Deceive Her With Desire Read Online Free PDF Page A

Tilling?”

    Working for him didn’t mean anything more than mulching beds and trimming trees—and a very large paycheck she desperately needed. “Sure, we have a deal. Monday morning,” she said, trying to keep her voice from betraying her apprehension. For fifteen thousand dollars, Deirdre could put up with almost anything. Almost.  
    * * * *
     
    Ayden made his way down the path. It was nearly midnight, a slice of moon directly overhead. Looking back over his shoulder, he checked again to make sure he wasn’t being followed. Even as he crested the knoll into the marsh grass, he could hear the loud voices of the crowd. It didn’t look like this party would slow down for a long while. Most of the guests were hopped-up on heroin, maybe coke, definitely alcohol, all generously provided by one Mr. Shawn Jameson.
    The sophisticated man he’d met at the bar was exactly what he’d expected. He fit the three C’s of the profile Ayden had worked up on Maine’s drug Lord—charismatic, commanding, cocky. Even in his casual attire, Jameson exuded an air that communicated to those around him he was in complete control.
    Ayden speculated on how far Jameson’s connections reached.
    With legitimate real estate businesses in Bangor, Portland and Boston, Jameson had perfect locations for distribution. But even with that income and the ability to purchase foreclosed properties for pennies on the dollar, his three estates, one of them a seaside retreat large enough to be a small hotel, seemed a bit of a financial stretch. This could definitely be the score Ayden was looking for.
    He had no doubt Jameson was his guy. He’d bust this asshole’s operation wide open and staunch the hemorrhaging of illegal substances into the United States. In the process, he’d purge himself of the burden of guilt he’d slogged around for three goddamn years. He wanted so much more than to save the future drug addicts the pain of recovery.
    He wanted revenge.
    The evil snake, desperate to find those responsible for screwing up his life, coiled up within him and he fought to tamp it down. Now that he was so close, Ayden couldn’t let his personal need to settle a score get tangled up with the professional job.
    Stepping off the path onto the small beach bathed in moonlight, he rolled his head and stretched the taut muscles of his neck. He forced his heart rate to slow in time with the rhythmic wash of the ocean. The sound of the surf rolling ashore drowned out the last strains of the pounding rock music.
    This he could enjoy. He breathed deep, letting the pungent taste of the salt air replace the bitter flavor of remorse. Refocused, he headed down the beach.
    He’d come down here because he’d seen the sexy redhead walk this way. Intent on killing two birds with one stone, three if he worked it right, he’d check the beach for recent boat traffic and find Jameson’s play toy and ply her for information. And if he got real lucky, perhaps get a little action on the side.
    Oh, he’d watched her all right. He didn’t think anyone had missed the little bump and grind she’d done with the brunette on the speaker. Sexy as hell . What man wouldn’t react to that display? The way those two had been on each other though, he’d thought probably they were lovers. They looked like they were going to strip each other naked and do each other right there.
    Then the brunette had left with some guy, and he’d watched the redhead play tonsil hockey with Jameson on the front deck. It had surprised him when she’d walked away alone and Jameson had headed back into the mansion, but sometimes you just didn’t question when fate handed you the golden ticket.
    Half way down the path, he’d abandoned all pretenses of professionalism and now was as focused on getting laid as he was on collecting information. He figured the redhead swung whichever way the wind was blowing. And the way he was feeling, he hoped she’d think a monsoon had swept in her direction