Layers Peeled Read Online Free Page A

girl spread her legs apart and
tilted her ass for him to dig his fingers into, and I pressed my
knees together. What was going on with these sexual urges of mine?
With the hormones roaming my body, the need to see my man swelled
deep in my belly at the mere thought of Tristan.
    “They’re hot,
aren’t they?” Laura leaned in, her pink scarf tickling my arm.
    “Shit, yeah.
How do you get that job?”
    “You should
ask your boss,” she winked. “Although I think you have a better
deal screwing him.”
    “Ah, come on.
You know it’s not like that.”
    “And you’re so
preoccupied you’ve forgotten when I tease. What’s on your mind,
Allie?”
    “I just miss
him.”
    “That
much?”
    “Yeah, that
much.”
    “Do you think
you two are getting serious?”
    Boy, if she
only knew!
    “I think
so.”
    “Well, then
all the more reason to enjoy yourself tonight before he knocks you
up and you’re up to here in diapers.” She motioned with her hand to
her chin.
    Laura had no
clue how good she was. Or did she know? No, that wasn’t possible.
No one knew, and I wouldn’t tell her before we broke the news to
the rest of our family.
    We sat at the
bar and Laura ordered a round of tequilas. Shit! I couldn’t
drink my shot; but if I refused the tequila, my drink of choice,
she’d definitely know something was up. My gaze darted to the
barman who kindly smiled my way and then winked.
    What the heck
was that all about? Is he flirting?
    He set the
glasses, one in front of each of us. Laura pulled out a bill to
pay, but the barman said, “It’s on the house.”
    “Wow, thanks,
handsome.”
    Since when did
that happen? Did Tristan know his employees were offering drinks on
the house? Or had he set this up? I narrowed my brows and swung
around on the stool, looking for a light brown head streaked with
blond, but couldn’t see him. Of course I couldn’t. Tristan was only
seen when he wanted to be. Besides, he was in Washington. On a
night when I was out with the girls, all I wanted was to see him.
Just a peek at his gorgeous scarred lip and taut body would be
enough.
    Not!
    “Come on,
Allie, cheers!” Laura bumped my shoulder with hers as she held up
the shot. I took mine between my fingers, wondering how I could get
away with this. If I dropped it by accident, pretended the glass
slipped, perhaps I could buy some time. But there was no way I was
ready to spill my guts about the pregnancy to any of my friends.
Wasn’t there a rule you were supposed to wait until the first
trimester passed?
    Lifting the
glass to my mouth, I took a whiff. But the usual crisp smell of
alcohol wasn’t there. Had they watered it down? I looked to the
barman, who winked at me again and gently nodded to go ahead and
drink. I took another sniff. This was not tequila - and this
couldn’t be a coincidence. Tristan had set this up! Boy, was he
ever good! I threw the shot of water, slightly sweetened with
caramel, and smiled back at the waiter.
    “You’re
flirting so quickly? You already have a boy toy, and this was
supposed to be a girl’s night out,” Laura accused.
    “Oh, please.
I’m not flirting. Just being polite.”
    She rolled her
eyes, “Allie, relax. I’m kidding. But if you think I’m not scoring
tonight, then you’ve invited the wrong friend.”
    “Amen.” Jess
raised another shot glass to her lips.
    She was the
prettiest bombshell I’d ever seen. The stereotypical Barbie doll
with the unconventional curves, blonde locks, and luscious lips men
died for. Except Jess wasn’t the dumb bimbo her first impression
implied. And even with her looks, just as for any rookie on the
force, the schedule she worked left her barely any time to have
fun. I couldn’t blame her for wanting a fling or two, especially in
a nightclub oozing sexy, available guys. Imagining him in that cage
just wasn’t enough anymore.
    “Oh, my God!
Girls, hands off, he’s all mine.” Jess stared past me with her
mouth open. I don’t think she even knew