The Killing Edge Read Online Free

course, Lacy is tweaked half the time, so if Colleen walked by her on the way out and told her where she was going, Lacy might not have noticed.”
    He made a mental note to talk to Lacy about Colleen Rodriguez, preferably when she was sober. But tonight he needed to find Rene.
    Jeanne was going on about her competition again, though. “I don’t know about Chloe Marin. She’s best for something a bit sporty. She does have those unusual eyes, though. And great breasts—which, from what I understand, are all hers.Personally, I think a little silicone helps the puppies stay right up where they’re supposed to be. And I’ve yet to meet a man who objects, and most seem to prefer it. What do you have to say to that, Mr. Smith? I’m right, aren’t I?”
    She was fishing for a compliment, he realized, leaning closer and actually coming on to him.
    He lowered his head, trying not to smile and betray his amusement. She no doubt expected him to take her up on her not-so-subtle offer. There was a time in his life when he would have, those days of his youth when he was eager and raw, thrilled by the prospect of shagging just about anything that moved. But those days were long in the past. It wasn’t that his life had come to fruition with a deep relationship. In fact, his deepest relationship had ended bitterly. He didn’t know what he wanted yet, but he knew it wasn’t what Jeanne LaRue was offering.
    No sharp edges, no daggers, no bartering. Not in the bedroom.
    As he considered his response carefully, he was jolted—literally—by the arrival of someone at his side.
    “Oh, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to push you out of your seat.”
    He turned, saved from having to make a reply by the arrival of the all-natural assets in question.
    Chloe Marin had come up on the other side of him, and he couldn’t have been more surprised by the effect she had on him, her eyes wide and intent, the soft and ethereal scent of her perfume sweeping over him. She was different from the others. He had an impression of the world’s most sinuousand elegant cat. It wasn’t overt, and yet she had an amazingly sensual allure.
    She continued to stare at him with those cool jaguar eyes, and he realized he was being studied.
    She accepted two beers from the bartender and slid one in front of him, then leaned close to ask softly, “Do you need rescuing?”
    “Well…”
    “It’s not a complex question. You may not want to be rescued. If that’s the case, I’ll slip away and let you enjoy Jeanne’s…company. If not…”
    “I’ll slip away with you, if I may,” he returned, his own voice low.
    She didn’t smile flirtatiously. She hadn’t been flirting, had simply noticed his plight and given him a chance to escape if he wanted to.
    She spoke more loudly. “Mr. Smith, Victoria’s cousin Brad has arrived. I mentioned him to you earlier.”
    He turned to Jeanne. “If you’ll excuse me, Miss LaRue. Miss Marin has pointed out someone I need to meet.”
    “It’s Brad,” Chloe explained. “He’s going to need to rent transportation for his catalogue shoot.”
    “He should just hop on a company boat,” Jeanne said.
    “He’ll want his own transportation. Anyway, the more boats, the more fun,” Chloe said.
    Jeanne frowned, as if wondering what experience Chloe was drawing on to support that statement, but Chloe didn’t wait for the other woman to continue the conversation, just slipped an arm through his and steered him away. “Bradowns a fleet of rental boats. And if you’re going to be going back and forth to the island while we shoot, you’ll be glad to have your own transportation.”
    She was friendly, helpful, and yet she was also aloof. There was a contradiction somewhere in Chloe Marin that aroused his suspicions.
    “Is Rene Gonzalez going to be part of the calendar shoot?” he asked.
    She glanced over at him sharply. “Rene? I’m not sure.”
    “I would have expected her to be here tonight.”
    “Really? And what