As Bad As Can Be Read Online Free Page A

To buy time, she picked up her tray. “Let me go get you that beer,” she said, and turned for the bar.
    It was something worth thinking about, that he’d thrown her off her stride. It wasn’t just the good looks—she’d had plenty of handsome men come on to her. There was something about him, some command of his surroundings that made him far more compelling than the usual pretty face. To allow her system time to settle, she stopped for a few more orders on her way in.
    When she returned with his beer, he still sat loose and relaxed, observing his surroundings with an almost purposeful air.
    â€œMiss me?” she asked teasingly.
    â€œEvery second was an eternity,” he said dryly.
    Mallory laughed. “I’ll bet.”
    â€œHear any good lines on the way back?”
    Her pulse jumped. She set a napkin down on the little shelf and placed the beer on top. “I’m at work, sugar. We don’t date customers.” On the other hand, she was beginning to wonder if it wasn’t time to reevaluate that policy. She stared at his mouth wondering how it tasted.
    â€œSo you’re allowed to tease but not to close on the deal?” he asked in amusement, putting the mouth of the bottle to his lips to take a drink. “You ought to at least come up with a way to let your customers down easy, encourage them a little so you get a lasting draw.”
    Mallory raised a brow. “And are you looking for encouragement? That’ll be three dollars, by the way.”
    â€œI’m probably not your target clientele, but yeah,” he said, pulling out his wallet.
    It was a challenge. Mallory gave him a smoky look. “So you don’t think I can provide a lasting draw?” She was rewarded when his eyes darkened.
    â€œI get the feeling you can pretty much do anything you want to do,” he said, holding her gaze until she felt something in her begin to heat and soften. “Then again, I haven’t seen you up on the bar.”
    â€œOh, you haven’t seen anything like me.” The words were a challenge, the tone a promise.
    He looked at her. “You’re right. I haven’t. For you, I’d make an exception and stay. That’s why you should polish up your shut-down line. Teasing is a tricky business. Sometimes people expect you to finish what you start.” He took another drink.
    â€œI never start anything I’m not prepared to finish,” she said coolly.
    He tipped his head to one side and eyed her. “Now, that’s a thought that’ll keep me awake tonight.”
    â€œOn the other hand, flirting is just flirting. It doesn’t mean I’m starting anything.”
    â€œThat’s a pity. And here I was just going to buy another beer,” he said.
    Her lips twitched. “And it doesn’t mean I’m not. You’ll just have to buy that beer and see how well I follow policy. Or buy two,” she said, remembering her promise to herself.
    â€œAnd then do I get to see you dance?”
    â€œI don’t dance,” she said automatically.
    He finished his beer and set it down on her tray. “Can’t or won’t?”
    â€œDon’t.”
    â€œReally? You don’t strike me as the type who would be afraid to be up in front of a crowd.”
    â€œI’m not afraid.”
    â€œOf course not.”
    â€œGet that idea out of your head.”
    â€œI don’t doubt you,” he said agreeably. His smile grew wider.
    Was that condescension she saw? “I should take care of the other customers,” she said at last. “Are you in for another beer?”
    â€œSure.” He eyed her assessingly. “I figure I’ll stick around to see if you get up there. Since you’re not scared.”
    Recklessness snatched at her control, but she held on. Mallory turned without a word and went back behind the bar. Normally the routine of drawing beers and pouring drinks soothed her,