Night Play.doc Read Online Free Page B

heard someone entering
    her shop.
    Her breath caught in her throat. Never in her life had she seen a more
    handsome
    man.
    Never.
    At first glance his hair was dark brown, but in reality it was made up of all
    colors: ash, auburn, black, brown, mahogany, even some blond. She'd never
    seen
    hair like that on anyone. Long and wavy, it was pulled back into a sexy
    ponytail.
    Better yet, his white T-shirt was pulled tight over a body that most women
    only
    saw in the best magazine ads. It was a body that was meant for sex. Tall and
    lean, that body begged a woman to caress it just to see if it was as hard and
    perfect as it appeared.
    His handsome features were sharp, chiseled, and he had a day's growth of
    beard
    on his face. It was the face of a rebel who didn't cater to current fashions
    one who lived his life solely on his own terms. It was obvious that no one
    told
    this man how to do anything.
    He was gorgeous.
    Bride couldn't see his eyes for the dark sunglasses he wore, but she sensed
    his
    gaze. Felt it like a smoldering touch.
    This man was tough. Fierce. And it sent a wave of panic through her.
    Why would someone Like this be in a shop that specialized in women's
    accessories?
    Surely he wasn't going to rob her?
    The vacuum, which she hadn't moved a single millimeter since he'd entered
    her
    store, started to whine and smoke in protest. Drawing her breath in sharply,
    Bride quickly turned it off and fanned the motor with her hand.
    "Can I help you?" she asked as she struggled to put it behind her counter.
    Heat suffused her cheeks as the motor continued to smoke and spit. It added
    a
    not-so-pleasant odor of burning dust to the potpourri-scented candles she
    used.
    She smiled lamely at the devastatingly hot god who stood so nonchalantly in
    her
    store. "Sorry about that."
    Vane closed his eyes as he savored the melodic Southern lilt of her voice. It
    reached deep inside him, making his whole body burn for her. He was
    swollen with
    need and desire.
    Swollen with a feral urge to take what he wanted, damn all consequences.
    But she was scared of him. His animal half sensed it. And that was the last
    thing his human half wanted.
    Reaching up, he pulled the sunglasses off and offered her a small smile.
    "Hi."
    It didn't help. If anything, the sight of his eyes made her even more nervous.
    Damn.
    Bride was stunned. She wouldn't have thought he could ever become better
    looking, but with that devilish grin, he did.
    Worse, the intense, feral look of that languid hazel-green gaze made her
    shivery
    and hot. Never in her life had she seen a man even one-tenth as
    good-looking as
    this one.
    "Hi," she said back, feeling like nine kinds of stupid.
    His gaze finally left her and went around the store to her various displays.
    "I'm looking for a present," he said in that deeply hypnotic voice. She could
    have listened to him speak for hours, and for some reason she couldn't
    explain,
    she wanted to hear him say her name.
    Bride cleared her throat and put those moronic thoughts away as she came
    out
    from behind her counter. If her cute ex couldn't stomach her looks, why
    would a
    god like this one give a rat's bottom about her?
    So she decided to calm down before she embarrassed herself with him.
    "Who is it
    for?"
    "Someone very special."
    "Your girlfriend?"
    His gaze came back to hers and made her tremble even more. He shook his
    head
    slightly. "I could never be so lucky," he said, his tone low, beguiling.
    What an odd thing for him to say. She couldn't imagine this guy having
    trouble
    getting any woman he wanted. Who on earth would say no to that?
    On second thought, she hoped she never met a woman that attractive. If she
    did,
    she would be morally obligated to run her over in her car.
    "How much are you wanting to spend?"
    He shrugged. "Money doesn't mean anything to me."
    Bride blinked at that. Gorgeous and loaded. Man, some woman out there
    was lucky.
    "Okay. We have some necklaces. Those are always a nice gift."
    Vane