Bound and Determined Read Online Free

just because you know I’m interested. The fact that you’re clamming up like this means that you’re attracted to him and you’re fighting it.”
    Damn. “There are times when it’s really annoying that you know me so well.”
    Thea smirked, quite pleased with herself. “I know you better than you know yourself.”
    “You probably do. But I still don’t want to talk about him.”
    “You don’t want to talk about men, period. You can’t assume every guy you meet is the same kind of cheating shithead as Davis.” Thea reached for the pepper shaker.
    Asia gestured roundly with her fork. “I know that, but it’s not like the jerks have ‘shithead supremo, avoid at all costs’ tattooed on their foreheads. There’s no way to tell the good guys from the bad.”
    And that terrified Asia. Her instincts when it came to men sucked. She was convinced it was genetic. All the women in her family picked losers, as evidenced by the fact that she’d never known her father or grandfather.
    Thea broke into her thoughts. “Well, no. You have to get to know them better. That’s why we have this little ritual called dating. You may have heard of it.” Thea laid the sarcasm on thick.
    Asia ignored it. “But by the time you get to know them, it’s too late. You’re in too deep and you end up with your heart ripped to shreds.”
    And she should know. Hers had been shattered when she found her fiancé screwing his secretary in their bed just three weeks before the wedding. The whole thing had been like some horrific cliché. She could still picture the unrepentant smirk on his face when instead of begging Asia for forgiveness, he’d invited her to join them. She only wished the vase she’d thrown at his head had actually hit him instead of smashing to smithereens against the headboard.
    Lexi, who’d been quietly listening to their exchange, spoke up. “But if you don’t try again with someone new, the jerk wins. He’s still affecting your life, controlling you, even though he’s not around.”
    Asia stilled. She’d never thought of it that way before. Still, was it worth risking your heart just to stick it to someone else?
    “Lexi’s right. Are you really going to let what Davis did ruin the rest of your life? Really? ”
    Put like that it sounded almost dumb, except… “That’s not the way it is. That’s not what I’m doing. I’m just protecting myself from getting hurt again. That’s my choice.”
    Thea snorted. “Are you listening to yourself here? By shutting down that part of your life you’re continuing to make Davis a huge part of it.”
    “No, I’m not.”
    Lexi interjected. “In point of fact, you are.”
    Asia glared at the two of them. “You’re both traitors. And you’re ganging up on me. I was just robbed and tied up, the least you could do is baby me a bit.”
    “For the robbery, you need babying. For the rest of it, you need a kick in the pants. Right now, the kicking part is winning. We’ll baby you afterwards. Ooh, a crispy one.” Thea stole an extra-crispy fry off Asia’s plate.
    Asia didn’t even bat an eye. After twenty-five years, she was used to Thea pinching food off her plate. “Gee, thanks for the understanding.”
    Lexi forked a couple of fries and dipped them into her ketchup. “Thea’s right. I didn’t know you before what happened with Davis, but I’ve often worried that you shut yourself off too much.”
    Thea snorted. “That’s an understatement. Look, you’ve had your little wallow. Had plenty of time to lick your wounds and hide from the world. I think this interest you have in Marcus is healthy. It’s a sign that it’s time for you to move on.”
    Lexi nodded. “She’s right.”
    Asia heartily disagreed but didn’t comment.
    Thea continued, “Even if you’re not ready for a relationship, after two years you must be ready for some down-and-dirty sex. And who better to give it to you than Forsythia Falls’ very own local playboy. You’d know exactly