Read Drake Sisters 06 - Turbulent Sea for Free Online Page A

allergic to exercise. What are you doing here?'
    'You're always here when you're upset.'
    'I'm here to work out. And I sometimes come up with my best songs late at night.'
    'Tell me what happened. What were you doing at Nikitin's party?'
    She shrugged and swallowed a long gulp of water. T couldn't sleep and thought I'd check it out. Once I got there, I remembered why I hated those things.' She dried off her face. 'Did you manage to run down that little weasel Dean whatever his last name is and his friend? The ones hanging with the girls who couldn't have been older than fourteen.'
    Brian shook his head. 'I never found them. Denny helped me look for them, but we couldn't find them anywhere. We checked the pool, the gardens, the garages, everywhere, but they must have made the girls leave.'
    'If he shows up in Chicago, Brian, I'm having Jerry fire him.' Jerry St. Ives was her manager, and she was just as angry with him as she was with Dean. He had promised to oversee the parties and make certain that no young kids were taken advantage of.
    'Joley, you know very well anyone could have invited those girls. For all we know Nikitin did. At least talk to Dean before you give him the axe. He could have been escorting them off the property'
    'He ran when I called him.'
    'Honey, come on. Joley Drake angry is a scary thing. I'll talk to him if you don't want to do it, but at least let's give him the benefit of the doubt. This is America. Innocent until proven guilty'
    She rolled her eyes. 'And what's with Denny and the blonde?'
    'He was afraid you saw that.'
    'You think? She was blowing him right on the grounds in front of anyone and everyone.'
    'He was pretty screwed up.'
    'Is that supposed to be an excuse?' She shoved her hand through her hair in agitation. 'I like his girlfriend. Lisa's a really good person and she deserves better than him.' She knew she sounded disgusted and judgmental, but it was the truth. 'I'm not going to be able to look at him.'
    Brian shook his head. 'Joley, not everyone is perfect.'
    She burst out laughing. 'Is that what you think I am, Brian?'
    'We all do.'
    'I was there for the same reason as Denny. I just didn't go through with it.' She pushed past him and threw the towel in the empty basket. Housekeeping had come and gone long ago.
    'What the hell are you talking about?' Brian demanded.
    'I was lonely. I went to the party with the idea of bringing someone home. I'm not perfect, but I'm also not committed to anyone. Denny is. He should be a man and tell Lisa he needs other women. That's only fair.'
    Brian rubbed the bridge of his nose, narrowing his eyes and frowning in disapproval. 'I don't believe you.'
    She didn't pretend to misunderstand. 'Well, it's true. The saint is really a sinner. Sheesh, Brian, you've known me for years.'
    'You don't sleep around.'
    'How do you know what I do or don't do while you're at the parties having a great time?'

    'I don't believe any of this. You're just upset.'
    'You don't believe I can get lonely, Brian?'
    'Hell, Joley, if you're lonely, I'm lonely, too. Maybe we should just make all the rumors true and hit the sack together.' He wiggled his eyebrows at her.
    She studied him over the bottle of water. For one, horrible moment, she even considered the idea. They were both alone. They liked each other, were best friends, maybe if they got to together… Prakenskii had turned her down and her pride was wounded. She'd always been able to wrap Brian around her little finger. And he was nice. A very nice guy, but she wasn't the least attracted to him, nor was he attracted to her. She sighed. T like you too much,' she said.
    'What the hell does that mean?'
    'It means I'm not going to sleep with you and ruin a perfectly good relationship. I like you, Brian. I don't like the men I want to sleep with.'
    'Okay, now I'm confused, but that isn't unusual around you, Joley.' He rubbed the bridge of his nose. 'Most of the time we're all confused.'
    'Me, too.' She grinned at him. At