Froggy Style Read Online Free Page A

you.”
    Pumpkin? Oh, how the mighty villain had fallen. I vowed two things. One, I would never, under any circumstance, call any woman “pumpkin” or any other cutesy pet name. It just wasn’t dignified. I was a prince, after all. And second and more importantly, I would never let RJ live this down.
    “You have a piece of gum stuck to your forehead.” RJ’s bride, Asia, motioned to my noggin. “And is that a boot print on your chin?”
    “Size twelve, baby.” RJ pointed to his combat boot. Asia’s eyes grew hot, and she looked as if she’d rip his clothes off right in the middle of the casino.
    I cleared my throat to gain the happy couple’s attention. When that failed to work I tugged on Asia’s dress. “Why yes, yes, it is a boot print.” I glowered at RJ and then turned to Asia to plead my case. “Your husband kicked me when I was down.”
    “An accident,” RJ declared with a wink.
    “Then he sucker punched me in the kidney.”
    “A love tap, really.”
    I lifted an eyebrow.
    His face flushed red. “You know what I meant.”
    “I ask you.” I waited a beat, my grin widening. “Is that any way to treat a member of the family?”
    “Family?!” RJ asked, his voice rising two octaves.
    “About that,” Asia began.

Chapter 4
    T he look of horror on RJ’s face was worth every sucker punch, every bruise, and every foul word he’d perpetrated on my person. I grinned at my former friend, enjoying the swirl of emotions racing across his face as my cousin, Asia, explained our family history. Rage, disgust, and finally resignation flashed through his eyes.
    The last one was my favorite by far.
    “I thought he was French.” RJ nodded at me, grasping at straws, like the little pig right before the wolf blew his world apart.
    “Wee, wee,” I said with a laugh.
    “Your parents are bad enough.” He blew out a long, tortured sigh. “Now I’m related to this idiot too?”
    I snickered again. Poor RJ. Good old King Maldetto was truly insane, and his wife, well, she made the mad hatter appear stable.
    Asia winced, taking a second to smack me in the head with the palm of her hand. “Stop laughing. It’s not funny,” she said to me and then patted her husband’s arm. “I’m sorry, RJ. I should’ve mentioned it sooner, but . . .”
    “You didn’t want me to know,” he said with a groan.
    She nodded.
    “What am I going to do with you?” He leered, his eyes shining with lust and a wee promise of revenge. Asia shivered prettily, which made me want to gag. What was wrong with these people? RJ tugged Asia close, wrapping his arm around her waist. He leaned down to kiss her.
    “Enough!” I shoved between them. “Any more of this kissy-kissy crap and I won’t be responsible for my actions.”
    “Fine. It’s almost midnight anyway.” She gave RJ a quick kiss on the lips. “I’m going up to bed. To change. See you upstairs.”
    I puckered my own lips.
    “Night, Jean-Michel.” She patted me on the head like a kitten missing a mitten. “Try not to goad my husband into murdering you.” With that parting shot, Asia disappeared into the crowd of gamblers, leaving RJ and me alone at the bar.
    I studied my former friend’s lovesick face, a slow grin filling my own. “Second.”
    “Second what?”
    “Cousins, my friend.” I waggled my sculpted, dark eyebrows. “Asia and I are only second cousins. By marriage. No blood ties to speak of.”
    Bam!
    RJ’s fist connected with my head. For a second time that night, I dropped to the floor, a smile on my bloody lips.
     
    The rest of the evening, or what I can remember of it, went a lot like the first part. I’d wind up on the floor, usually wiping away a copious amount of blood; yet with each punch, our strained friendship healed a bit.
    Or so I thought.
    “Ow!” I yelped as RJ smashed his fist into my face yet again. Not that I felt it. I’d passed the point of feeling anything an hour ago. Rubbing my jaw, I asked, “Are we even yet?”
    RJ