Injury Read Online Free Page A

gaze followed the girls as
they wove around the other dancers. Almost all eyes were on them, and they made
a gorgeous pair. Both young women wore short dresses that hugged their bodies.
Their spike heels threw them off balance, giving a sexy sashay to their hips.
    They never glanced at him, which was typical. To Cope’s
chagrin, Dani remained oblivious to his existence if she wasn’t telling him
where she wanted to go. He suspected she didn’t even remember his real name
half the time though he’d helped her up to her apartment often enough after a
night of hard partying.
    At least this night looked tame compared to the usual antics
the girls got up to. But since he’d had to rein in an attraction to her, had
behaved himself, the least she could do was acknowledge he existed. He knew he
wasn’t her type, which was anyone old enough to be her father. Cope figured
he’d never be in the running whether he worked for her or not. He was only four
or five years older than she was.
    A guy standing on the sidelines, swaying drunk, leered at
Dani. Cope frowned. In here, a place frequented by celebrities, no one pestered
her for an autograph. The management frowned on it, and anyone harassing the
patrons would get ejected. Outside she was fair game, and Cope had helped her
dodge the reporters and fans vying for her attention when they’d first arrived.
There had been far more of them than usual since the news of her mother’s
arrest had broken. He’d figured it would be a tame night once they’d gotten
inside.
    This guy looked like trouble though, and Cope figured he’d
need to keep a close eye on him. Guys like that might try anything, including
slipping her a roofie . The creep sidled closer to
Dani and Liz.
    Tan, wearing a tight-fitting black T-shirt and cargo pants,
the letch crept nearer. One hand swept down to block his crotch from her view
the closer he got to her. The jerk was trying to conceal the hard-on he
sported.
    Casually, Cope took a sip of his coffee without taking his
eyes off Creepy Guy. Cope would wait and see Dani’s reaction to the douche
before interfering. Whatever Cope’s opinion of the guys Dani dated, it wasn’t
his right to interfere if she wanted the attention. After all, she’d dated that
sleazebag Greg Henderson for months, and Cope could only stand back and watch.
It had been like Bambi versus King Kong, and Cope had wanted to slug that
fucking ape on more than one occasion. Instead, he’d had to drive them around
and call the son-of-a-bitch “Mr.”
    Creepy Guy had arrived at his target and tapped Dani on the
shoulder. His lips moved, then Dani’s as she replied to him, but she shook her
head while she spoke, so that was good. The guy took her hand then, and Cope
sat up straight, itching to jump over there.
    Dani pulled away, again saying something and shaking her
head. When the guy put his arm around her, Cope was off his barstool and at her
side before Dani or Creepy Guy could make any other move.
    “Is this guy bothering you, Miss Grayson?” Cope had to shout
to be heard. His voice must have reached Dani loud and clear, because she threw
Cope a relieved glance and nodded.
    “You need to back off,” Cope shouted, and he glared daggers
at the arm around Dani.
    Creepy Guy scowled and looked at Dani, who stepped away and
moved closer to Cope. Cope put his arm around both Dani and Liz and drew them
away from the dance floor, Creepy Guy glaring after them.
    “You okay?” Cope looked from Dani to Liz.
    They both nodded and smiled at him.
    “Ready to leave?” He guided them toward the exit as he
talked.
    Dani checked the time and glanced at Liz. “Just after
midnight. I don’t mind packing it in.”
    Liz agreed, and Dani looked at Cope again. “Thanks for your
help. Liz is coming to my place, so we can go straight there.”
    The women wanted to hit the bathroom first, so Cope waited
for them, spending the time scanning the club for Creepy Guy. He huddled with
two of his buddies on