Wicked: Sweet Temptation [Wicked Series Book 4] Read Free Page B

such things at my age.”
    Faith laughed. “Daddy, you’re not too old to date and Mabel is a lovely woman.”
    He raised an eyebrow at her and grinned.
    “Okay,” Faith said. “So she’s ten years older than you and has more chins than you and me combined, but she’s sweet. And she can cook.”
    “Having a sweet cook isn’t enough to make me want to marry a woman. Especially Mabel. She’s too bossy and tries too hard and no, before you even say it, her weight doesn’t bother me. It’s what is in a person’s heart that matters, not the exterior, but I’m not interested in remarrying.”
    “The fact you just said that makes me believe you’re trying to convince yourself you aren’t sweet on her, too.”
    “Don’t even start young lady.” He found her bags and lifted them from the carrousel, groaning at their weight. “What do you have in here?” he asked. “An Elvis impersonator?”
    She laughed. “No. He wouldn’t fit. I brought you a showgirl instead.”
    “Oh, I can see me explaining to the church come Sunday what I’m doing with a Vegas showgirl on the front pew.”
    “Just tell them what you always do. ‘Brothers and sisters, pray with me and help this child find her way from the sin that’s corrupted her life!’”
    He stopped and turned to look at her, giving her that look that said she was getting too sassy for her own good. “I can already tell that trip has ruined you. I should have sent Jacob along to chaperone.”
    Faith ducked her head and hoped he didn’t see how red her face was. She knew without being told her cheeks were glowing. She could feel them burning. “There wasn’t a reason for me to be chaperoned, daddy. I was a perfect angel.”
    “And now I know you’re lying,” he said, grinning. “You’ll have to spend a week praying for your soul.”
    A week? More like years, she thought with a grin. The things she’d done with Mick alone would buy her an express ticket to hell. She looped her arm through her father’s and laid her head on his arm as they walked out of the airport. “Don’t worry about me, daddy. My soul is perfectly safe,” she lied.
    * * * *
    He was having a heart attack. He knew it as sure as the nose on his face. The pain in his chest grew, constricting until he felt dizzy and the room spun out of control. Someone was screaming and strong fingers were biting into his arm.
    “Mick! Calm down, man. Look at me!”
    Luke’s voice sounded miles away but the pressure on his arms increased until he finally looked down. The screaming stopped and he realized then it had been him making the noise.
    The look on Luke’s face was one he’d never forget. He looked terrified. A glance around the room showed the same look on everyone’s face. They were all staring at him with a look of horrified fascination and curiosity. How long had he been screaming? How long since he’d seen…
    “Breathe man. Nice even breaths.”
    “His color doesn’t look so good,” Christian said. “He’s purple.”
    “He’ll be fine if he just breathes,” Luke said, giving him a few shakes. “Come on, Mick. Take a breath.”
    Mick did as told, the vice-like band of terror wrapping around his chest fading little by little. His breaths evened out and the room stopped spinning.
    Christian and Devin were standing just behind Luke and he could see the girls by the bed. Curt and several security guards rushed into the room and he saw Roxy walk over to them, speaking in hushed tones before the room became deathly still.
    “Sit down,” Luke said. “Devin, find something to cover him up with.”
    He slid to the floor, his naked backside skipping along the wall until the carpet formed a solid cushion under him. A blanket was tossed over his lap and he wrapped it around his waist to hide his nudity from the girls.
    “Here. Drink this.”
    Mick looked up and took the glass from Christian. Water. Figures. What he needed was a bottle of whiskey. Maybe two. Getting real good and