Laws of Attraction Read Online Free Page A

path. “Stick around, hottie. I’m not looking for lifelong commitment, just a quickie in the john.”
    She swallowed a surge of bile. Why was he still pursuing her? Was Valerie right, and some men just couldn’t resist a challenge? Maybe Slick was so used to getting his own way his overinflated ego couldn’t comprehend refusal.
    Or maybe, the man who’d cornered her sensed her heart fluttering like a rabbit’s beneath the façade of bravado.
    She raised her chin. She was nobody’s prey. Nobody’s victim. “Back off. I am not interested.”
    “You cock-teasers flirt and flash the goods, and then say no …” His mouth twisted and he grabbed her arm. “When you really mean yes .”
    Adrenaline rocketed through Mia’s system. She popped her elbow into his solar plexus, then shoved him, hard. He staggered into the wall and she darted around him, sprinting down the dark, curving hallway.
    Seconds later, determined footsteps stalked behind her.
    She scrabbled in her purse, snatched out the pepper spray. Nobody was going to bully her.
    Never again .
    Insistent fingers gripped her shoulder. “Hey—”
    Mia whirled and squirted pepper spray into her assailant’s face, at the same time ramming her knee into his groin. When he doubled over choking and gasping, she pivoted and sprinted to the main lounge. Skidding around the final corner, she collided with another male body and automatically struck out.
    “Whoa!” Jared Ryan’s voice said into her ear as he caught her. “Mia? What’s wrong?”
    She recoiled. “Nothing,” she panted.
    He raked back tousled chestnut hair. “Don’t blow smoke at me, Mia. What’s up?”
    “A man…grabbed me,” she reluctantly admitted.
    His eyes narrowed. “Where is the bastard?”
    “Last I saw, the corridor by the restrooms.”
    “You okay, sweetheart?”
    She managed a shaky nod.
    “Give me a description of him.”
    Mia wrapped her arms around herself, willing her trembling to stop. She sucked in a deep breath. Get it together. You didn’t let the ratbag win .
    “He’s tall, blond, wearing a black designer suit … and bent over wheezing for breath. And probably singing soprano about now.”
    The corner of Jared’s mobile mouth quirked. “Ten-four. Gassed and nailed in the nuts.” He gave her another assessing look. “Sure you’re all right?”
    “Ye—” She stared behind him in disbelief.
    Schuyler sauntered by, completely unscathed, his arm around a busty redhead. The arrogant moron rubbed his sternum and gave her a smarmy smirk as they passed. “Your loss, bitch.”
    Horror careened through her. “ Oh no ! I nuked the wrong guy!” Mia turned and pelted around the corner. Her gaze spun down the dim corridor.
    Empty.
    Reaching the logical conclusion, she charged through the door into the Men’s Room. Sure enough, a coughing, choking guy had his head in the sink and was splashing water on his face. She caught a glimpse of long legs and firmly-muscled buns hugged by black fabric.
    Before she had time to appreciate the view, a distinguished-looking businessman standing at one of the urinals whipped his startled gaze in her direction. “Do you mind ?”
    Heat flooded her face. She whirled, turning her back on both occupants. “I’m so sorry.”
    The man at the urinal harrumphed. “I should think so.”
    “I wasn’t talking to you, I was talking to him.”
    Jared burst through the door, noted the dude gagging over the sink and snorted. “Ah, I recognize that refrain.”
    Valerie hurried inside. “What did you do this time, Mia?”
    “For Pete’s sake, what is this, a circus?” the man at the urinal shouted. “I should charge admission.”
    “You’d never get in.” Mia didn’t turn around, addressing her comment to the ceiling. “You’re supposed to show your ticket, not your stub.”
    Mr. Head-In-The-Sink choked out a strangled laugh.
    “Are you okay?” she called.
    “Mmmph,” he groaned.
    “There was this sleazy, aggressive stockbroker