    Garnish with lemon slice
     
     
    “Vince, I need to ask you for a favour,” Joe said a few weeks later.
    “’Course. What’s on your mind?” Vince answered. You want my body? You want me to bend you over that bar right now and fuck your brains out? Or would your rather I slowly strip your clothes off that luscious body, lick your nipples until you scream then make love to you for the next two hours? Vince shook himself slightly, trying to focus on Joe’s concerned frown.
    “You okay?”
    “Yep. Just a little distracted,” he assured her. Boy, am I! Joe had worked for him for three weeks now, and with each passing day, Vince became more and more fascinated by her. Her quick, efficient movements entranced him. Her easy smile and hearty laugh reflected an open-minded and friendly personality. Vince couldn’t be more infatuated than if he’d still been in high school and Suzy Jones, the head cheerleader, had smiled at him.
    “Okay, well…” She rubbed her hands on her jeans in a gesture that he now recognised as nervousness. “I know we agreed that my living upstairs was just a trial, but I just talked with Renee and, well…”
    Vincent’s heart contracted just a bit. He had completely forgotten that Joe’s living arrangement was temporary. Somehow, her staying so close to the bar—and to him—gave him great comfort.
    “Is there a problem?” he asked.
    “Well, kind of. Renee just got a notice that she has to move out for a few weeks while the landlords remodel the apartment complex. She forgot to tell me about it, so she’s had to rescind her offer. So…” Joe glanced quickly at Vince’s face before focusing on a spot somewhere over his left shoulder. “Would it be cool if, until I get on my feet, I just stayed and paid rent?”
    Vince grinned. God bless landlords who remodelled. “I don’t think that will pose too much of a problem at all. Actually, I kind of like knowing you’re living there,” he admitted.
    “Really? Why is that?” She leaned her elbows on the bar.
    They had been discussing the weekend’s specials and checking supplies. Vince had to admit that her creativity and sharp sense of business impressed him as much if not more than her spectacular pair of breasts.
    “Well,” he began, “I like to know that my favourite bartender is safe, for starters. And, that apartment was kind of sad and lonely just sitting there empty. I like knowing it’s