Read Fugitive: A Bad Boy Romance (Northbridge Nights Book 2) for Free Online Page A

alarm clock, head swimming. It was only 6:09a.m. You've got to be kidding me.
    I sat up in bed, my hair a bird's nest down my back. “Kieran! Shut up! It's too early for this torture!”
    The shower clicked off and moments later Kieran stepped out in nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist. I rubbed my eyes, as if I couldn't believe what I was seeing. His black hair was dripping at the ends and I marveled at—ok ogled at—his exposed chest. I could see it so much clearer now. Smooth planes of muscle that led to a sexy happy trail… God, those deep, V-shaped grooves...and then there was that smoking hot tattoo. What did it mean? Wait…what was that? A pierced left nipple!? Holy shit. A small, stainless steel barbell glinted under the bathroom light. It was winking at me.
    Jesus.
    This. Wasn't. Fair.
    Kieran was the closest thing to 'bad boy' I'd ever come across. And the sight of him drove me wild for inexplicable reasons. He made me want to do bad things. Things someone like me should never do.
    “Like what you see?” Kieran asked, winking.
    I suddenly realized my mouth was open and promptly closed it. “I—Oh never mind. Why are you showering so early in the morning? Three hours of sleep is not enough for—”
    “Things to do, places to see, love,” Kieran said. “You took the day off didn't you?”
    I shook my head. “I haven't called in yet. I don't even have my phone.”
    A smile spread across Kieran's face. “I guess you'll just have to play hooky.” The way he said 'hooky' sounded so mischievous my stomach did a somersault. He was like a buff, grown version of Peter Pan, and he wanted to lead me to Neverland. He wanted me to leave my old life behind so we could be young, irresponsible and carefree together.
    “‘Hooky’ is not in my vocabulary, Kieran. I'm going to work.”
    “No.”
    “No?” I said, jaws clenching. “I won't take no for an answer.”
    “And I won't let you go to work, so I guess we're at an impasse.”
    “Why do you do this?” I asked, sinking back into bed and cupping my face with open palms.
    “Do what?” Kieran asked, squeezing toothpaste on a disposable toothbrush.
    “Go against everything I want,” I said. “Torture me.”
    “My job is to take you out of your comfort zone,” Kieran replied. “I like the satisfaction of doing a good job.”
    “I thought your job ended in the morning. It's morning now. You're relieved of your duties,” I said. “Call up Terri and collect your money.”
    “Is it a crime if I want to spend a little more time with you? I know you had fun last night, even if you won't admit it.”
    “Getting dunked in filthy, ice cold water was not fun,” I said. “It was horrible.”
    “And the casino?”
    “I sat around watching you play. I didn't do much.”
    “So the entire night was a bust?” Kieran frowned.
    “Pretty much. But at least you get paid right?” I wanted to make him feel as guilty as possible. Did he honestly think I enjoyed myself last night? Was he deluded?
    “Okay, let's do something you find fun today,” Kieran suggested. “What do you want to do?”
    I thought for a moment. “I think I should just go home.”
    “C'mon, Rachelle, let's knock something off your bucket list.”
    I hesitated. “Well...I have always wanted to go go-kart racing.”
    “Go-karting doesn't sound too bad,” Kieran said. “I think it could be arranged.”
    “You don't have to take me. Rob says it's not as fun as people like to think.”
    “Rob...is your fiancé?”
    I nodded, wringing my wrists. “Shit. He must be so worried about me. I don't have my phone.”
    “Do you love him?” Kieran asked.
    “Who? Rob?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Of course I do,” I said, a little too loudly. “We've been living together for years.”
    “Just because you're living with him, doesn't mean you're ready to marry him.”
    “I want to marry him. Why else would I have said yes when he proposed?”
    “People say yes for all sorts of reasons. Not