Sweetblood 02.5 - Enchanted by Blood Read Online Free PDF Page A

work downtown?” Now that she was back home and feeling a little more centered, she had a million questions for him.
    “The company has offices all over the world,” he called from the other room, “but right now, I’m here.”
    When she returned a moment later with his water, he was thumbing through her design portfolio, which she’d left on the coffee table, and absently petting her cat.
    “Wow, Augustus doesn’t normally like strangers. I’m impressed.”
    A shadow passed over his face, but just as quickly it was gone. “You’re an interior designer.” It was a statement, not a question. “With your own business?” He sounded surprised. Did he not like her work?
    “Yes,” she said, her tone guarded. “I broke out on my own a few months ago.”
    He scratched behind Augustus’s ears, nodding thoughtfully as if he were analyzing a business decision. “And what is the name of your company?”
    “Charlotte Grant Designs. I do a lot of home decorating, also staging homes for sale.”
    He looked confused as he flipped through more pages. “What are these party photos?”
    For some reason, it pleased her that he’d actually looked at the pictures closely enough to notice that. “I’ve done some event planning, too. Small corporate affairs, mostly. Christmas, New Year’s, product launch celebrations, that sort of thing.”
    When she sat down next to him on the sofa, her hand accidentally brushed his. In an instant, a snap of static electricity tickled the tiny hairs on her arms before she jerked it away. She laughed nervously. “That was, um…weird again. It doesn’t usually happen unless I’m walking around the carpet wearing my fuzzy socks.”
    “Not a problem.” His tone, a tad deeper now, sent tiny chills along her arms. “How’s your wrist feeling?”
    “Much better. Thanks.”
    She glanced up to find him staring at her, as if he were looking at her for the first time. Her cheeks heated under his scrutiny.
    “You…ah…sure you’re okay?”
    She was touched by his lingering concern. Most men wouldn’t bother to ask, let alone notice that she might still be shaken up even if she seemed fine on the outside.
    “Yes, I’m much better now.” Because of you, she wanted to add.
    She was suddenly aware that her knee was almost touching his thigh. Less than a finger’s width separated them. If she relaxed her leg slightly, it would fall against his. Holding it very still so as not to brush him, she reached for the portfolio and turned the pages. “Here…ah…let me show you the pictures of one of the last events I did.”
    As he examined the three pages she’d devoted to it, a tiny muscle in his jaw flexed and his nostrils flared slightly. Was he pissed off? she wondered, tensing her shoulders. Her dad used to do the same thing prior to one of his tirades, like he was holding back his anger for a moment before it all exploded.
    “Does Xtark regularly employ you?” he asked icily.
    Surprised he recognized the company from the event photos, she was confused by his reaction. “Xtark Software? How did you know? Are you a gamer?” Although they designed other software, Xtark was known mainly for its games, and Trace didn’t strike her as someone who played them.
    “I’m familiar with their corporate logo.” He pointed to a picture. “It’s on this banner.”
    Still, that was very perceptive. “It was the first time I worked with them.” She chewed on her lower lip, wondering whether to leave it at that. But she had to know what was bothering him. “Why?”
    He hesitated as if he were considering his words carefully. “Let’s just say that I’ve heard about some less than positive things they may or may not have been involved in.”
    Talk about a qualifying statement. He sounded like someone who didn’t want to commit one way or another. Aware that their knees were now touching, she didn’t want to move for fear she’d only draw attention to the fact that she’d noticed. “They