One Night of Scandal Read Online Free Page A

a straight answer. It’s good to know you like me ‘just fine.’”
    Gritting her teeth, she climbed the first step to the stoop, but Reed grabbed hold of her hand and tugged her back. “Darcy…” His voice came out raspy. “Look…I really do like you.”
    She shifted her head, locking her gaze with his. “You do?”
    “Yeah. I think you’re pretty damn awesome, actually. But…”
    It suddenly became hard to breathe. “But what?”
    His hand was warm against her skin, his thumb sweeping a light caress over her wrist. “But I…” Torment creased his face. “I have to act the way I do, okay? It’s the only way for me to—” A strangled noise popped out of his mouth. “Forget it.”
    “Reed—”
    “I’ve gotta go,” he interrupted, keeping his gaze downcast. “Make sure to lock your door the second you get upstairs.”
    Before she could open her mouth to protest, he was gone.
    Darcy stared at his retreating back in disbelief, tempted to run after him and demand he finish that cryptic sentence.
    It’s the only way for me to…
    To what, damn it?
    She watched as his long strides briskly ate up the sidewalk, and once he’d fully disappeared from view, she just stared at the empty street, unable to control the pounding of her heart.
    What had just happened? If Reed were anyone else, she might think he’d almost admitted to having a thing for her, except the man had never shown even a smidgen of interest in her in the past.
    The logical part of her insisted that she’d misinterpreted this whole night from start to finish, but Reed’s enigmatic behavior lingered in her mind and followed her all the way up to her apartment.
    And haunted her for the rest of the night.
    …
    Reed showed up at the club earlier than usual the next evening. Sin opened at seven o’clock, but he was in his office by six, hoping that the mountain of paperwork on his desk would distract him from thoughts of Darcy.
    Christ, he’d come so close last night to telling her how he felt about her. Standing outside her building, with those big blue eyes focused earnestly on his face, he’d nearly spilled his guts. Blurted out just how badly he wanted to kiss her. Confessed to all those nights he’d lain awake thinking about her. Admitted that seeing her with AJ triggered a burst of crushing jealousy he’d never experienced before.
    But at the last second, he’d swallowed the confession, knowing it was one he could never, ever voice.
    A man didn’t hit on his friend’s girl—or his friend’s ex. Period.
    And AJ’s friendship meant way too much to Reed to risk throwing away.
    “Hey, you’re here early.” Gage Holt appeared in the doorway, his eyes flickering in surprise to find Reed at his desk.
    Reed cocked a brow. “So are you.”
    “Yeah, I called a staff meeting for all the bouncers,” Gage answered as he entered the office and headed for the sole armchair across from the desk.
    “How’s Jeff working out, by the way?” Reed asked, referring to the bouncer he’d sent Gage’s way a few months back. Jeff was an old buddy of his from the fighting circuit, tough enough to handle the security duties required of him, but not a loose cannon like some of the other MMA folks Reed had crossed paths with in the past.
    Gage lowered into the chair, leaning his head back. “He’s doing great, actually. One of the best guys we have.” His expression clouded over. “I want Jeff and the other boys to watch everyone on the floor tonight like hawks.”
    “Are we any closer to finding the asshole who’s dealing in the club?”
    Gage was usually hard to read, but tonight his expression clearly broadcast his feelings on the matter. Anger and annoyance shone there, his mouth set in a tight line as he shook his head in response.
    “Oh, and I ran into Vinnie this morning,” Gage said flatly. “He told me that the cops are starting to crack down on the club district. They want to stop the flow of drugs in the city, and they’re