Free Keep It Sexy (KIS Series Book 3) by Olivia Snow Page A

balled up napkin inside his empty food container. With a smirk, he sat back on his chair.
    “You’re preaching to the choir, c hiquita . I came up the same way you did. Hustlin’ to make money. You might have been dealing with larger quantities, but I know how it feels to be drained from that life. And the burn in your gut every time you wake up, never being able to shake the feeling of dread and waiting for the other shoe to drop, because sooner or later it always drops.”
    His face had gone expressionless. It was the same look I used to see in the mirror right before a job. I didn’t know what to say so I just nodded. I finished the food in silence, but it wasn’t awkward, it was comfortable like we had reached a level of understanding and respect for each other.
    Whether I wanted to admit it or not, Christian and I were cut from the same cloth. Both trapped between what we were and who we wanted to be. But in his case he had left that life behind and made something of himself. I, on the other hand, had one foot in the real world and the other in my past—too chicken shit to admit that maybe I wasn’t ready to leave it all behind.
    “So, you know Jade?” he asked with uncertainty in his voice. My lips tugged into a small smile. This was his way of changing the subject.
    “Yeah, we’ve been friends for a long time.”
    “Vegas was really hot, I bet.”
    I laughed. “You suck at making small talk.”
    Christian rubbed the back of his neck. “And you’re a ball buster.”
    I smiled, leaning in to whisper. “But maybe you love it.”
    Christian’s tongue shot out to lick his lips. His gaze flickered between my lips and eyes.
    “ Un poquito ,” he said, holding an invisible cube between his thumb and index finger. I laughed, but my amusement died abruptly as my past came crashing into my present.
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Eleven
     
     
    Christian
     
    It felt like a roller coaster ride being around Billie. One minute she was fun and playful and the next she would suddenly retreat back into herself. And it didn’t bother me. It was a challenge to see how long I could keep her smiling and laughing before she went serious. We’d only been alone for a few hours, and I couldn’t remember the last time I had this much fun with a woman who wasn’t naked.
    I didn’t make it a habit to become friends with the opposite sex. I placed them in one of two categories—employee or booty call. And who was I kidding? Ava and I had never been friends; I hardly knew her. I knew every curve and freckle on her body, but inside? I knew nothing, and I wasn’t pushing to find out. Billie, on the other hand, had me on the edge of my seat waiting to see what she would do or say next. But soon I learned keeping her around meant inviting others into my world I had no business dealing with. I heard the front doors of the bar open and Billie’s face froze. I didn’t bother turning around. I saw three guys walk in from the security mirror I had installed in the corner of the wall directly in front of me.
    It was obvious two of them were related to Billie. They looked a lot alike besides the height difference. When they stopped in front of our table, I stood, plastering on my welcome mask even though I could feel they weren’t here for a drink or for a friendly visit.
    “You guys here for a drink? I can take your order at the bar.” The one I assumed wasn’t related to Billie, because of his blond hair, chuckled at me like I was a joke. My jaw clenched.
    “Sure, boyo , we’ll take a drink.” He moved away so I could pass. I could feel anger seep into my shoulders. Dudes like this always pissed me off. There was an unspoken rule on the street; you don’t come into someone’s home and start shit. Apparently they didn’t get that memo where they were from. I rounded the bar just in time to see Billie stand from her seat and follow behind.
    “What can I get you?” The three pulled bar stools and