Prince of Air and Darkness Read Online Free PDF Page B

more like a favor than an actual job. But Jackson had never been shy about his opinions, so she knew he meant what he said.
    Jackson put his hands on her shoulders and squeezed. “You’re a genius, you know,” he said, and she laughed.
    “Do I look like I need an ego boost today?”
    He moved around her chair and rested a hip against the desk. He was wearing a heavy wool turtleneck in muted shades of red, and a pair of black leather pants that molded to his ass like a second skin. Kiera couldn’t help thinking that the pants were so tight, he should be showing the male version of panty lines; however, the leather was smooth and unmarred. “I don’t know about an ego boost, but you do have one of those looks today.”
    Surprised, she pushed her chair back from the desk and frowned at him. He always seemed to see her moods, even when she thought she was hiding them so well even the CIA wouldn’t know what she was really feeling. “One of what looks?” she asked.
    He cocked his head as he regarded her more closely. She tried not to squirm under the scrutiny. “At a guess, I’d say you met a new potential man.”
    Kiera grinned and shook her head. The man was amazing. “Not really,” she said, thinking of Hunter and the burning kiss he had planted on her hand. “Just a good-looking client.”
    Jackson raised an eyebrow. “Is he married?”
    She shrugged. “I don’t know. I don’t ask clients personal questions like that.”
    “Hmpf! You ask me personal questions all the time.”
    She rolled her eyes. “You know what I mean. But if it makes you happy, I did notice he wasn’t wearing a wedding ring.”
    “So, you met a good-looking, unmarried client, and he’s impressed you enough that I picked up the lust vibe from you. How is this not a new potential man?”
    She tried to look nonchalant. “Other than the fact that I don’t date clients, you mean?”
    “You work from home, where you’re guaranteed never to meet any new men, you hardly ever go out, at least not for anything fun, and now you tell me you don’t date clients.” He frowned and tapped his lips thoughtfully. “It sounds to me as though you’re avoiding men.”
    She snorted. “I’m not avoiding you ,” she pointed out.
    “That’s because I’m not a threat,” he countered, quite reasonably. “I might as well be ‘one of the girls.’”
    She had to laugh at that. She had never thought of him as “one of the girls,” despite the occasionally flamboyant clothing, and despite his boyfriends. But, she had to admit, he had never been a potential lover, so his accusation was more accurate than she wished to admit.
    “Can you really blame me, Jackson? With my history?”
    “Blame you? No. But, if you would occasionally take my advice, especially when I tell you you’re dating an asshole, perhaps you might do better.”
    Her cheeks felt suddenly hot and she looked away. “You and my mother always seem to know when I’m dating the wrong guy, but neither one of you can avoid the lemons any better than I can.”
    “It’s all a question of perspective,” he told her, making a mock-serious face. “Perhaps you should introduce me to this client of yours.”
    “Jackson . . .” she warned.
    He held his hands out in a gesture of supreme innocence. “Of course, I would never suggest that you disregard your professional ethics and date a client. But, as he does seem to have piqued your interest, I can tell you whether it might have worked out. If you were willing to date clients.”
    She gave him a narrow-eyed glare, even though she couldn’t help wondering what Jackson would make of the unsettling Hunter Teague. “Keep your matchmaking nose out of this, Jackson. I’m serious.” Despite all the sexual heat Hunter had aroused in her at their meeting, he was definitely not her type, she told herself. Too arrogant, too smooth.
    Jackson’s smile became devious. “Of course, I’m unattached right now myself. Do you think he might be