Edge of Disaster Read Online Free Page A

came.  So now you owe me and I’d like to collect in the form of a date.”
    “No!” I said it so fast and forceful, he looked at me intently.  I backpedaled. “I didn’t mean it that way it sounded.  Forgive me and my terrible manners.  What I should’ve said was I don’t date.  So that kind of repayment isn’t possible.”
    “Why don’t you date?”
    I sighed and squeezed my eyes shut.  “It’s really a long story. I don’t want to bore you.”
    “You could never bore me and I have all night long.”
    I looked at him and he stood there in all his gorgeousness expecting me to give him an answer, which of course would never happen.
    “I’m sorry but I’d rather not discuss it.”
    “Well then, what do you propose? You owe me but you refuse to pay.”
    He had me there.
    Shit! How do I get myself into these messes?
    “How about this? I was on my way to have a drink at the Golden Nugget.  Will you join me?”
    “I’d like that very much.”
    Off we went, he the lovely gentleman and me, the half-slut, running from Beavis.

 
     
     
    CHAPTER FOUR
     
     
    We got to the entrance of the Golden Nugget and the place was packed.
    “Can I talk you into a different spot. One where we can hear each other speak?” he asked.
    Oh no! This is so not good. He is too perfect and me...I’m too fucked up and scared to even think about this. I could just fall into those eyes though and melt. Shit, I’m gonna regret this, I just know it.
    “Okay.”  One word. Four letters. And my heart rate hit two hundred.
    We headed around the corner to another place.  He put my hand in the crook of his arm and made me walk on the inside of the sidewalk. We arrived at a much more intimate looking place called Mystic and he opened the door and ushered me inside.  There was an empty booth in the back of the room so that’s where we headed.
    The waitress was there in seconds, ready to make us less thirsty.
    “What would you like Alexia?” The rich timbre of his voice had me leaning toward him, wanting more.
    I didn’t think a beer would be appropriate, so I ordered a chardonnay.
    “The house?” the waitress wanted to know.
    I was getting ready to say that was fine when Pearce interrupted and said, “Bring her a glass of the Hanzell Chardonnay.”
    “Sir, we don’t have that by the glass.”
    “Then bring a bottle. Make sure it’s appropriately chilled to fifty degrees. And bring me a Laphroaig 18 neat please.”
    Shit! Hanzell Chardonnay and Laphroaig 18...I am so out of my element here.
    “Right away sir.”
    “I didn’t take you for a Scotch drinker,” I said.
    “No? Tell me why.”
    “You were so fussy about the food I just figured you’d like something less complex.”
    He laughed.  “It was an act to get you to pay more attention to me,” he confessed.
    I looked at him and rolled my eyes.  I think I’d figured that out already.
    The waitress returned with our drink order.  She uncorked the bottle of wine and poured a sample in the glass, waiting for Pearce to taste it.  He looked at her in annoyance and said, “The lady should be tasting it.  She’s the one drinking it.”
    “Yes sir, pardon me.” She kept ogling him and I couldn’t blame her.  He was oh so easy on the eyes.
    I took a sip and the wine was heavenly. Rich and creamy with hints of pear, honeydew and cloves, it was perfectly delightful.
    “Mmm. This is totally delicious.”
    “I thought you’d enjoy it.  If you like chards that is.”
    “What? You’re not a chard fan?”
    “No, I like them. I was just saying that.  So tell me more about the beautiful Alexia.”
    I stiffened. This was so not what I wanted to do. The last thing I wanted was to focus on me.  What would I say? Oh, right, I’m a slut that likes to do drugs.  I rubbed my hands on my legs, and then fisted them, feeling my nails biting into my palms.
    “There’s really not much to tell,” I said stiffly.
    “Okaaay.  I get it. You don’t want to talk