SHELBY (Second Chance Novels Book 4) Read Online Free Page B

now," he says.
    "So you're stalking me?"  
    His expression shifts to sarcastic again. "Why would I do that?"
    A frustrated sigh precedes my next words.  
    "Well you can cut it out now," I say flatly. "Don't you have some golf course to keep you occupied?"
    "Not this time of night," he says plainly. "So what are you doing here tonight? Don't you have some cozy pajamas and a good book waiting for you?"
    What the hell? In the back of my mind I wondered if he showed up tonight ready to flirt with me, but he wants me to go home, apparently by myself.  
    "Go away, Dade," I mutter in frustration.  
    "I haven't gotten my drink yet."
    I sigh and shake my head as I look around, trying to figure out how I'm going to get what I need tonight. As my options are limited based on the small number of people here who don't scare me, I remain at the bar while Dade orders water. Seriously?
    " That's your drink?"
    "Quite refreshing," he says in his brooding tone, still staring at me through narrow eyes. Is he trying to intimidate me?
    "I can't figure you out, Dade."
    He smirks, and all I can do is scan the room again for someone besides this enigma beside me. Instead of finding a knight in dingy armor, I'm left with nothing but the need for another drink. I quick wave to the bartender and a gesture to my glass later, I'm tossing back another shot. The hot sting of the alcohol burns down my throat, and at least I have a sensation to feel.
    "So tell me," Dade starts mildly, "What do you do for a living?"
    "You're going to try for this conversation again?" I roll my eyes at him. He should be leaning in or caressing my knee if he wants to fake interest.  
    "What conversation should we have?"
    "None," I utter under my breath.
    "I heard that," he shakes his head and turns to his 'refreshing' water.  
    I toss back my shot and order two more rapid-fire, hoping to send the message to Dade. I'm his or I'm going full-on self-destruct. No cozy pajamas for this girl. Not tonight.
    My plan backfires, though. He draws me into more conversation. I know better than to drink this much. I get far too honest when I'm this tipsy, and honesty is on my shit list now. I've been honest with my friends and my lovers. Honesty aligns far too easily with pain for me to want to play along.
    "Ha," I chuff bitterly when he brings up the concept of relationships in an obvious attempt to deter me from my goal here. "You know what? You win. I'm out of here."
    I call a cab and go home, hating even the decent guy from the bar tonight.
    Twice more in the next two weeks I head to the bar with one goal, and each night I'm blocked by some strategy of Dade's. I have no idea why he's stalking me or why the hell he cares if I sleep around or not.
    Our third conversation later, and I get tipsy enough to actually talk with him. He asks about my friends, and I can't believe I answer him.
    "So you don't believe in the happily ever after?" Dade asks me in response to my bitter rantings of my former social circle. I swear he sounds like a therapist.
    "Actually I do," I correct myself. "Cam gets a happy story. That naive, stupid little girl gets a blissful, story-book tale even though she made every wrong decision in the book. Even if you skip past every dumb, destructive choice she made about Garrett, she made all the same dumb decisions with Ledger! At least I was trying to teach her independence. But Ledger? He got her to move in within weeks! She let him buy her a car! She relies on him for everything! SO STUPID!"
    I didn't realize how loud I was getting with my rant until Dade shushes me.
    "Well, she was stupid," I defend myself more quietly. "So goddamn stupid."
    "Aren't you happy for her?"
    "Of course I am," I shake my head at myself. "Ledger's a great guy and I know she's ok with him."
    "But…." Dade encourages.
    "But…she broke my heart," I say as one tear finally falls. "I had been trying for two years to help her get away from Garrett, and when I finally had the chance to help