Read Online A Kiss of Revenge (Entangled Ignite) by Natalie Damschroder - Free Book Online
Authors: Natalie Damschroder
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the branch it rests upon is ironwood. It illustrates the strength and beauty of a woman.” She smiled knowingly at them and leaned subtly back, a saleswoman who knew when to press and when to offer space.
“It suits you,” Griff said, as Reese had known he would.
“Thanks.” She smiled at the artist. “It’s beautiful.” But she turned away and when Griff didn’t move, grabbed his hand to drag him out of the booth.
“You didn’t want it?” He kept his hand wrapped around hers as they made their way through the crowds. It would have been too obvious and hurtful to pull away—or so she told herself.
She wanted the necklace, but she didn’t want him to buy it for her. It wasn’t a “good friends” purchase. So she just shrugged and pointed out wooden pop guns and red-white-and-blue-painted rifles, knowing any guy could be distracted by toy weaponry.
The sun had begun its descent as they neared the end of the path around the lake, and Griff excused himself to go to the restroom. She wandered among the last few booths, vaguely listening to the conversations around her, afraid to analyze Griff’s presence and intent.
“Caitlin just refuses to eat anything green…”
“I knew from the moment that asshole came into my office…”
“Well, sure, the school board would vote that way…”
“…Moving Alpine Nirvana to the marina in Chelsea next week.”
Reese jerked to a stop and spun, searching wildly for the person who’d spoken. The place was packed, and she couldn’t pinpoint the voice. Was it the dark-haired guy in the white T-shirt? The punk losing his shorts? She spotted a man in a suit, but there was no one around him he could be talking to.
The crowd shifted and swirled around her. The suit turned, and she saw the Bluetooth hooked over his ear. She zeroed in and followed as he strolled away, trying to get close enough to hear his voice. People kept crossing in front of her, and she sidestepped and skipped and stutter-stepped up the aisle. She growled at a young child who jumped in front of her. This is ridiculous . She darted between two tents and ran along the back of the row. Now she was unhindered, but she couldn’t see the guy anymore. She ran a little harder to get to the end of the row and jerked to a stop at the edge of the crowd. She was taller than half the people around her, but still had to crane to see. Where had he gone? She cursed. He could have turned down a cross aisle or gone into any booth. She looked right, but the field at the end of the path was nearly empty. He was nowhere in sight.
She started walking left, looking into booths she passed, and nearly crashed into him when he dodged a group of teenagers. He slipped by her, going too fast for her to catch what he was saying, but she heard enough of his voice to be sure he was the guy.
Her breath caught up to her as she followed him. He was just under average height and dark, possibly of Middle Eastern descent, and very slender. His suit, she could tell now, was probably not off the rack. Could this be her guy? Brian’s partner? Anxiety burned under the excitement that leaped into her chest. How would she know if he was?
She probably couldn’t, but he might know her. Thank God for the crowd that allowed her to keep a couple of people between them but stay within earshot.
“Yes, I’m here. It’s still on display. Thank you, Skav.” He stopped at the last booth on the corner and tapped his headset, disconnecting the call. Reese started browsing the black and white photos on display, keeping out of his direct line of sight, as he motioned sharply to the woman sitting inside.
“How many of these do you have?” His refined tone announced training at some prep school. Around fifteen years ago, if she guessed his age correctly.
“I’m sorry sir,” the woman told him, “that’s the only one.”
Reese risked a glance. The photo he was staring at looked like the roof of a house, but streaked, as if the
“It suits you,” Griff said, as Reese had known he would.
“Thanks.” She smiled at the artist. “It’s beautiful.” But she turned away and when Griff didn’t move, grabbed his hand to drag him out of the booth.
“You didn’t want it?” He kept his hand wrapped around hers as they made their way through the crowds. It would have been too obvious and hurtful to pull away—or so she told herself.
She wanted the necklace, but she didn’t want him to buy it for her. It wasn’t a “good friends” purchase. So she just shrugged and pointed out wooden pop guns and red-white-and-blue-painted rifles, knowing any guy could be distracted by toy weaponry.
The sun had begun its descent as they neared the end of the path around the lake, and Griff excused himself to go to the restroom. She wandered among the last few booths, vaguely listening to the conversations around her, afraid to analyze Griff’s presence and intent.
“Caitlin just refuses to eat anything green…”
“I knew from the moment that asshole came into my office…”
“Well, sure, the school board would vote that way…”
“…Moving Alpine Nirvana to the marina in Chelsea next week.”
Reese jerked to a stop and spun, searching wildly for the person who’d spoken. The place was packed, and she couldn’t pinpoint the voice. Was it the dark-haired guy in the white T-shirt? The punk losing his shorts? She spotted a man in a suit, but there was no one around him he could be talking to.
The crowd shifted and swirled around her. The suit turned, and she saw the Bluetooth hooked over his ear. She zeroed in and followed as he strolled away, trying to get close enough to hear his voice. People kept crossing in front of her, and she sidestepped and skipped and stutter-stepped up the aisle. She growled at a young child who jumped in front of her. This is ridiculous . She darted between two tents and ran along the back of the row. Now she was unhindered, but she couldn’t see the guy anymore. She ran a little harder to get to the end of the row and jerked to a stop at the edge of the crowd. She was taller than half the people around her, but still had to crane to see. Where had he gone? She cursed. He could have turned down a cross aisle or gone into any booth. She looked right, but the field at the end of the path was nearly empty. He was nowhere in sight.
She started walking left, looking into booths she passed, and nearly crashed into him when he dodged a group of teenagers. He slipped by her, going too fast for her to catch what he was saying, but she heard enough of his voice to be sure he was the guy.
Her breath caught up to her as she followed him. He was just under average height and dark, possibly of Middle Eastern descent, and very slender. His suit, she could tell now, was probably not off the rack. Could this be her guy? Brian’s partner? Anxiety burned under the excitement that leaped into her chest. How would she know if he was?
She probably couldn’t, but he might know her. Thank God for the crowd that allowed her to keep a couple of people between them but stay within earshot.
“Yes, I’m here. It’s still on display. Thank you, Skav.” He stopped at the last booth on the corner and tapped his headset, disconnecting the call. Reese started browsing the black and white photos on display, keeping out of his direct line of sight, as he motioned sharply to the woman sitting inside.
“How many of these do you have?” His refined tone announced training at some prep school. Around fifteen years ago, if she guessed his age correctly.
“I’m sorry sir,” the woman told him, “that’s the only one.”
Reese risked a glance. The photo he was staring at looked like the roof of a house, but streaked, as if the
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