Open Road Read Online Free
Author: Evelyn Glass
as if he hadn't been trying to get in touch with her all week. "How you doing?"
"I'm fine, Bobby, thanks for asking. How are you?"
"Well, I'm good, but I'd be even better if you agreed to come to the gala with me Saturday night. Do you have other plans, or can I steal you away with me?"
The gala? She squinted at the calendar hanging next to her fridge and realized she hadn't yet flipped to April, even though it was already more than a week into the new month. She flipped the page, and there it was, the Red Cross Gala. It had been on her calendar for months.
"I'd love for you to come," he continued smoothly. "Daddy bought a table. I can always tell him you're sick if you really don't want to go, but there's someone you should meet, and I know he'll be there. He never misses this gala."
"Bobby, you promised you wouldn't pressure me."
"No pressure at all. It's not even a real date. You can even drive yourself if that will make you feel better. But Travis Lathrop gives a lot of money to charitable causes, especially when they work with troubled kids. Used to fund that wilderness program before they shut it down... Damn, I can't remember the name."
"Beyond Boundaries?"
He snapped his fingers. "That's the one. Travis has got money to give and I'm sure he'd love what you're trying to do. It's the perfect way to introduce you."
"Hmm. Is it black tie?"
"Of course." He chuckled. "Well, actually, they're calling it 'Red Tie' but you get the idea."
"I don't even know if I have a red dress."
"Sure you do. You bought two last year when we went to that hospital gala, and you decided on the gold one. The red one is still in my closet with the tags attached."
"I guess I can't refuse, then. But there are a couple conditions."
"Anything."
"We can't have a repeat of last time. I know you apologized, and I believe you, but please, Bobby. Please don't drink so much."
"I won't drink a drop," he replied cheerfully. "Sober as a judge. What's the second thing?"
"We're not talking about my personal life."
The affable air disappeared from his voice. "You mean we're not talking about Alejandro Rojas?"
"My private business is my own, Bobby," she repeated firmly. "I mean it. If you so much as breathe his name, I'm going home."
"Understood," he said carefully. "If it's that important to you."
"It is." Her voice was as steady as she hoped it could be. "Thank you."
"So am I picking you up?"
"You know what, I'll just drive to your place and get changed over there. It will be easier, don't you think?"
"Sure." He tried and failed to keep the enthusiasm from his voice. "I'll see you then, Ali."
"Okay. See you Saturday."
"Bye, Sugar."
She hung up with a deep sigh. On the one hand, maybe she'd just signed herself up for yet another dull, miserable night, complete with Cecile's icy disapproval and endless pestering from Bobby about getting back together. But if Travis Lathrop could help make up the $30,000 shortfall she still had in her startup budget, she'd be that much closer to getting the program up and running. Then she could take all the time she needed to sort out her crazy love life.
CHAPTER SEVEN
When Ali met Alejandro at the door wearing only her new lingerie, the look on his face was worth every minute of the forty-six hours they'd spent apart. The rumble of his bike in the driveway at exactly 10:15 had her on her feet and stretched provocatively in the door frame before he even realized she was standing there. When he did see her, he'd nearly dropped the Harley.
"Baby," he breathed as she slid into his arms on the stairs. "I've missed you." He ran his palms excitedly over the black lace. "Mmm, this is sexy."
Just like that, little pinpricks of excitement radiated outward from her core, and her legs trembled a bit as Alejandro claimed her mouth. "Ali, Baby," he whispered as his lips captured hers. "You
"I'm fine, Bobby, thanks for asking. How are you?"
"Well, I'm good, but I'd be even better if you agreed to come to the gala with me Saturday night. Do you have other plans, or can I steal you away with me?"
The gala? She squinted at the calendar hanging next to her fridge and realized she hadn't yet flipped to April, even though it was already more than a week into the new month. She flipped the page, and there it was, the Red Cross Gala. It had been on her calendar for months.
"I'd love for you to come," he continued smoothly. "Daddy bought a table. I can always tell him you're sick if you really don't want to go, but there's someone you should meet, and I know he'll be there. He never misses this gala."
"Bobby, you promised you wouldn't pressure me."
"No pressure at all. It's not even a real date. You can even drive yourself if that will make you feel better. But Travis Lathrop gives a lot of money to charitable causes, especially when they work with troubled kids. Used to fund that wilderness program before they shut it down... Damn, I can't remember the name."
"Beyond Boundaries?"
He snapped his fingers. "That's the one. Travis has got money to give and I'm sure he'd love what you're trying to do. It's the perfect way to introduce you."
"Hmm. Is it black tie?"
"Of course." He chuckled. "Well, actually, they're calling it 'Red Tie' but you get the idea."
"I don't even know if I have a red dress."
"Sure you do. You bought two last year when we went to that hospital gala, and you decided on the gold one. The red one is still in my closet with the tags attached."
"I guess I can't refuse, then. But there are a couple conditions."
"Anything."
"We can't have a repeat of last time. I know you apologized, and I believe you, but please, Bobby. Please don't drink so much."
"I won't drink a drop," he replied cheerfully. "Sober as a judge. What's the second thing?"
"We're not talking about my personal life."
The affable air disappeared from his voice. "You mean we're not talking about Alejandro Rojas?"
"My private business is my own, Bobby," she repeated firmly. "I mean it. If you so much as breathe his name, I'm going home."
"Understood," he said carefully. "If it's that important to you."
"It is." Her voice was as steady as she hoped it could be. "Thank you."
"So am I picking you up?"
"You know what, I'll just drive to your place and get changed over there. It will be easier, don't you think?"
"Sure." He tried and failed to keep the enthusiasm from his voice. "I'll see you then, Ali."
"Okay. See you Saturday."
"Bye, Sugar."
She hung up with a deep sigh. On the one hand, maybe she'd just signed herself up for yet another dull, miserable night, complete with Cecile's icy disapproval and endless pestering from Bobby about getting back together. But if Travis Lathrop could help make up the $30,000 shortfall she still had in her startup budget, she'd be that much closer to getting the program up and running. Then she could take all the time she needed to sort out her crazy love life.
CHAPTER SEVEN
When Ali met Alejandro at the door wearing only her new lingerie, the look on his face was worth every minute of the forty-six hours they'd spent apart. The rumble of his bike in the driveway at exactly 10:15 had her on her feet and stretched provocatively in the door frame before he even realized she was standing there. When he did see her, he'd nearly dropped the Harley.
"Baby," he breathed as she slid into his arms on the stairs. "I've missed you." He ran his palms excitedly over the black lace. "Mmm, this is sexy."
Just like that, little pinpricks of excitement radiated outward from her core, and her legs trembled a bit as Alejandro claimed her mouth. "Ali, Baby," he whispered as his lips captured hers. "You
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