Sleepless in San Francisco Read Online Free Page A

there would be a
     
large bruise under his earlobe. But he didn’t mind. He smiled and said, “I’m okay.” Then
     
he pulled the contracts out of his briefcase and said, “Now, about the show. I think this
     
house would be perfect.” He thought about waiting to mention the show again, but then
     
decided to take an aggressive approach. He knew he it was a huge chance, but he never
     
expected Ed to turn on him with such venom.
     
Ed frowned. Then he ran his fingers through his hair and said, “If you think that
     
what just happened here between us is going to change my mind, you’re sadly mistaken.
     
This was nothing more than a quick release. I’m not interested. The last thing I need in
     
my life is to be on a television show.”
     
Jonathan’s eyes grew wide and he clenched his fists. It sounded as if Ed was
     
suggesting that he’d seduced him so he’d agree to do the show. “Hold on one minute,
     
buddy,” he said. “What just happened here between us has nothing to do with you being
     
on the show. Trust me, I don’t have to seduce men to get them on my show. They usually
     
have to seduce me. Besides, you’re the one who ripped off my pants, covered your
     
hungry dick with a rubber, and fucked my brains out.” “Well, baby, I didn’t force you to suck my hungry dick. And you certainly didn’t
     
put up much of a fight while I was fucking your brains out with that hungry dick.” His
     
voice dropped with a dark, sardonic pitch. His words were intended to hurt.
     
Jonathan stepped back and lowered his eyes to his shoes. Ed was mocking him,
     
and it felt like there was a huge pit in his stomach. “That was mean,” he said. “And if
     
your intention was to hurt my feelings and degrade me, congratulations, Dr. Richardson,
     
you’ve succeeded.” His voice was soft and he wouldn’t look at Ed’s face. “You know
     
damn well I didn’t plan to seduce you on purpose. I never mix work with pleasure.” Then
     
he grabbed the contracts and shoved them into his briefcase. He just wanted to get out of
     
there as fast as he could and never see Ed Richardson’s face again.
     
Ed smacked his forehead with the heel of his right hand. “Hold on, Jonathan,” he
     
shouted. “I didn’t mean that. I’m sorry. I’m an asshole sometimes. I know you didn’t
     
seduce me on purpose so I’d sign the contracts. I don’t know why I said that.” Then he
     
sat down on the wing chair, rested his elbows on his knees, and held his head in his hands.
     
Jonathan took a deep breath and stopped moving. When he saw the serious
     
expression on Ed’s face, the pit in his stomach disappeared and something tugged at his
     
heart. He knew Ed wasn’t a mean man. He was a man trying to heal, but not sure how to
     
go about doing it. So Jonathan stood there with his lips pressed together, holding the
     
briefcase. “Look,” he finally said, “I’ll admit I’m dying to get this house on the show and
     
my reasons are a little selfish. It’s perfect. But now that I’ve met you and Noah, I also
     
think doing the show would be the best thing for you both.”
     
Ed sat back, folded his hands on his lap, and smiled. He tilted his head sideways
     
and asked, “And how would doing the show be the best thing for us? I don’t even know what’s best for us. I moved all the way out here, and nothing’s changed. I sold a
     
wonderful home in Turtle Bay, rented out my summer house, closed my office, and left
     
my best friend in New York.”
     
Jonathan shrugged his shoulders and spread his arms wide. He wanted to hug him,
     
but knew it wouldn’t have been appropriate. “It would help you move on,” Jonathan said.
     
“You’ve obviously been through a rough time, which is understandable. But you’re stuck.
     
Noah’s very worried about you. He says you hardly ever sleep. And now that I’ve met
     
you both, even though I am total a stranger, I’m starting to