Cora's Secret: A Vampire Ménage Urban Fantasy Romance Read Online Free PDF Page A

all Rhys’ slightly worn features, Cora liked his lips the best. They were full and looked firm. Sometimes she had wondered what they would feel like against hers. What would they taste like? Would he be a good kisser?
    That question occurred to her now with even more force. She longed to find out.
    She pulled her gaze back up to his eyes. Up close like this, the laugh lines around the corners of his eyes were apparent. So was the very light touch of gray at his temples, but apart from the crinkles at the corners of his eyes, his face was unlined, which meant the gray was premature and probably earned via his high stress job. It added to his slightly imperfect appearance. He wasn’t completely dark-headed, completely young, or perfectly handsome. She guessed his age to be somewhere in his late thirties or early forties.
    But he was sexy in a low-key way that a woman looking for a perfect date would miss in her first sweeping glance. It was only after Cora had got to know Rhys Wisherd that she appreciated his better qualities. He had tight hips and an even better ass, that the jeans outlined nicely, but the jacket often hid. She had seen him in rolled-up shirt sleeves only once and knew his forearms were strong with muscle, but he wasn’t muscle-bound. He worked too hard for that.
    Everyone liked Sheriff Wisherd. Everyone seemed to know him. Cora had met him the second night on the job, which had been her third day in Erie, and had liked him, too. He visited the casino every few days to check with Jimmy, the manager, and look around for himself. He usually stopped at her table to nod and perhaps speak for a moment in between deals. But she wasn’t the only dealer he chatted with, either. He spread his low-key charm around and didn’t favor anyone in particular.
    Now he was almost leaning over her. His lips were inches away. She just had to sway toward him and their mouths would meet.
    Do it . The urge was powerful, swelling up inside her like…god, like an orgasm. It was building inside her chest, instead of her belly, but it was impossible to ignore.
    “Rhys…” she breathed.
    He was breathing harder. Staring at her. At her lips.
    He wanted to kiss her, too.
    It was a moment of perfect understanding. She could see he was battling with his better senses, the upright, proper perspective of the city’s most popular sheriff ever.
    “Howdy, Sheriff Wisherd!” a man, a stranger, said from behind.
    The moment was broken. Rhys stirred and looked over his shoulder. The well-wisher was already five yards away, but Rhys raised his hand in greeting anyway.
    Cora straightened up from her lean against the table and took a small step to one side, putting distance between her and Rhys. She flipped her hair back over her shoulders, pulled her vest back into place and tried to shake off the dregs of that single powerful moment.
    Rhys turned back to her. He had moved farther away from her, as well. He pushed his hands into his jacket pockets. “I should let you have your break,” he said slowly. She got the impression that his mind was working hard. Perhaps he was wondering what the fuck was going on, too. “Have you seen Jimmy tonight?”
    “He’s coming in later. Kruger is holding the fort.”
    Rhys swallowed. She could hear it. “Would you let Jimmy know I stopped in?”
    “Sure can.” It was one of the peppy phrases she used with customers and it sounded as false as it really was. She bit her lip, wondering how she could take it back. “I mean…of course,” she said, her voice low.
    He looked at her. Really looked at her. “Sorry to use up your break.”
    “I’m off shift at ten.” She could feel her own lips opening in surprise. Why was she telling him that? Had she really just hinted that he should come back?
    Rhys took a step backward. “I…ah…gotta go.”
    She nodded. She was afraid to speak. Afraid of what might come out of her mouth.
    He turned and headed for the doors.
    Cora couldn’t help herself. She