Wicked Bad Boys Read Online Free Page A

again, sir.”
    She turned and left, and I couldn’t help wondering what it was that I said. That’s not how women normally react to me. In fact, most women don’t say no to me. I shrugged, got in line for my coffee and the interaction was soon forgotten. Until now.
    I get to the office soon afterward and change into one of the business suits I keep there. My schedule is packed and now I have to get my executive assistant to move things around. I can leave after lunch and take the crawl on the four-ninety-five to Long Island for whatever my dad has up his sleeves.
    I get there—after cussing like a sailor at the traffic I had to sit in—and I walk around back. It’s the only place he would be this time of day. He’s out on the grounds, walking through the rows of rose bushes he plants every spring. Looking at him, I can’t help but feel this man is a living, breathing contradiction. One minute he’s nurturing these plants like they’re his babies and taking care of Mandy now that she’s terminally ill, and the next, he’s stringing up call girls in the octagon.
    Before he looks up to see me standing on the back deck, I notice his face is awash with worry. He’s pensive about something, and he should be, but he’s looking at the bushes as though they’re an answer to his problems. I have no patience for this. I whistle to get his attention and he meets me at the deck.
    “So what’s the deal, Dad?”
    “Let’s go inside. I had the tech guys do a bug sweep in my office this morning, just to be safe. We can talk there.”
    I’m following him to the office, and on the way, I see Mandy. For a woman who’s got stage three pancreatic cancer, she looks great. She’s dressed to the nines, has her hair flowing down her back, and looks like she’s going out on the town. The woman is living on borrowed time. She was given a year to live eighteen months ago. In fact, she looks better than she looked when she was diagnosed. It has me wondering what she’s taking as I walk up to greet her.
    “Hi Mandy,” I say, giving her a kiss on her forehead.
    “Jonathan honey, I haven’t seen you in weeks, darling. You’re looking so sharp in that suit! How are you doing, love?”
    “Good. How about you? You’re looking better and better every time I see you. I think you need to tell me what organic, probiotic, antioxidant shakes or whatever it is you’re taking, because I swear you look five years younger.”
    “Oh that’s the Botox, son,” she answers with a chuckle. “Or maybe it’s because I picked up painting. It’s so calming. Speaking of which, I’m on my way to my lesson. Will you stay for dinner? I’ll be back soon, and I would love to catch up, dear.”
    “I’m not sure I can stay too long, but I’ll try. How’s Claire?”
    “I’m fine.” Speak of the devil, she comes down the stairs and makes a bee line to me. “Jonathan!”
    “Hi Claire.” I give her a warm hug. She’s the closest thing I have to a normal family member.
    “What are you doing here?”
    “I’m here to see Dad.”
    “How come you didn’t call so we could do dinner or something? You know I can never get enough time with my step-brother.”
    “Seriously, Claire. You know I live less than half an hour away, right? I’ve told you already, you can come by anytime you want. You still have my key, don’t you?”
    She gives me another bear hug and buries her head in my chest before looking up at me. “Me, in downtown Manhattan? It’s a jungle out there. I can barely stand it when I come in once a week for my hair appointment with Raoul. Nice suit, by the way.”
    “Thanks. Come on, it’s not that bad. Anyway, how are things with you? How’s Parker?”
    “Oh, didn’t you hear? My loving husband took an investment banking VP job in Dubai six weeks ago. You know, the one that Savoy has a majority share in? I haven’t heard from him in two weeks, but I got an email that he’s flying in today. He should be here any minute,