Stake and Dust (Stake and Dust series, Book I) Read Online Free PDF Page A

had been
rearranged around the makeshift stage. She had to admit the
ambience of the place suited her. Too bad she wasn't here to kick
back and enjoy herself. Maybe after the case was closed, she
would.
    She chanced a look at Mr. Green or rather
Tremayne Greer. He wasn't what she expected. She'd only spoken to
him twice on the phone. The first time she would have sworn he'd
been drunk. The guy manning the bar spoke with confidence, not a
bumbling fool she'd believed Mr. Green to be.
    Tremayne joked with the patrons with ease,
and man-oh-man he was easy on the eyes. Thick dark hair, gorgeous
blue eyes, and when he smiled, one dimple winked back.
    Her gaze slid over him or rather what she
could see of him standing behind the counter. And she liked what
she saw – muscled arms, wide chest, tapered waist. She'd bet the
rest of him looked pretty darn snazzy, too. She took another sip of
her drink and realized it was empty. She needed to pace
herself.
    It would take more than one bottle of ale to
make her tipsy. Heck, she'd been known to drink her brothers under
the table, but she was on duty. She needed to keep a sharp lookout,
but she couldn't sit at the table all alone and without a drink in
front of her. She stood and headed back to the bar.
    Tremayne noticed her approach and made a
point to meet her as she sat down on the stool. "Need another apple
ale?" he asked, his head inclining toward the empty bottle.
    "Let's go with a ginger ale this time," she
kept her voice low, so not to be overheard.
    "Smart move." He tapped the side of his nose
and winked. "The coloring will surely pass as a drink, and no one
will be the wiser."
    Was he making fun of her? "You'll be glad I'm
sober if I have to save your pretty behind."
    His lips curved. "Have you been checking out
my behind, Miss Hayes?"
    This made her chuckle. "Just get me the
drink."
    He poured the ginger ale into a clear glass
and slid it over to her. He leaned on the counter, his face inches
from hers. The man was far too good-looking and she wished he'd
back up just a tad, and give her some more breathing space or…
maybe he should just kiss her. She frowned, wondering where that
thought had come from.
    "Is something amiss?" He asked and his right
eyebrow tilted up a fraction of an inch. "Do I have bad breath?" He
covered his mouth with his hand and blew into his palm. "Nope,
minty fresh." He flashed her a smile and that cute as ever dimple
appeared.
    She cleared her throat. "It's not you." No,
it was entirely her problem that her libido had decided to go wonky
and all because she was talking to a good-looking man.
    She really needed to get out more. She
couldn't remember the last time she'd been on a date or better yet,
the last time she'd been kissed. Her gaze landed on his mouth.
She'd bet this guy knew how to kiss. She forced herself to look
away or end up in trouble. Hadn't Mr. Green been shipped out of his
country for fooling around with his superior's daughter? She had no
desire to be added to the list of his conquests. "Just back up a
little, will you?" she said. "Have you not heard of personal
space?"
    He took a step back and lifted his hands. "I
thought you'd like to keep our conversation hushed."
    Her gaze met his and she had the distinct
feeling she'd offended him. "Sorry. It's not…"
    "…you," he finished for her. "Sounds like
you're breaking up with me, Miss Hayes. And all before we've
kissed."
    "W-what?" she asked, and hoped he didn't hear
how her voice hitched.
    "Hey, bartender?" a blond-haired guy at the
end of the bar called to him. He'd been scribbling things down in a
notebook all evening. Nerdish in a way, but too attractive to give
him the full title. But then again she personally found the nerdy
look attractive. "I need a refill," the man said as he lifted his
glass.
    "If you'll excuse me," Tremayne told her and
headed over to the customer.
    This gave her the opportunity to recover from
Tremayne standing too close and making her forget she shouldn't