The Wild Zone Read Online Free Page A
Author: Joy Fielding
airline pilot or a financial adviser, something either so straightforward he wouldn’t have to explain it, or something so complicated she wouldn’t want him to. “I’m a student,” he said, opting for the truth. I’m Will Rydell. I’m a student. No doubt about it—he was on a roll.
“Really? What are you studying?”
“Philosophy.”
“Which I guess explains the ‘biology is destiny’ observation,” she remarked.
His turn to smile. So, she’d understood him after all. “Actually, I’m working on my PhD.”
“Now I really am impressed. Where? The University of Miami?”
“Princeton.”
“Wow.”
“Does that mean you’ll reconsider sleeping with me?” he asked.
“Not a chance.”
“Didn’t think so.”
Again, she laughed. Again the lovely dimples that creased her pale skin. “But that was cute. You get points for that.”
“Thank you.”
“So seriously, you’re a student?”
“Seriously, I’m a very serious student,” he said. “Or I was. I’m taking a bit of a break.”
“For the summer, you mean?”
“I’m not sure how long.”
“Sounds like that’s not all you’re not sure of.”
Will tried to make his mind a blank. The woman sitting across from him had an uncanny knack for being able to read his thoughts. He glanced toward the bar, saw Jeff staring back at him through hooded eyes as Tom leaned over to whisper something in his ear.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to be presumptuous,” Suzy said.
“You weren’t.”
“You’re a bit of a conundrum, aren’t you?”
“A conundrum, no less.” Will laughed, flattered in spite of himself. “My mother always said I was an open book.” The waitress approached with his beer.
“Mothers don’t always know their children very well.”
Will lifted his glass. Clicked it against hers. “I’ll drink to that.”
They each took a sip, her knuckles accidentally brushing against his as they lowered their glasses to the table. A sudden surge of electricity charged through Will’s fingers, and his hands shook. He lowered them to his lap to keep her from noticing.
“So, what brings you down to Miami?” she asked.
“I’m visiting my brother.”
“That’s nice. Is he here tonight?” She glanced toward the bar.
Will nodded.
“Was he part of the bet?”
“The instigator,” Will allowed.
Suzy studied the crowd milling around the bar. “Let me guess. The good-looking one in the black shirt?”
“That’s him.” Of course she’d notice Jeff, Will thought, trying not to feel jealous. Of course she’d think he was handsome. How could she not? Without Kristin’s prompting, she’d no doubt have selected him. “Actually, we’re only half brothers. That’s why we don’t look very much alike.”
“Oh, I think I see a family resemblance,” she said, her eyes lingering on Jeff’s profile perhaps a beat too long.
“I don’t have his muscles,” Will said, acknowledging the obvious.
“And I’m betting he doesn’t have your brains,” she countered.
Will felt a flush of pride.
“What does he do, your brother?”
Will closed his eyes, his pride collapsing around him like a broken umbrella. What was it they said—pride goeth before a fall? “Regretting your choice already?” he asked, then immediately wished he hadn’t. “Sorry, that must have sounded incredibly petulant.”
“‘Incredibly petulant’?” she repeated. “That’s quite a mouthful.”
“I’m sorry,” Will said again.
“I was just trying to make conversation, Will. You seemed a little uncomfortable talking about yourself.”
“My brother’s a personal trainer,” Will said, answering her earlier question.
Suzy nodded, her eyes slowly drifting back toward Jeff, as if pulled there by a magnet.
“He lives with the bartender,” Will added.
“I assume we’re talking about the gorgeous blond and not the fat guy with the gold chains.”
Will laughed. “Actually, that’s the owner.”
“They make a very attractive
“Really? What are you studying?”
“Philosophy.”
“Which I guess explains the ‘biology is destiny’ observation,” she remarked.
His turn to smile. So, she’d understood him after all. “Actually, I’m working on my PhD.”
“Now I really am impressed. Where? The University of Miami?”
“Princeton.”
“Wow.”
“Does that mean you’ll reconsider sleeping with me?” he asked.
“Not a chance.”
“Didn’t think so.”
Again, she laughed. Again the lovely dimples that creased her pale skin. “But that was cute. You get points for that.”
“Thank you.”
“So seriously, you’re a student?”
“Seriously, I’m a very serious student,” he said. “Or I was. I’m taking a bit of a break.”
“For the summer, you mean?”
“I’m not sure how long.”
“Sounds like that’s not all you’re not sure of.”
Will tried to make his mind a blank. The woman sitting across from him had an uncanny knack for being able to read his thoughts. He glanced toward the bar, saw Jeff staring back at him through hooded eyes as Tom leaned over to whisper something in his ear.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to be presumptuous,” Suzy said.
“You weren’t.”
“You’re a bit of a conundrum, aren’t you?”
“A conundrum, no less.” Will laughed, flattered in spite of himself. “My mother always said I was an open book.” The waitress approached with his beer.
“Mothers don’t always know their children very well.”
Will lifted his glass. Clicked it against hers. “I’ll drink to that.”
They each took a sip, her knuckles accidentally brushing against his as they lowered their glasses to the table. A sudden surge of electricity charged through Will’s fingers, and his hands shook. He lowered them to his lap to keep her from noticing.
“So, what brings you down to Miami?” she asked.
“I’m visiting my brother.”
“That’s nice. Is he here tonight?” She glanced toward the bar.
Will nodded.
“Was he part of the bet?”
“The instigator,” Will allowed.
Suzy studied the crowd milling around the bar. “Let me guess. The good-looking one in the black shirt?”
“That’s him.” Of course she’d notice Jeff, Will thought, trying not to feel jealous. Of course she’d think he was handsome. How could she not? Without Kristin’s prompting, she’d no doubt have selected him. “Actually, we’re only half brothers. That’s why we don’t look very much alike.”
“Oh, I think I see a family resemblance,” she said, her eyes lingering on Jeff’s profile perhaps a beat too long.
“I don’t have his muscles,” Will said, acknowledging the obvious.
“And I’m betting he doesn’t have your brains,” she countered.
Will felt a flush of pride.
“What does he do, your brother?”
Will closed his eyes, his pride collapsing around him like a broken umbrella. What was it they said—pride goeth before a fall? “Regretting your choice already?” he asked, then immediately wished he hadn’t. “Sorry, that must have sounded incredibly petulant.”
“‘Incredibly petulant’?” she repeated. “That’s quite a mouthful.”
“I’m sorry,” Will said again.
“I was just trying to make conversation, Will. You seemed a little uncomfortable talking about yourself.”
“My brother’s a personal trainer,” Will said, answering her earlier question.
Suzy nodded, her eyes slowly drifting back toward Jeff, as if pulled there by a magnet.
“He lives with the bartender,” Will added.
“I assume we’re talking about the gorgeous blond and not the fat guy with the gold chains.”
Will laughed. “Actually, that’s the owner.”
“They make a very attractive