Charming (Exiled Book 3) Read Online Free PDF Page B

used to. It was more like folk music, no electrical instruments. When she stepped inside, she could see that it was being played by a live musician with an odd-shaped acoustical stringed instrument.
    The place was crowded, but she spied one empty stool at the bar and began making her way through the people to get there. When she hopped up on the stool, an enormous bear of a man appeared in front of her wearing a white apron tied around his waist. With a gruff manner and voice that sounded like the rumble of distant thunder, he said, “What can I get you, little girl?”
    Judging by the prominent scar on his face, she concluded that he must be the proprietor, possibly the scariest-looking person she’d ever seen, including Ernesto. But one thing she’d learned from years in the underbelly of society was that showing weakness would get you eaten alive.
    “I’m not a little girl.”
    He laughed. “No?”
    “No!”
    “Would you, by any chance be a little girl named Ana?”
    “My name is Ana.” She gave Scar her meanest look. “But I am not a little girl.”
    “Alright, settle down. Charming said to give you whatever you want. If you’re a friend of Rosie’s, you’re welcome here because she used to work for me. But make it fast. Got people waiting.”
    “I don’t know what you have.”
    He pointed to a blackboard behind him. “I’ll be back after helping customers who know what they want.”
    She watched him walk away, slinging a damp bar towel over his shoulder, then read the board. With the exception of white sausage steeped in beer, everything sounded good. When Scar returned with an eyebrow raised, she said, “Lamb and onion stew.”
    “Drink?” he asked.
    “Water?”
    “Water,” he repeated then shrugged. “Okaaay.”
    She became aware of the guy sitting next to her when he turned and then did a double take. “You new? Haven’t seen you before.”
    “Fresh off the boat, but that doesn’t mean I just fell off the cabbage truck.”
    He smiled with open curiosity. “I didn’t understand anything you just said.”
    “Got here today.”
    “I got that.”
    The guy was cute enough, but reminded Ana too much of the boyfriend who had betrayed her by taking Ernesto’s money and leaving her to face the consequences. Fucking Joey.
    “Good. So understand this. You’re cute and maybe you’re nice too, but I’m not interested in putting in the effort to find out.”
    His smile collapsed and he nodded. “Okay, human. That’s blunt enough even for Exiled. Understood that, too.”
    Human?
    Exiled?
    A tanned and muscled forearm with light blond hair snaked between Ana and the Joey-look-alike, landing on his shoulder. Hard.
    Joey’s doppelganger looked over his shoulder. “Charming. What’s up?”
    “This is my ward, Talon.” He glanced at Ana. “She’s under my protection. Just thought you’d like to know sooner rather than later. ‘Cause later comes with physical proof. Do us both a favor and pass the word.” Charming felt a funny sensation in his midsection when he said the phrase ‘under my protection’, but didn’t have time for self-reflection. As if there wasn’t enough going on already, he had to look after a girl who’d practically been left on his doorstep with a note.
    The guy Charming had called Talon, slid off his stool, but before he left, he said, “Good luck, Leader. It’s going to take more than a word from me to keep males away from that.” He threw a last glance toward Ana then walked away taking his tankard with him.
    Charming slid onto the vacated stool. “So you found the note, found your way here, and ordered supper. You’re more resourceful than you look.”
    “No idea if that was an insult or a compliment.”
    He smiled and shook his head. “More like playful banter.”
    Playful banter?
    “If anybody makes you feel uncomfortable in any way, let me know and it will be dealt with.”
    Ana barked out a laugh and looked around the room. “You have no idea what