Free Play It Safe by Kristen Ashley Page A

come around.”
    His grandmother read me like a book. She’d never come around.
    And he was clearly like the men in his family. If he was attracted to me, he had shit taste in women.
    He’d also said “including my Dad” which meant his Mom was a bad woman.
    I didn’t like that either.
    I said nothing.
    Gray kept driving.
    We made it to town and he pulled into the parking spot outside my hotel door. I already had my key out.
    Casey’s car was nowhere to be seen. He was having a very good night.
    Lucky him.
    Hand on the handle, I turned to Gray, opening my mouth to say a firm farewell and tell him he didn’t need to help me with my bag.
    He was already turned to me and he got there before me.
    “You stick around, VFW steaks tonight.”
    I stared, confused at his strange words.
    Then I asked, “Sorry?”
    “You stay another day; I’ll pick you up, five thirty. VFW, every Friday night, they do steaks.” He grinned. “This is meat country, darlin’, best beef you’ll find near anywhere and VFW steaks are the best I’ve had, bar none. You don’t wanna miss that.”
    Was he asking me out on a date?
    Definitely shit taste in women.
    “We’re leaving today,” I told him.
    “You stay, you get steak,” he told me.
    “I like steak, Gray,” I said softly. “But we’re leaving today.”
    His face changed, got that look, that gentle near to tender look and I braced.
    “Ivey –” he started, leaning toward me but I shook my head and interrupted him.
    “You know me,” I whispered.
    He leaned closer. “Dollface –”
    I shook my head again. “You know, Gray. Don’t be your Daddy. Be smart. Find a nice girl to take home to your Gran. You know I’m not that.”
    His face changed again and the “near to” part evaporated. It was all tender.
    God. Beautiful.
    I could take no more.
    I whipped around, opened the door and it creaked loud. I hopped out, shut it on another creak, hearing his creaking because he opened it. I ran around the back of the truck, leaned in, reached, grabbed my bag while I heard his door creak closed. I dashed around him, head down, hair hiding my face and went to the hotel room door.
    I had my key in the lock when I felt his body close to my back and, lips at my ear, he whispered, “Don’t, Ivey.”
    I closed my eyes but still turned the key.
    Then I opened my eyes, opened the door and shot inside.
    I closed the door on him without looking back.
     

 
Chapter Eight
    Lived My Life for You
     
    Four hours later…

    “I’m in love!”
    That was Casey.
    He had his arm around me, my feet off the ground and he was swinging me around.
    This was new.
    Brand new.
    And this was not good.
    Really not good.
    As for me, I had both our bags packed and waiting by the door.
    Casey slammed me down on my feet, let me go, stepped back and I looked up at his face.
    He was beaming.
    I wanted to cry.
    “God, sis, God, wait ‘til you meet her. She’s the shit. I mean, never met a woman like her. Never. Funny. Sweet. Funny. Hot. Did I say funny?”
    “Casey –” I started and he jerked away, moving to the bags.
    “Need some money, babe. Nice dinner for my girl tonight.”
    My heart clenched.
    “Casey, we gotta go,” I told him.
    He had my bag and was walking toward the bed.
    He knew better. Our money was not in my bag. It was also not in my purse. He was due back. I’d put it in a safe place. It was tucked in my bra.
    “We’re not goin’,” he declared, dropped my bag and zipped it open. “Hundred dollars. Good wine. Juicy steak. For my girl,” he muttered, pawing through my bag.
    “I had trouble last night,” I announced and his head jerked back, his eyes cutting to me.
    “What?”
    “Got bored, went to the bar, was shooting some pool. Local guy thought he could best me. He bet me. He lost. He didn’t like it.”
    Casey grinned and straightened.
    “He lost?”
    Of course he lost. Casey knew better than to ask that.
    “Yeah, and he didn’t like it.”
    “How much he