Read Online Charming (Exiled Book 3) by Victoria Danann - Free Book Online
Authors: Victoria Danann
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Charming sighed and looked out the window for a few beats. “What if we keep the event, but sort of repurpose it. We’ll call it Jubilee and say it’s to celebrate the alliance between humans and hybrids.” Charming lit up. “In fact that’s a great idea. We should focus on all the great things that have come about because of the integration. With the, you know, killings, that couldn’t come at a better time.
“So we won’t make any mention of Rautt or independence. We’ll focus on the four f’s. Food, fireworks, fun, and the future. What do you think?”
His enthusiasm was contagious. Dandy smiled. “Sounds perfect. If you can pull that off, we’ll come. Gladly.” She turned and winked at Ana. “And stay with you.”
“What? Wait!” She definitely put Charming off balance.
“Okay. Not all of us, but seriously, where are you going to put us overnight? Town House can take a few, but that leaves a lot of kids.”
“Don’t worry. We’ll figure it out and the kids will have a wonderful time.” He put an arm around her shoulders, gave her a squeeze, and a kiss on the temple. “You, too.”
She laughed and pushed him away. “Get away from me before I tell your brother you’re trying to steal kisses.”
“Go ahead and tell him,” he smiled. “The big lunker needs to up his game if he wants to keep you.”
Dandy giggled in a way that made her suddenly seem both girlish and more approachable.
Ana had paused with a half-eaten cinnamon roll in the air. “Is everybody invited?”
“Of course!” Dandy answered. “You should go as Charming’s date.”
Ana looked at Charming to see his reaction, but if there was any it was undetectable. His expression couldn’t be read and, like all people who’d spent time on the rough side of life, she was an expert at reading expressions and body language. Her survival had often depended on it.
Dandy was clearly oblivious to having engineered an awkwardness that hadn’t existed before. She bustled over to put her cup in the sink and air kissed Charming. “Thanks for the sweet things. Nice to meet you, Ana. Maybe I’ll see you at the pub tonight. And my offer to talk to Scar still stands.”
Ana smiled. “No need. It’ll work itself out.”
Dandy laughed. “A philosopher! Charming, we need one of those in the family.”
She closed the door behind her, leaving the two of them alone.
“Ready for work?” Charming had one eyebrow raised in a humorless way.
“Let’s do it.”
Leaving Ana in the pub kitchen, Charming suddenly felt like she looked very small and vulnerable. He pulled Scar aside on his way out, “I don’t know what all she’s been through, but there’s a reason Rosie brought her here to be taken care of and protected. Do not scare her.”
“Scare her! What are you talking about?”
Charming stared at Scar for a few beats. Apparently Scar was oblivious of the effect he had on humans. Either that or he was deliberately playing dumb.
“Just dial it back when you’re interacting with her. Okay?”
“You worry too much, Leader. You go take care of running the world and let me take care of running my bar.”
Charming looked around him and locked eyes with Ana. “See you tonight.” She nodded, but looked anxious which made him wonder if insisting that she take a job had been an ill-conceived idea. “You gonna be okay here?” She looked around and nodded again. He said, “Okay. Later,” but still hesitated, feeling reluctant to leave with her looking so lost.
Ana, seeing that Charming was dawdling, put on some false bravado and waved toward the door. He gave her a little macho chin jerk and disappeared.
“So,” Scar said,” let’s find out what you don’t know.”
Ana barked out a laugh and said, “That’s going to be the fastest interview in the history of questioning.” And just like that she was over being afraid. It seemed that sassiness was a cure for anxiety. It dissipated like the steam rising from the
“So we won’t make any mention of Rautt or independence. We’ll focus on the four f’s. Food, fireworks, fun, and the future. What do you think?”
His enthusiasm was contagious. Dandy smiled. “Sounds perfect. If you can pull that off, we’ll come. Gladly.” She turned and winked at Ana. “And stay with you.”
“What? Wait!” She definitely put Charming off balance.
“Okay. Not all of us, but seriously, where are you going to put us overnight? Town House can take a few, but that leaves a lot of kids.”
“Don’t worry. We’ll figure it out and the kids will have a wonderful time.” He put an arm around her shoulders, gave her a squeeze, and a kiss on the temple. “You, too.”
She laughed and pushed him away. “Get away from me before I tell your brother you’re trying to steal kisses.”
“Go ahead and tell him,” he smiled. “The big lunker needs to up his game if he wants to keep you.”
Dandy giggled in a way that made her suddenly seem both girlish and more approachable.
Ana had paused with a half-eaten cinnamon roll in the air. “Is everybody invited?”
“Of course!” Dandy answered. “You should go as Charming’s date.”
Ana looked at Charming to see his reaction, but if there was any it was undetectable. His expression couldn’t be read and, like all people who’d spent time on the rough side of life, she was an expert at reading expressions and body language. Her survival had often depended on it.
Dandy was clearly oblivious to having engineered an awkwardness that hadn’t existed before. She bustled over to put her cup in the sink and air kissed Charming. “Thanks for the sweet things. Nice to meet you, Ana. Maybe I’ll see you at the pub tonight. And my offer to talk to Scar still stands.”
Ana smiled. “No need. It’ll work itself out.”
Dandy laughed. “A philosopher! Charming, we need one of those in the family.”
She closed the door behind her, leaving the two of them alone.
“Ready for work?” Charming had one eyebrow raised in a humorless way.
“Let’s do it.”
Leaving Ana in the pub kitchen, Charming suddenly felt like she looked very small and vulnerable. He pulled Scar aside on his way out, “I don’t know what all she’s been through, but there’s a reason Rosie brought her here to be taken care of and protected. Do not scare her.”
“Scare her! What are you talking about?”
Charming stared at Scar for a few beats. Apparently Scar was oblivious of the effect he had on humans. Either that or he was deliberately playing dumb.
“Just dial it back when you’re interacting with her. Okay?”
“You worry too much, Leader. You go take care of running the world and let me take care of running my bar.”
Charming looked around him and locked eyes with Ana. “See you tonight.” She nodded, but looked anxious which made him wonder if insisting that she take a job had been an ill-conceived idea. “You gonna be okay here?” She looked around and nodded again. He said, “Okay. Later,” but still hesitated, feeling reluctant to leave with her looking so lost.
Ana, seeing that Charming was dawdling, put on some false bravado and waved toward the door. He gave her a little macho chin jerk and disappeared.
“So,” Scar said,” let’s find out what you don’t know.”
Ana barked out a laugh and said, “That’s going to be the fastest interview in the history of questioning.” And just like that she was over being afraid. It seemed that sassiness was a cure for anxiety. It dissipated like the steam rising from the
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