Karen Chance - 2.1 Buying Trouble(1), WSZYSTKO

[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
Karen Chance
Buying Trouble
in “On the Prowl”
Cassandra Palmer #2.1
2007
ISBN: 9780425216590
Index
Buying Trouble
Chapter 1.......................................................................1
Chapter 2.....................................................................11
Chapter 3.....................................................................21
Chapter 4.....................................................................31
Chapter 5.................................................................... 41
Chapter 6.....................................................................51
Chapter 7.................................................................... 60
Conclusion ................................................... 69
Karen Chance,
Buying Trouble
(2007)
Cassandra Palmer #2.1
Chapter 1
I saw him across the crowded room. He was standing behind a couple of
werewolves and a large troll. One of the Weres was knocking snow of his
boots while the other attempted to hand his overcoat to the troll, who was
serving as greeter. Since in troll terms that involved stomping on potential
troublemakers before they got in the door, then throwing them out on
their asses, he wasn’t getting very far. he Weres inally igured that out
and walked away grumbling.
he other new arrival kept his loor-length cloak on. Of course, he
probably had more than one reason for that. he hood was up, so I couldn’t
see his face, but from underneath the cape spilled a faint nimbus of gold.
here aren’t too many creatures who cast light shadows, and of those, only
one would have any reason to be visiting Brooklyn’s seediest occult auction
house.
He wasn’t here to shop. He was here for me.
I whirled and started for the door to the employees-only area, but a
large body in a too-small tux blocked my way. “Claire.”
“Matt.” I tried to move around him, but he managed to entirely ill the
doorway. If he ever stopped those compulsive gym visits, he’d have to start
edging in sideways.
“Where do you think you’re going?” he soprano voice out of the gorilla-
size chest was always a surprise.
“To the bathroom. My contacts are killing me.”
Matt ished my glasses of the top of my head and settled them on my
nose. “Sufering builds character.”
“I have enough character, thanks.” I glanced back over my shoulder.
“Matt, please! I need to—”
“Start earning your paycheck, I agree.” His small brown eyes lickered
here and there nervously as if he knew trouble was about to break out, but
wasn’t sure of the direction. Considering what was up for sale tonight, he
was probably right. “I’d feel better having you closer than the back rooms.
We got a lot of volatile stuf here.”
1 / 70
Karen Chance,
Buying Trouble
(2007)
Cassandra Palmer #2.1
I wondered if he meant the customers or the merchandise. Either way, I
couldn’t appeal to a higher power. Despite the overuse of steroids and the
bad crew cut, Matt wasn’t a bouncer in a dive on the wrong side of town.
He was old man Gerald’s darling only son and, since his dad was away on
a buying trip, my boss.
“Anything goes nuts and my ass is grass. Dad’ll have me cleaning the
stockroom for the next decade, and who’s gonna pay you under the table
then?”
I had a good comeback about just how little he paid me, but it died
on my lips. he sight of the gray cloak weaving its way across the room
occupied all my attention. here was nothing menacing about it, unless
you knew what was underneath.
Except for the fact that it was coming straight at me.
I let Matt maneuver me to the front of the main salon, since his bulk
insured that we’d move faster through the crush of bodies than I could
have alone. We stopped in front of a semicircle of marble plinths that held
the evening’s wares. None of tonight’s items had been available for preview,
which explained the pre-auction crowd. Some were of dubious origin and I
don’t think Gerald had wanted anyone to examine them too closely before
the sale. But others were simply too dangerous to have on display without
a major safety precaution. Unfortunately for my plans to cut and run, that
happened to be me.
Matt positioned me at center stage, up a short light of steps from the
throng of customers. here had been quite a few people on the platform,
despite the attempts of the two trolls stationed at each end to keep it clear.
he trolls didn’t look happy. hey were under orders not to break anyone
in two or crack any heads open, which kind of limited their persuasive
abilities. But, as usual, my appearance cleared the place faster than a gas
leak.
“hat’s better.” Matt surveyed the empty platform with satisfaction.
“You could put up the wards,” I pointed out desperately. he plinths
were usually surrounded by magical shields, only they don’t work so well
with me around.
“I don’t trust the wards, especially not tonight,” Matt said irritably.
“What’s the matter with you?” His tiny eyes scanned the salon, but there
were too many people—and assorted other things—in the way for him
2 / 70
Karen Chance,
Buying Trouble
(2007)
Cassandra Palmer #2.1
to notice my particular problem. And I wasn’t planning to tell him. He
only paid me a fraction of what I was worth, but a fraction is better than
nothing. And until I sorted out some personal issues, this was the only
income I had. Freaking Matt out would be extremely bad for my dwindling
bank account. And maybe I was wrong. Maybe a Lord of the Light Fey
was suddenly interested in acquiring a moldy old talisman of dubious
provenance, for which he’d be expected to pay a premium price.
Yeah, right.
“Nothing.”
“Okay, then.” Matt did one more scan of the room. “I need to keep an
eye on the Weres. You think you can manage to stand here and stay out of
trouble?”
“Well… I can stand here.” I didn’t have much choice considering that the
Fey was between me and the exits.
Matt rolled his eyes and moved of to crowd the two werewolves. I
thought that was less than smart. It was another week until the full moon,
but they were already vibrating with repressed energy and spoiling for
a ight. But it was his call, and I had my own problems: while I’d been
distracted, the Fey had disappeared.
I thought for a second that I spotted him trying to meld with the
shadows in a corner, but a second glance told me that it was only one of
the banshees that the house used as security alarms. I scanned the room
again, but it was no use. he Fey was simply gone, and I didn’t intend to
wait around for him to show up. For once, Matt was going to have to make
do without me.
I turned on my heel and pelted down the back stairs of the platform,
intending to try for the ire exit, but something was in my way. I crashed
into a broad, hard chest, and would have gone sprawling if someone hadn’t
caught my shoulder. My glasses fell to the tip of my nose and a hand pushed
them back up. A very attractive hand, I noticed as sight returned, strong
and sun-bronzed. It was attached to an equally beautiful arm, all slender
muscles under a silken sleeve, and led to a very handsome face. A face with
a slight smile curving its sensual lips and an amused glint in eyes the color
of a glacier’s heart—a pure, crystalline blue.
Oh, crap.
He stood at the bottom of the stairs, but I still had to look up to meet
3 / 70
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
  • zanotowane.pl
  • doc.pisz.pl
  • pdf.pisz.pl
  • klobuckfatima.xlx.pl