Read No Strings Attached for Free Online

slightly. “You have your own promotional T-shirts designed with Kiss My Ace .”
    “Love me or hate me, I play to win,” said Mac.
    “So do I,” she said with conviction. “I don’t have much to offer my team, but Shaye said I’m improving. We play in the high school gym.”
    Dune understood. “No sunburn, no swimsuits.” He’d hate to see her flawless complexion weathered by the sun. She was self-conscious about her body. She preferred clothes to skin.
    “I wear a team T-shirt and sweatpants,” she said as she reached for the list of daily specials clipped to the counter-mounted menu holder. “We have a cheering section made up of family and close friends. Everyone offers encouragement no matter how poorly I play.”
    “How’s your serve?” asked Mac.
    She ran her finger along the laminated edge of the specials, pulled a face. “The ball goes into the net.”
    Mac coughed into his hand. “Same as Dune.”
    Dune leaned his elbows on the counter, cut Mac a sharp look. “You’re to blame for my two bad serves at Hermosa Beach,” he ground out. “You changed hand signals at the last second. I didn’t have time to make the correction.”
    “Slow reaction time, old man.”
    “You flipped me the bird with the second signal,” Dune said. “We were lucky to win the set.”
    “Won it in overtime,” said Mac. “I hate overtime.”
    Violet arrived a moment later, her order pad in hand. “The diner’s been packed all morning,” she said. “Customers are chatty and slow to leave. Molly’s still running the breakfast specials if you’re interested.”
    “Go ahead, Sophie.” Dune let her go first.
    She glanced at the specials and was quick to decide. “Belgian waffle and apple juice,” she said.
    “Double cheese-bacon-chili burger,” Mac said, preferring lunch. “Onion rings, slaw, macaroni salad, and a vanilla milk shake.”
    Violet wrote quickly. “You eat your weight in food.”
    “Be nice to me, Vi, and Dune will leave you a big tip.”
    Dune rolled his eyes. He always tipped big. His aunt owned the diner and Violet was his cousin. He’d tip the price of the meal, maybe more.
    Dune went with his favorite. “Turkey sub, sweet potato fries, and a root beer.”
    Violet left to turn in their order. Dune searched for something to say. He needed a topic to draw Sophie out. “How’s the job fair going?” he finally asked her. “Shaye mentioned you’re working your way down our boardwalk.”
    She clasped her hands in her lap, then looked at him over the rim of her reading glasses. “I started out at Old Tyme Portraits,” she said. “Photography wasn’t my niche. Eden kept me around longer than I deserved. The job wasn’t tough. I just didn’t do well.”
    “What happened?” Dune wanted to know.
    She released a soft breath. “Customers would stand behind life-size cardboard cutouts with only their faces showing above vintage swimwear and I’d take their picture. None of my photos were in focus. I cut off their heads.”
    “Better than cutting off their—” Mac began.
    Dune glared and Mac swallowed his last word.
    Sophie paused, thoughtful, “I’ve been at Crabby Abby’s for two weeks and I’m ready to move on. Abby’s been great, but—“
    “You want to do more than wipe down shelves and ring up sales,” Dune said, reading her mind. Shaye had revealed that Sophie was book smart, but had little life experience. She would excel in the right position.
    “The boardwalk offers a lot of career choices.” Sophie sounded hopeful. “Some are serious and others fun.”
    “What’s next for you?” asked Mac.
    “Either stilt walker, unicyclist, or pogo stick jumper.”
    Mac had no tact. He laughed so hard he choked. “You’re kidding us, right?” He gasped for breath.
    “Not a joke.” She looked worried. “Should I pat him on the back?” she asked Dune.
    Dune shook his head. “Let him choke.”
    “Sorry, Soph,” Mac wheezed. “You surprised me, that’s all. I