Read A Fighting Man for Free Online

the cabbie and headed inside the building. It wasn’t as nice as Hawke, but it was up there. I checked my phone again for the info Blaine had texted me and stepped on the elevator.
    I got off on the tenth floor and made my way down to the last office on the right. A woman sat at the desk and I smiled as I approached her.
    “Hello, I’m—”
    “Casper Kennedy.” She stood, extending her hand. “I’m Wanda Jackson. Mr. Pritchard said you’d be by this morning.” She eyed me curiously. “Did you run here?”
    “Excuse me?”
    “You look nervous, or hot, or sick. You’re not sick are you?”
    “No, just nervous,” I blurted.
    Wanda smiled at me and drew closer.
    “Now why would you be nervous?” she asked. “Is it my boss?”
    “No. He seems very nice.”
    “Oh, he’s nice all right.” Wanda laughed. She sobered and eyed me from head to toe. “Are you out?”
    “Excuse me?” I stammered.
    “I can tell a gay man from a mile away. You are just all kinds of adorable.”
    “Thanks?”
    “How old are you sweetie?”
    “Twenty-five.”
    “Just my boss’ type. Well, age-wise. He likes the rough type.”
    I raised a brow.
    “I’m not rough-looking?”
    We both exploded in laughter. I knew I was nowhere near rough-looking.
    “Sweetie, I just want to pinch your cheeks,” Wanda crooned.
    “Which ones?” I smiled.
    “Oooh! Feisty! I like it! Now, tell me why you look like you might lose your breakfast.”
    “The model.”
    “Oh? You mean this one?” Wanda reached back and pulled a folder off her desk. “This was faxed over this morning.”
    My jaw dropped to the floor. Slater was in camouflage pants, shirtless, with his muscles bulging in every damn direction. He must have been oiled because his body was shining and the tattoos seemed more vibrant.
    “That is one hell of a fine man,” Wanda chuckled.
    I blinked and looked at Wanda. “How do you do that?”
    “Do what?”
    “Get people to open up to you. I just met you.”
    “Runs in the family. We’re from Louisiana. My momma says we got some voodoo in our blood. Besides, we’re in the same job; we should stick together.”
    “True,” I nodded. “You should come out with me and the boys sometime.”
    “Are they all gay?”
    “Pretty much.”
    “I love it!”
    The elevator dinged and the two of us straightened. Wanda handed me her card and winked.
    Voices floated down the hall and I heard Slater’s distinct baritone. He appeared and I swear there was theme music playing. Probably something like Yello’s “Oh Yeah.” All I saw was Slater walking toward me in slow motion. Okay, so I was channeling my tween-girl tendencies. He smiled at me and my knees went weak.
    When had this weak-at-the-knees development happened?
    “Good morning, Casper.” Slater leaned in and read Wanda’s nametag. “Wanda.”
    Wanda flushed pink as Slater kissed her hand.
    I rolled my eyes just as an office door opened to my right.
    “Good to see you, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Cassidy. Why don’t we go into my office?” Pritchard motioned to the door.
    “Do you need me, sir?” Wanda asked.
    “Nope, you put your feet up, dear.” Pritchard winked.
    I handed Wanda my card as I walked past her. She pinched my ass and I yelped in surprise. Pritchard turned to look at me.
    “Is everything all right?”
    “Yes, I just stubbed my toe.” I narrowed my eyes at Wanda with a grin as I walked through the door.

Slater
    Why had I agreed to do this? I don’t model; I don’t know how to model. I don’t have that pout. The ‘please feed me before I die’ pout.
    I stared at the picture my mom had taken of me the night before. She was dabbling in photography now that she was retired, and had me posing until almost one in the morning. Then I had to shower all the oil off before I killed myself slipping on something. I was so glad the guys couldn’t see me now. I rolled my eyes. But they would eventually. I’m sure they’d all be drinking Rush just to fuck with me.
    I