Game for Marriage Read Online Free Page B

I’m at. I’m sure you did, too.”
    “I did.” She liked that he understood everything wasn’t just handed to her. Not that she’d been handed a gold mine, what with the expenses she had to keep up with to maintain the studio. But her mom certainly thought she’d been spoiled. Louisa Harper had always been jealous of Sheridan’s relationship with her grandmother. Whereas her mom had been the wild child who never wanted to listen to her parents, Sheridan had worshipped the ground her grandma walked on.
    And her dad had never been in the picture, that was for sure. When it came to the women in the Harper family, men just didn’t stick.
    The waitress appeared with their drinks. “Need anything else? Appetizers, maybe another beer just in case?” she asked, looking as if she wanted to linger.
    Jared reached behind him, pulling out a slender black leather wallet and withdrawing a crisp one hundred dollar bill. “I’ll tip you now if you make sure no one disturbs us the rest of the night.”
    The woman’s eyes widened and she snatched the money from Jared’s fingers. “Will do. Have a good night,” she said before she scurried away.
    Sheridan gaped at him. “Did you just pay her off?”
    Drinking his beer, he shrugged. “It worked, right?”
    “Yeah, but…” She clamped her lips shut when one of those million dollar hands settled over hers. The warmth of his touch sent a scattering of tingles across her skin, and her breath lodged in her throat when his thumb skimmed across the top of her hand.
    “I don’t want anyone bothering us,” he said, his voice low. “I’m trying to get to know you better without a bunch of interruptions.”
    “Don’t like the waitress staring at you like you’re a god?” She was incredibly conscious of his hand still on hers, the way he slowly stroked her with his thumb, like he was trying to hypnotize her.
    It worked.
    He smirked, the sight of it sending a zing straight to all of her feminine parts. “I’d rather you stare at me like I’m a god.”
    …
    Just one glass of wine in and Sheridan was a giggly, far-too-easygoing female with a come-hither smile and bedroom eyes. Extra flirty, with how she occasionally flipped her hair over her shoulder, exposing her neck, which he wanted to kiss. Lick. How she constantly touched his arm, her delicate fingers dancing on his skin, driving him wild, making his blood heat.
    They’d talked. They’d flirted. She was enthusiastic about her art but worried at the same time. He could tell, but he also already knew from what Harvey had told him earlier. She didn’t outright say she was broke but she hinted at it. Sounded like she didn’t have the best time growing up, either, with a neglectful mom and absent father.
    Jared could relate.
    They’d played true confessions. He confessed he didn’t remember his mom and his dad had worked a lot. How sometimes he wondered if his life would’ve turned out differently if he had his mother around. Crazy, how Sheridan had said the exact same thing about her father.
    He liked her. She had a sexy laugh, flashing golden brown eyes and hair he wanted to bury his hands in.
    More than anything, he flat-out wanted her. Wanted to take her somewhere, anywhere, and just…be with her. Alone. Kiss her, touch her, strip her naked, search her soft skin with his hands and lips…
    “Should I have another glass of wine? Probably not, huh.” She leaned into him, her mouth close to his ear, her breasts nestled against his side, and he closed his eyes for the briefest moment. Fought the urge to haul her into him and crush her mouth with his.
    “I’m positive you’ve had enough.” His voice was strained, as was the front of his jeans. He looked at her, the scent of her wrapped around him, fragrant and sweet, and he breathed deep, savoring it.
    She nodded, her gaze dropping to his mouth. Looking at him like she wanted to kiss him. “I should probably go.”
    He glanced at his watch. It was past eleven.