Redemption Read Online Free Page B

the full morning sun. “They’re breakfast mimosas. You want one?”
    “No thanks. I see you’re still celebrating,” Matt said dryly, the bubbles in the drink erupting as he swirled the liquid. The ink on A.J.’s divorce papers was scarcely dry, a divorce A.J. hadn’t wanted. Matt realized he had simply turned to booze and bimbos in an attempt to dull the pain, but there was a limit to self-indulgence. Matt had served time in the same institution, and when his time was up—six months, to be exact—his family had, lovingly and firmly, pushed his butt squarely back into reality.
    And now, ten years later, Matt was as immune to the insidious disease of self-indulgence as he was to diphtheria, though all around him in Hollywood it seemed to flourish. Hard work, he had found, both in the gym and on the set, worked a lot better than any drug yet invented.
    He dumped the drink into the pool, then tossed a couple of beach towels to the perfectly matched centerfolds posing on his redwood lounge chairs.
    “Time to go, ladies.” Matt hooked his thumb toward the door. “And be sure and pick up your clothes on the way.” He plucked another goblet from A.J.’s grasp, gave it a frown, then poured the pale liquid into the deep end. He would have to get the damned pool cleaned now. No telling what refuse had ended up in there during the impromptu party A.J. had thrown last night. Matt had stayed away, preferring the company at the billiard bar he had just opened to joining in his houseguest’s party.
    One of the women paused in front of him on her way toward the door and trailed a nail suggestively across his chest. “A.J. said you might give us an autograph later,” she purred. “Leonardo DiCaprio once signed his name right here.” She stroked her right breast suggestively. “Too bad you don’t have an ‘i’ you could dot,” she said, punctuating the words with a sexy giggle.
    Matt tucked his tongue into his cheek and pretended to be intrigued by the suggestion. “Why, that’s real smart of you, knowing how to spell my name and all,” he said in his best Montana drawl. “But I better warn you—there’s a female inside who’s the real jealous type, and she’s got teeth that can rip through shoe leather.” He gave the silicone breast in front of him a look that could pass for regret, then took the towel still dangling from her hand and draped it over her shoulder. “You’d better hurry—she’s almost finished with her breakfast.”
    Not sure if they’d just been insulted, the two blondes—at least one of them was a natural, Matt noticed—scurried off, throwing an identical pair of pouty looks over their shoulders as they disappeared inside.
    Matt gave a sharp whistle, then shouted, “Sadie! Come on, girl, let’s go for a swim!” A biscuit-colored missile of fur came charging onto the patio, aimed straight toward him, pink tongue dangling from the grinning mouth. Matt grabbed Sadie’s front paws as they reared up, gave them a wag, then set her down firmly. “Watch that, or I’ll start looking into obedience school!” he warned, meeting her adoring gaze head on.
    “And a minute ago you were threatening to sic her on…” A.J. scratched his unshaven chin thoughtfully. “You know, I can’t remember what they said their names were. Started with an ‘S,’ maybe. Sherry…Cherry…Did they look like twins to you?”
    Matt sighed as Sadie splashed into the pool, spraying water on his pants leg. “Oh, hell. You’ve got to get a grip on this. Why don’t you go call Maggie, see if you can get the kids this weekend? I’ve got to go to Philadelphia. You can have them over here.”
    A.J. shook his head, a morose expression crossing his face. “She’s taking them to Carmel to meet his parents. The wedding’s next month.”
    “Aw, fuck,” Matt swore sympathetically. Thank God he had learned his lesson when it came to women. They had no equal when it came to ruining a man’s life, and until he