Free Fernando - Bad Boy Love (Bad Boy Love Series Book 1) by Jessica Gray Page A

dates.”
    “It sounds wonderful. I’d love to come if I can get the time off.”
    Vivian came out of the house with her mother, bowls of salad and chips in their hands. “Food’s ready.”
    “Great, I’m starving,” River commented.
    “You’re always starving,” Vivian teased her brother. They all sat around the table, chatting and joking in a relaxed atmosphere, and for once, Gwen’s mind was able to put Fernando on the backburner.
    After cleaning up the remains of their lunch, everyone but Annie and Jeff headed down to the beach. The Armstrong house stood high up on the cliffs, but a small trail led down to a secluded stretch of beach that otherwise was only accessible during low tide or via boat.
    It was the perfect home as far as Gwen was concerned, and she envied the Armstrong siblings having grown up in such surroundings.
    “Brrr. Man, this water is cold,” River complained.
    Vivian giggled and kicked the water at her younger brother, dousing him and then running like mad before he could catch her. It was a fruitless endeavor and moments later, Gwen and Chuck laughed loudly as they watched Vivian flying through the air and landing in the ocean.
    “She never learns,” Gwen commented.
    Chuck laughed. “She does it on purpose. Let’s join them.” Together, they dove head first into the oncoming waves, surfacing on the backside as they veered away from the shore. Life was good! Gwen let out a heartfelt sigh, and Chuck eyed her suspiciously but kept quiet.
    Of the six Armstrong siblings, he was the one who never meddled and barely asked questions. While strangers often complained about his curtness, Gwen knew he cared as much as his siblings, he just didn’t say it. His vigilant eyes always observed carefully, and he had the talent to listen well – especially to what his counterpart did not say. That’s what made him one of the most sought-after private investigators in California.
    River and Vivian interrupted Gwen’s train of thought as they joined them and started a water battle, frolicking and splashing each other until their skin started to prune. Back on the beach, they lay down and let themselves dry by sun and wind.
    Gwen looked at the blue sky scattered with a few white cloudlets. It reminded her of cotton candy. Fernando would love this place . A twinge of sadness zinged through her as she remembered how she’d promised to show him the ocean. And the sudden longing for the man she couldn’t have ruined an otherwise perfect day.

Chapter 13
    Fernando presented himself with little hope and even less enthusiasm for an interview at a fitness studio. The duties included helping the clientele with the machines, attending the minibar, giving out towels, and basically acting as a jack of all trades with anything else that might need to be done.
    The owner of the fitness studio, Ben, was a muscular guy with broad shoulders, bulging biceps, a carefully shaved bald head, and tattoos that proclaimed him to be as bad as he looked. There wasn’t a spare ounce of fat on the man’s body. His face featured the deep lines and serious eyes of someone who’d seen and endured too much. Fernando knew that kind of man and wondered how he’d ended up owning a fitness studio.
    After a tour around the facility that catered mostly to male bodybuilders, Ben asked Fernando to demonstrate his abilities to handle some of the weightlifting machines.
    Fernando kept a straight face but inwardly jubilated. That was an experience he could show off. His gang had equipped an old basement room with all kinds of weightlifting equipment – although not the new and shiny ones Ben boasted in his studio – and he’d been a frequent visitor for years.
    “Okay. That’s enough. You got the job,” Ben said, and Fernando stared at him in disbelief. Just when he’d given up, he’d landed a job. Or was he daydreaming?
    Ben must have seen his surprise because he helped Fernando to put the heavy barbell back on the stand and get