Read Online Azrael's Light [Demon Runners of Unearth] (Siren Publishing Classic) by Amy J. Hawthorn - Free Book Online Page A

the need to wear torture devices to gain a man’s attention? We’re usually a sure thing. Crook your finger and we’ll come begging. I don’t get it. Do you want me to talk to Diane?”
    “No. Diane doesn’t care what I wear to work as long as I show and do my job.” She sighed. She’d already revealed so much to him. What would sharing one more piece of her screwed-up life with him hurt? “If you must know, I dress like a whore because men are idiots and tip really well when their brains are fogged with visions of sex. I just need the tip money, Brick. I’m not a whore.” Her gut clenched, and she looked at the toes of her old blue and gray sneakers. Shit. Why had she tacked on that last bit?
    He grabbed her elbow and turned her to face him.
    “Never. Never once since the day I first met you have I thought you were a whore. Hardworking. Stubborn. Spiteful. Beautiful. That’s what comes to mind when I think of you. Never a whore. Don’t let me hear that word come from your mouth when you talk about yourself.”
    Dumbstruck, she purposely ignored his beautiful comment and chose another at random. “Spiteful? You think I’m spiteful? How?” Would she ever unravel this man’s mysteries?
    “I thought you wore those skirts just to drive me insane with lust. You know, showing me flashes of what I couldn’t have.”
    She was screwed. She was in so far over her head that she feared becoming lost forever.
    She couldn’t allow herself to forget that she had Sammy to think of. He was her world. Without her son, she had nothing. But her mouth wasn’t cooperating. “Are you calling me a tease? Brick, honestly, I just need the tip money. Where’s your bike?”
    They’d come to the lot, and his motorcycle was missing from its usual spot. Maybe it was behind the hulking blue pickup. Oh God. She hoped no one stole it. That thing was his pride and joy.
    “I drove my truck, just in case the weather turned bad.”
    Weather? It was late summer with nothing but more hot and dry in the week’s forecast. Lights flashed, and the hulk beeped at them as if impatient. With a loose arm around her waist, he herded her toward it.
    “It must cost you a fortune in gas to drive it. I’ll pay to fill it up.” It would take a huge chunk out of her tips, but she was sure he’d done it because the motorcycle had scared her so much. He probably didn’t want to have to waste time coaxing her onto it like he had last night.
    “Nah. I got it. Let me help you in.”
    “It’s okay, I’ve got long legs, remember?”
    Before she could blink, he opened the door, wrapped his big hands around her waist, and lifted her into the seat. He took the seatbelt, reached across to buckle her in and his delicious, male scent teased her. He paused, placed a hand on each of her hips, and looked her in the eye. “Long legs? Yeah. Believe me, I remember every night.” He pulled back and carefully shut the door.
    Where had all the air gone? She couldn’t breathe, and her body caught fire as she involuntarily tracked his every step until he made it to the other door. It opened, and he climbed in and started the truck. The beast let out a low growl, and they were on their way.
    “So how’s Sam doing? I haven’t seen the little man in forever.” It had been almost a year since she’d had to take her son by the bar, and then it had been daytime, well before open. Even though Diane ran a tight ship and the place was spotless, she didn’t bring Sam by unless she had no other option.
    “He’s doing great. I don’t know if he’s more excited or nervous to start kindergarten.”
    “Whoa, kindergarten? Already? Does he still carry around that frog? What was its name? Harry? No. Herbie, yeah Herbie.”
    What looked like genuine interest marked his features, and there was no condescension because her little boy had a stuffed animal he never parted with. Her heart was melting fast, and that was more dangerous to her than anything her ex had put them