Hard Charger: Jake & Sophia: A Hot Contemporary Romance Read Online Free Page A

it: the walls looked freshly-painted, the bar countertops and taps all sparkled like new, and the furniture had been upgraded.  “Your place looks good.  I guess your insurance company paid out.”
    “Fuck the insurance companies,” Ray answered, an edge to his voice.  “And the government.  We found another way.”
    “What other way?”
    “You let me know when you need some money, and I’ll tell you.”
    Jake dropped his gaze from the older man’s fiery, combative stare.  For the first time, he noticed that Ray had lost his middle finger on his right hand, from below the knuckle.  “Hey, Ray, when did you lose that finger?”
    “A month or so ago,” Ray bit out, his anger seeming to grow.
    Jake waited for Ray to elaborate, but when the older man simply got up, said his goodbyes, and headed toward the door, he turned to look at Alex.  “What happened to Ray’s finger?”
    Alex took a quick look around the bar, as if confirming no one sat close enough to overhear, and then spoke softly.  “He said he lost it while he was fixing up the roadhouse.  Something about an accident with a saw.”
    “All right.  So, what did you mean by ‘he found another way?’?”
    “You know that the town has seen bad times since the storm,” Alex replied.  “It’s been vulnerable, and there’s always someone willing to take advantage of vulnerability.”
    “Yeah.  So what?”
    “Some people didn’t have insurance, and didn’t get enough from the government.  So they made a deal with the devil.  And as you know, those type of deals come at a steep price.”
    Jake shook his head in confusion.  “What are you talking about?”
    “It’s like From Russia with Love here, man,” Alex replied, his voice even lower.  “They run this town now.”
    “Really?”  Jake looked at his friend and tried to process the information he’d been given.  He didn’t get it.
    “I guess I shouldn’t complain,” Alex continued.  “Without them, Rowdy Ray’s would be nothing but a sand pit.  And Rockport Grove needs Rowdy Ray’s.  We need a place where we can forget about the things bugging us.”
    Jake shook his head.  “Still don’t know what the hell you’re talking about, bro.  You’re part Russian, aren’t you?” he asked.
    “I’m Ukrainian,” Alex muttered.  “Forget I said anything.” He glanced over at the two girls playing pool.  “Let’s just enjoy the show.”
    “Okay by me,” Jake agreed, though in the back of his mind, he kept turning over what Alex had revealed.
    From Russia with Love.
    The band ended its break, picked up their guitars and noisily began strumming a few chords.  Couples lined up to dance.  Toward the front of the bar, the door opened, and two women walked in, bringing with them a gust of chilled, misty air. 
    He and Alex turned to watch them.  It was well past midnight, and Jake was wondering what college campus they’d escaped from.  He couldn’t see their faces—they both had their backs to the booth.  Both girls were tall and slender, and had sleek, silky hair that reached well past the middle of their backs: one a reddish brunette, and the other, blonde.
    “They’re out late,” Jake murmured.  “It’s going to be a bitch for them tomorrow morning, getting up for class.”
    Alex squinted their way, and his expression became almost comically annoyed.  “That’s my sister and her friend.  Christ.  Mom is going to kill her.   Sophia knows she’s not supposed to be out late like this.”
    Jake stilled.  Sophia.  
    All of a sudden he was looking much more closely at the brunette.  She turned around then, and he saw her high, super-model cheekbones, sultry greenish-gray eyes and full pink lips.   He stared at those lips and memories of that night on the beach assaulted him.   That body of hers, quivering violently as she’d rubbed herself against his already rock-hard erection.  The swift determination with which she’d unzipped his pants,