Let's Misbehave Read Online Free Page A

he reminded himself.
    But, like his piano, he couldn’t bear the thought of selling it, either.
    He walked into the club as though he owned it. He’d only been in there once, as a guest of another MP, so he knew the general layout. He went from room to room, searching for his quarry.
    But instead of Howell, Merrick found Thomas Kane in the library. The man sat with a snifter of brandy and a newspaper. Merrick knew for a fact that Lord Kane was as pompous as he looked.
    Kane looked up before Merrick could duck out undetected. The man arched his bushy white brows. “You’re on the wrong side of the fence, Graham. You don’t belong to this club.”
    “No, sir, I don’t.” He sat down in the chair facing the older man and gestured to the attendant for a cup of tea.
    “I’ve got to hand it to you,” Kane said, sitting back in his seat. “You’ve got cheek.”
    “That almost sounded like a compliment coming for you, Kane.” He nodded in thanks as the attendant set the tea service on the table in front of him and poured a cup. “You’ve never been a supporter of mine.”
    Kane shrugged. “Like I said, opposite sides of the fence. It’s nothing personal.”
    “Like hell it isn’t.” Kane was the one who labelled him the Bad Boy of Politics. “You discredit me at every turn.”
    “That’s politics, son.” Kane eyed him shrewdly. “So why are you here?”
    “I’m looking for Lawrence Howell,” Merrick said honestly.
    Kane blinked in surprise. “That’s bloody brilliant. Our party follows him like a bloody piper. With him on your side, even they’ll fall in line to vote your way.”
    “I feel good about it.” Merrick drank the tea, wishing it were something stronger. He missed the bite of scotch, but he didn’t drink anymore. It’d taken him a long time to clean up his image. He wasn’t going to do anything to compromise it—not when he was finally so close.
    Kane lifted his glass and toasted him. “You may be a pretty boy with a bad attitude, but you have a good head on your shoulders, Graham. If I’m not careful, the press is going to start calling you ‘the Golden Boy of the Liberals’ soon.”
    “I don’t care what they call me. I only care about getting the measure passed.”
    “You know I’m going to try to stop you,” Kane said.
    Merrick met the man’s gaze head-on. “Yes.”
    Kane sipped his brandy. “Howell isn’t here this afternoon, but he’s going to be at that charity event at the Tate Modern on Thursday night. I’m sure you’ll be able to secure an invitation. Howell chairs the organization. You might consider making a hefty contribution.”
    Merrick leaned forward, suspicious. “Why are you helping me?”
    “I’m not helping. I’m stirring the pot.” Grinning, Kane stood. “I’m going to enjoy this. I’d wish you luck, but we’d both know I wouldn’t mean it.”
    Merrick watched the man walk away, both admiring and loathing him.
    What Kane didn’t understand was that Merrick had been planning this safety act for thirteen years. He wasn’t going to let anything bollocks it up—not Kane, and definitely not himself.

Chapter Three
    Her son sat huddled in a plastic chair in the hall outside the headteacher’s office. He was so still it was almost unnatural—that was enough to tell Holly how much trouble he was in.
    It wasn’t the first time.
    Holly had lost count how many times this scene had played out: Jamie waiting alone, her abandoning work to rush over, hoping she could convince the headteacher to give him a more lenient sentencing. Then rushing back to work and hoping she still had a job.
    It’d happened too many times to count.
    Sighing, she walked straight to her son. His head popped up when he heard her footsteps. His hair flopped in his eyes—he needed a trim again—and in those eyes she saw extreme remorse. Whatever he’d done this time was bad.
    She sat next to him and took his hand. “Here we meet again.”
    He became even smaller. “I