Read Online Damek's Redemption: Legacy, Book 6 by N.J. Walters - Free Book Online
Authors: N.J. Walters
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she’d never heard of one able to be up and around before the sun set, even if he was inside.
She swallowed her disappointment once again and pulled away from him, taking the final steps to his office on her own. Really, she was acting like a ninny. Her brothers would laugh their asses off if they could see the way she was acting around Damek, and all because of some stupid dream she’d had. Maybe she’d seen a picture of him somewhere in her research but just didn’t remember it.
That made sense, and she gave herself a mental pat on the back for finding a logical conclusion. She’d been looking for Damek, so he was already on her mind and had wormed his way into her subconscious. It was an aberration. Nothing more.
He reached around her, his bigger body trapping hers against a door. She sucked in her breath as his chest brushed her back. What was he doing?
“Please enter.” His breath tickled her ear and sent heat coursing down her neck all the way to her chest. He pushed the door open and stepped back.
He was simply opening the door for her. She needed to get a grip on her wayward hormones before they got her into trouble. “Thank you.” Her voice was level, but inside she was a bundle of nerves.
Like the rest of the place, his office was wreathed in shadows. A single brass lamp illuminated the top of his desk and the computer that sat there. And what a desk it was—European, probably Austrian and definitely from the eighteen hundreds.
Sonia hurried forward and touched the carving on the front. Her fingers traced a tangle of trees and animals. “It’s breathtaking.” She’d traveled the world with her parents and had only seen such pieces in either museums or castles. It was walnut but inlaid with various other woods. It was too dark to tell for certain what they were, but the result was nothing short of spectacular.
“Thank you.” He indicated a chair in front of the desk, another antique. She set her purse on the floor and sat, letting herself slowly sink back onto the cushion. He went around to the other side and sat in a rather large carved chair, which suited both the desk and the man who owned it.
The floor was hardwood and the walls were dark-oak panel, much like she would expect to find in an old English manor. Wooden file cabinets ranged along one wall and bookshelves on another, not what she’d expected to see in the owner’s office in an upscale nightclub. Metal file cabinets and a desk from some high-end department store, maybe, but nothing this high quality.
“You like antiques?” he prompted.
“Very much. I traveled a lot with my parents when I was growing up.”
“Ah. There is nothing like firsthand experience to make you appreciate good craftsmanship.”
Before she could think of what to say, a low knock came on the door. “Come,” Damek called. The woman from behind the bar walked in, balancing a tray with a coffee carafe and two mugs. She set it on the desk. “Thank you, Alison.” The woman nodded and left without speaking, closing the door behind her.
Damek deftly poured two mugs of coffee. There was a small jug with cream and a few packets of sugar beside it. “Help yourself.”
He sat back in his chair and set his mug by his computer. Resting his arms on his chair, he steepled his fingers and watched her as she added two packets of sugar to her coffee and stirred.
She took the time to order her thoughts. Fortunately, she’d come up with a reason to talk to him that had nothing to do with vampires. After all, even if he was one, she couldn’t come right out and ask him. Not at first. And anyway, since the sun wouldn’t be setting for quite some time yet, it was obvious the man wasn’t one.
“What can I do for you, Dr. Agostino? I admit I was surprised to find an academic with degrees in folklore and anthropology looking for me.”
She took a sip of the coffee. It was strong and full-bodied, exactly what she needed to steady herself so she didn’t make a
She swallowed her disappointment once again and pulled away from him, taking the final steps to his office on her own. Really, she was acting like a ninny. Her brothers would laugh their asses off if they could see the way she was acting around Damek, and all because of some stupid dream she’d had. Maybe she’d seen a picture of him somewhere in her research but just didn’t remember it.
That made sense, and she gave herself a mental pat on the back for finding a logical conclusion. She’d been looking for Damek, so he was already on her mind and had wormed his way into her subconscious. It was an aberration. Nothing more.
He reached around her, his bigger body trapping hers against a door. She sucked in her breath as his chest brushed her back. What was he doing?
“Please enter.” His breath tickled her ear and sent heat coursing down her neck all the way to her chest. He pushed the door open and stepped back.
He was simply opening the door for her. She needed to get a grip on her wayward hormones before they got her into trouble. “Thank you.” Her voice was level, but inside she was a bundle of nerves.
Like the rest of the place, his office was wreathed in shadows. A single brass lamp illuminated the top of his desk and the computer that sat there. And what a desk it was—European, probably Austrian and definitely from the eighteen hundreds.
Sonia hurried forward and touched the carving on the front. Her fingers traced a tangle of trees and animals. “It’s breathtaking.” She’d traveled the world with her parents and had only seen such pieces in either museums or castles. It was walnut but inlaid with various other woods. It was too dark to tell for certain what they were, but the result was nothing short of spectacular.
“Thank you.” He indicated a chair in front of the desk, another antique. She set her purse on the floor and sat, letting herself slowly sink back onto the cushion. He went around to the other side and sat in a rather large carved chair, which suited both the desk and the man who owned it.
The floor was hardwood and the walls were dark-oak panel, much like she would expect to find in an old English manor. Wooden file cabinets ranged along one wall and bookshelves on another, not what she’d expected to see in the owner’s office in an upscale nightclub. Metal file cabinets and a desk from some high-end department store, maybe, but nothing this high quality.
“You like antiques?” he prompted.
“Very much. I traveled a lot with my parents when I was growing up.”
“Ah. There is nothing like firsthand experience to make you appreciate good craftsmanship.”
Before she could think of what to say, a low knock came on the door. “Come,” Damek called. The woman from behind the bar walked in, balancing a tray with a coffee carafe and two mugs. She set it on the desk. “Thank you, Alison.” The woman nodded and left without speaking, closing the door behind her.
Damek deftly poured two mugs of coffee. There was a small jug with cream and a few packets of sugar beside it. “Help yourself.”
He sat back in his chair and set his mug by his computer. Resting his arms on his chair, he steepled his fingers and watched her as she added two packets of sugar to her coffee and stirred.
She took the time to order her thoughts. Fortunately, she’d come up with a reason to talk to him that had nothing to do with vampires. After all, even if he was one, she couldn’t come right out and ask him. Not at first. And anyway, since the sun wouldn’t be setting for quite some time yet, it was obvious the man wasn’t one.
“What can I do for you, Dr. Agostino? I admit I was surprised to find an academic with degrees in folklore and anthropology looking for me.”
She took a sip of the coffee. It was strong and full-bodied, exactly what she needed to steady herself so she didn’t make a
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