Emerald (Steele Investigations) Read Online Free Page A

considering I was out of options, I released my bottom lip, took
a deep breath and sat down in the seat.  As I was sitting I made sure to move
in a couple of inches away from Travis, just in case.   Then I sat
quietly, listening to the conversations around the table.  Elliott and the boys
(minus Tom) were talking about a football game and Tom, Rae and myself were
discussing a new line that was set to be released by a very controversial
reality TV star turned designer.  I watched her show numerous times and she
didn’t strike me as, one, a nice person, two, a stylish person, three, a
designer of anything other than, “how to live your life dramatically,” and
four, the type of person people would actually be proud to be associated with. 
Still, Rae told us she had seen her fashion show a couple of months back and
was very impressed - so impressed she was going to stock some of the range, and
considering the publicity and the hype surrounding the actress/designer, it was
sure to be a hit. 
    “When she was on “Hot or Not,” all the publicity seemed to
be bad.  Although, her style on the show was always amazing, but I just assumed
she had stylists coordinating her wardrobe.” I tell them
    “We all know, any publicity is good publicity.  Doin’
that show, she got so much exposure from magazines, TV and online blog sites,
I’m tellin’ ya, her clothin’ line is gonna go through the roof!”  This comes
from Tom
    “I agree.  When I first watched the TV show, I was sure she
had a stylist working on her outfits, and then I went and watched the fashion
show. WOW.  Her line is amazing, the clothes are so well made and the attention
to detail is out of this world.  She’s done a great job and I think the
clothing will sell well.  I read an interview the other day that she had given
and she was saying that she’d look at going in to shoes and accessories if the
launch of her clothing went well.  I’m excited about it,” Rae says, well,
excitedly.
    “Well then, I can’t wait to check it out when it comes in. 
How long until the launch date?” I ask
    “I think it comes out this summer,” Rae answers
    “Imma thinkin’ maybe I should buy me some of her clothes
when they hit the store.  Figure I can get me some publicity,” Tom winks.
    Rae and I burst into laughter.
    “I can just see you on the front page of People Magazine ,strutting your stuff in a baby pink velour tracksuit, Tom,” Rae giggles
    “Ghetto chick, Girlfriend,” he says, snapping his fingers
and jerking his head from side to side.  “Might get me a man,” he continues as
he raises his eyebrows suggestively.
    I cover my mouth to contain the laughter.  It doesn’t work,
but it does muffle it some.  The boys swing their hands to look at us. 
Elliott’s eyebrows are raised, questioningly at Rae, Travis’ lip is twitching
(which like everything else about him, is drool worthy), his eyes on me, the
two other guys both have amused looks on their faces as they look from Tom to
Rae to Me.
    “What?” Rae snaps
    “Babe,” is Elliott’s only reply.  Rae seems to get it,
because she grins at him, shrugs her shoulders and looks back to me and Tom.
    “Who are the two badasses sitting with us, I know I’ve seen
them before but I don’t know their names?” I whisper to Rae
    She turns to me shocked.  “Oh my God, Jemma, I’m so rude.  I
didn’t even think to introduce you.  I thought you already meet them, sorry,”
she winces.
    “Don’t worry about it, but I think it’s best if I know their
names, that way I can stop thinking of them as Badass Mother One and Badass
Mother Two,” I laugh
    “Yeah, I agree.”
    Thinking she’s just going to tell me their names, which is
what I want her to, I’m shocked when she loudly says across the table, “Theo,
Clint, I’d like to officially introduce you to Jemma.  Jemma, this is Theo and
Clint.”
    Ho -ly shit! Geezus this is mortifyingly embarrassing.  With
a face that I’m