Stand of Redemption Read Online Free Page A

and a jerk wouldn’t take his hand off your ass, not when you were on duty.” Lacey sighed. “Ria, he was probably just trying to flirt with you. Men like him think that, because they’re local celebrities, no one will turn them down.”
    Men who looked like that didn’t usually look at women like her for anything other than fun and games. She had thought he was attractive until he had opened his mouth. If he could treat a stranger with such ruthless disregard, then how would he treat someone he was in a relationship with? Ria felt sorry for the pretty blond.
    She glanced back at their table, and could see the side of the blond. She was wearing a short skirt, snug shirt, and her hair had the sexy beach waves Ria wished she could figure out how to do to her own hair.
    “Definitely not. I see his type, and I’m not it.” Ria turned to look at Lacey. “Nicholas saw me as the girl you get to give you a blowjob on the way home from work.”
    “Ria, you still need to work on your confidence.” Lacey expression softened. “Quit thinking that because you’re half Spanish most guys only want to bang you.”
    Ria was well aware of her sultry looks and had deliberately downplayed them since pube rty. Now she had to highlight them to earn her tips.
    “Okay, enough. Here comes Peter with our drinks.” Ria smiled at Peter.
    “Ladies, you are going to adore this drink!” Peter handed them each a tall glass full of a pink drink with little umbrellas.
    “They look fabulous, Peter.” Ria looked up at Peter to thank him and caught him staring at her.
    What the hell is going on with the stares lately?
    Ria and Lacey promptly took a drink then both oohed and aahed appropriately, and they weren’t faking it. Peter had a way of mixing the perfect toxin.
    “Fantastic as always, Peter,” Lacey said.
    Ria looked at her, surprised at how friendly she’d sounded. Peter should always keep a drink in hand to deal with Lacey.
    “Thank you! The usual?”
    They both nodded their heads yes; they always ordered the same meal each time they came.
    “Do you think he flirts with all the women?” Lacey asked her eyes following Peter.
    Ria watched Peter stop to check on a few of the tables as he made his way back to the kitchen.
    “Yes,” Ria replied.
    As she turned back to Lacey, she couldn’t help but let her eyes look toward Nicholas again. She felt her stomach clench when their eyes met. He raised his eyebrow then nodded his head in acknowledgement at her before turning back to his date. Ria felt the rush of disappointment go through her at his quick dismissal. Then, she was pissed that she’d cared. She had been right; he had only wanted to use her for the moment.
    “You okay?” Lacey’s question pulled her from her thoughts.
    “I’m fine,” Ria mumbled as she took another drink.
    Lacey started talking about her next medical rotation, and Ria tried to focus on their conversation instead of thinking about the man in the corner booth.
    As she finally started to relax and listen to Lacey describe another medical student’s screw up, she felt a shadow come over the table. She and Lacey both looked up, each having to practically strain their necks because of the height of the man looking down at them.
    “ Lacey and Ria, right?” Nicholas asked as he looked at each of them.
    “Yes, that’s right ,” Lacey replied warmly. “How’s the arm?”
    “ Doing much better, thanks to you.” He smiled that beautiful smile of his, and all Ria could think was how many women he had fooled, hiding the emptiness behind the plastic gesture.
    “I want to thank you for granting approval for a med student to participate,” Lacey stated.
    “No problem. I’m glad my broken arm was good for something,” he said with a laugh that sounded hollow to Ria’s ears. Was it just her? Was she the only one that could see behind the façade he presented to the world?
    “Are you ready?” the blond next to Nicholas asked him.
    Ria saw the slightest