Love Takes Time Read Online Free Page A

disappeared into the crowd, as well.
    â€œMy. My. My. Aren’t you popular with the Hinton men,” an attractive woman in a stunning aqua-blue gown whispered. “If you were a little older, I’m willing to bet half the eligible women here would be plotting to scratch your eyes out.”
    Alyssa giggled, liking the idea of women being jealous of her. Especially those who thought they actually had a chance with her man. “They’re welcome to try,” she whispered back.
    It was the woman’s turn to giggle. “I like you, little girl. You have spunk.”
    It wasn’t spunk, Alyssa knew. She had a plan.

Chapter 1
    The Dollhouse, Atlanta, Georgia
    T his was the last place Quentin wanted to be.
    The alcohol wasn’t so bad. It was the loud crowd and his obnoxious friends that were grating on his nerves, a first since he’d dedicated most of his life to partying and seducing beautiful women. Now he was off his game.
    Way off.
    â€œYou sorry son of a bitch!” Some guy who didn’t like Quentin putting the moves on his girl grabbed Quentin’s shoulder and spun him around and then crashed his fist solidly against his jaw.
    Pain exploded in Quentin’s head as he crumpledto the floor. The sad part was that he welcomed it. Anything was better than the frosty numbness of the past three days.
    â€œC’mon. Get up so I can kick your ass!” the man shouted, his breath strong enough to singe his nose hairs.
    Q’s friends parted like the Red Sea while lap dancers screeched and ran out of the way to avoid the fight.
    â€œGet up!”
    â€œC’mon, man. Is all this worth it?” Q struggled to his feet. He casually dusted himself off, and then was careful not to meet anyone’s eyes as he licked the trickle of blood from the corner of his lips. Around him, friends and strangers gawked and waited to see what would happen next. He rather hoped the next blow would render him unconscious for a few days. “The chick wasn’t even all that good-looking.”
    â€œOh, you got jokes.” The man launched toward Q, but thankfully his best friend, and co-Dollhouse owner, Xavier King, jumped into the mix.
    â€œWhoa. Whoa. I just finished remodeling the place. Y’all want to fight, take it to Caesar’s Palace or something.”
    Xavier, a former heavyweight champion with arms that felt like steel bands, successfully dragged the drunkard back a few inches from Quentin’s cowed position on the floor. “Let it go. Let it go.”
    Q’s laugh rumbled, but the notes were depressingly sad. “Nah. Nah. Bring it on. I can take him.”
    It was Q’s cockiness that goaded the man’s temper and gave him the strength of ten men to break Xavier’s hold. Once he got loose all hell broke loose. There were plenty of screams. Friends and strangers jumped in for no reason at all. Bouncers and security guards tangled and before anyone knew it, there were gunshots popping off in the club.
    Q experienced firsthand what it was like to be a defenseless punching bag while receiving blow after blow. The man was really trying his best to permanently rearrange Quentin’s face, and was doing a damn good job of it, too. To his utter dismay, it took a few dozen solid punches before a black curtain closed over this hellish reality. When he finally woke, a stern-looking Hispanic man crouched over him flashing a penlight into his eyes, which caused a near explosion in the back of his head.
    He croaked out a miserable groan and raised an arm up to shield his eyes. “What the hell, man? Are you trying to kill me?”
    â€œLooks like he’s gonna live,” the man’s heavily accented voice announced.
    It should have been good news, but Quentin didn’t receive it as such. In fact, it was the worst news he could have received.
    â€œSir, how are you feeling? We have an ambulance outside. Would you like to go to the