Wicked Destiny Read Online Free PDF Page B

him up and threw him out. Literally. Then you told him not to come back around. Which, by the way, I am very thankful for, because my checking account was rapidly depleting. I thought I was going to have to cancel our shopping day this week.”
    I laughed. I gave Shay a hug and she held on tightly. It scared me, so I hesitated a little when letting go, but I hugged her just as tight. Shay was a rock, but every now and then a rock broke away a little at a time. She was ready to settle down and create a new chapter and I knew that even without her having to say anything. I think she was more worried about what would happen to me if she found someone she really could spend the rest of her life with. All I knew was that whoever he was, he’d better treat her right. The hug turned out to be short-lived when Jared cleared his voice right behind us.
    “Alright , break it up. As much as I would love to watch this, I need to get your registers. Oh, and Sloane, don’t run off before I speak to you.”
    Irritation filled my eyes and Shay saw it too , so she tugged at my hair before I answered him, “Can’t we do this tomorrow? It’s late as it is.” 
    “No , I seriously need to talk to you.”
    “Fine.” L ooking at Shay, I knew she could read me like a book. I gave her that ‘help me’ plea and man did she run with it.
    “Sloane has to give me a ride , Jared.”
    “No , she doesn’t. Dale and Mindy are waiting on you outside.” He didn’t even look at her.
    “Well , I tried. Will you grab my tips for me?” She poked out her pouty lips.
    “Yea h, yeah, yeah. Go and see if Dale will look around your place before he drops you off.”
    She gave me another quick hug good-bye and I watched her leave. I knew Dale and Mindy would make sure she got home safe. Looking around the club, there were now only two bar backs, one bouncer, and a couple of waitresses left to clean up while Jared did his nightly countdown. Sitting there waiting, I sat on the VIP leather sofa and laid my head back with my eyes closed. Reluctantly, I thought of Viktor. His smile tormented me; it was just too inviting and alluring. Maybe it was a good thing that I didn’t see him leave with the girl. I hardly knew the man and here I was just obsessing over him. What would tomorrow be like when I saw him?  Would there be awkwardness between us? Random thoughts kept pouring into my head, and then suddenly I felt a body sinking into the sofa next to me and the moment of interrogating began.
    “What’s the deal with you and that guy?”
    “Jared, first explain to me why it’s any of your business.”
    “Come on , Sloane. You know how I feel about you. You can’t look at me and say you weren’t considering us before opening that door.”
    “You are one hundred percent correct. I did consider it. And then it hit me—you can’t be alone for one night. Jared, it’s just best that this,” I said, waving my hands between us, “remains whatever the hell it is, because it would never work out in the end.”
    “What do you mean? You’d quit on me?”
    I laughed at the thought of me quitting . “No, silly rabbit. I meant you’d leave to get away from me, and this club wouldn’t run right without you. Before you get upset, this is a compliment. I think we should just remain friends.”
    “ See, all that cockiness is what drives me crazy.”
    With that , he leaned in and kissed me, and for some odd reason I didn’t pull away, either.  Once he realized I’d given in and wasn’t running away, I felt both his hands caress my face. It was passionate and it felt right, well, at that moment anyway. While sitting on the sofa in our moment together, not caring who was there to witness it all, we still didn’t stop after hearing the words, “I quit,” being yelled, either. I was sure it was his entertainment from earlier. The kiss eventually had to end and I heard someone clearing their throat. I looked up the same moment Jared did. There he was,