Stolen Petals Read Online Free PDF

boorish behavior from you." A grin lingered on her face. His hazel eyes lit up at her attempt of levity.
    "And one must exceed expectations, yes?" He scratched at the nape of his neck.
    "Speaking of expectations, if you're working the event with me, even as a front, I expect your manners to be impeccable and your dress even better."
    "Agh, taskmaster. You mean this isn't good enough?" He lifted his shirt, which had more than a few wrinkles in the fabric.
    She leveled him with her flat gaze. "Not in the slightest."
    "So serious," he teased. "Haven't you heard if you always frown you'll get wrinkles?"
    Viola let out a sigh. "Thankfully my wrinkles will never be your concern."
    "Not so." He flattened his palm on the table. "I am always concerned when it comes to the preservation of beauty." He sold his charm with one of those lopsided grins aimed her way. With roguish good looks like his, Viola could guarantee he'd dallied with more women than she wanted to count. Men like that tended to see her as a challenge. But she didn't want to be anyone's challenge—she wanted something real.
    "You must be a darling at the whorehouses then, smitten with every rose who's lost her bud." Viola rolled her eyes, the sarcasm free flowing.
    "They don't let me in anymore." Edward affected a sigh. "My poetry was scaring off the clientele."
    That elicited a laugh from Viola, bitterer than she would've liked. Edward noticed too, with a quick glance her way.
    Maude's dirty glares had increased more and more as time passed. Viola knew those looks, when you wanted to close up but several stragglers wouldn’t leave.
    "While your company has been bearable," Viola allowed him a grin. "I believe I've got to be getting back since I'm sure the hour is late."
    "Tired of my company already?" Edward sounded appalled. "You sure you wouldn't want to join me for a nightcap?"
    Viola studied him. While he phrased the question innocently enough, the heat in his eyes gave him away. Liquid warmth flooded through her from his regard and a flush crept to her cheeks. She had to shut him down. Despite the lady façade, she was no blushing maiden and she'd lost the ability long ago to fall for the things a man would say or do to get her into bed.
    "Oh darling, I don't slip into the sack with just anyone and when I do, I prefer gentlemen. I'm sure you've reeled in plenty of damsels with fire and swagger, but I've seen every trick in the book. I don't fall for them." A ripple of satisfaction flowed through her while watching him blink in surprise. Maybe he hadn't expected the bluntness or maybe he hadn't been turned down before, either way, she'd managed to trip up Edward Van Clef. A muffled chortle sounded from across the room as Maude tried to smother her laugh.
    Edward stood and offered his arm. "Well, Miss Embrees, why don't I walk you to the station?" His familiar flippancy returned to his face, but didn't quite meet his eyes. Viola arched her eyebrow and accepted his arm. Had he expected her to jump into the sack with him or was he more frustrated she'd seen through his game? Men tried to peg women as fragile, but nothing was more breakable than a man's ego.
    "Thank you for the courtesy, Mr. Van Clef." She smiled sweetly as they strode out of Rosie's and into the night.
    Stray leaves blew through the streets and tall oaks cast larger, longer shadows across the asphalt. Despite her thin layers and the breeze, she still felt warm due to his proximity. He'd been rather quiet since they left the bar, which surprised her due to his tendency to prattle on. The silence changed him. With the way his eyebrows furrowed and he stared out into the distance, she caught a glimpse of the soldier he'd once been.
    The moon was a slim crescent in the sky, leaving gas lamps the legwork of illuminating the streets. In the distance, the translucent hull of the sub-bus stood out like a wall of light cutting through the town. The pair of them in their black attire slunk across the pavement