Read Online Darkness Bound by Stella Cameron - Free Book Online Page B

bar,” Leigh said carefully. She was at war. On one hand she wanted to say she didn’t need this job, then walk out. On the other hand she struggled with a sense of loyalty to Gabriel, who had been so nice to her.
    Then there was Niles, who was pinning his hopes on Leigh changing things for Gabriel. Leigh liked the idea of Niles being happy—and of her being part of the reason.
    And she was making friends. After keeping to herself for so long, she was starting to live again.
    Leigh thought about Niles, not that he was being anything other than a good neighbor to her. But he had made her feel different, as if a little spark she never expected to know again had been struck.
    Her breath caught. There was more than a neighborly feeling. Maybe for him as well—she had seen it in the way he looked at her.
    “Then there’s the vendors,” Molly snapped. “Simon’s been providing wine and incidentals since we opened. He gives us good deals already—”
    “Simon seems like a very accommodating vendor, but as part of my job I checked the comps with other dealers and—”
    “You told him you want a better deal. We won’t get our supplies cheaper from anyone else. They’ll promise anything to get the business but when the bills come in there’ll be this and that added afterward.”
    “How do you know?”
    “Simon told me and I trust him.”
    Leigh nodded. She couldn’t figure out if Molly was an airhead or being deliberately obtuse because it made her life easier. This conversation would go nowhere. Twin Cuss had delivered the coffee and Leigh could smell the spirits in Molly’s mug.
    The music got suddenly ear-splitting and even more people poured onto the minuscule floor to squish into the crush. Whoops went up and Leigh smiled. It sounded as if they were holding an indoor rodeo.
    “You see what I mean?” Molly shouted. “We’ve got ways of doing things around here and people like to know what to expect.”
    “Oh, yes, they do. That works the best for everyone.” Leigh started to look around, somewhat desperately, for Gabriel.
    Molly took several long gulps from her mug.
    Leigh’s prayer was answered. Gabriel walked throughthe front doors with Niles—Niles and the gigantic blue-black dog.
    “Ugh,” Molly said. “Gabriel shouldn’t let that thing in here.”
    “Niles is a nice man,” Leigh said.
    “He’s a hunk. But I meant the dog. Nasty piece of work if you ask me. Just sits there and stares. Shouldn’t be allowed.”
    “Dogs always come into the bar,” Leigh pointed out. “My Jazzy’s in the back.”
    Molly looked as if she would like to say something unpleasant about poor little Jazzy. Instead she plastered on a prim smile. “Jazzy’s different. That’s the size a dog should be and he doesn’t come out here.”
    Leigh made no comment.
    Niles saw Leigh and came to her side with Blue at his heel. “Hi, lady,” he said. His Adam’s apple jerked when he spoke and Leigh had the extraordinary impression that he might be nervous around her. Or just very aware? He didn’t even glance at Molly, who gave off waves of petulance.
    “Hey,” Leigh said. “How’s everything going?”
    “Good,” he said. “Good. I thought it was time I introduced my dog properly since he likes to hang out around your place.” He went down on one knee with the dog between them.
    Niles had talked about looking out for Blue but not about the dog belonging to him, but she was glad. Any dog-friend of Niles could be a dog-friend of hers.
    “He’s a love,” Leigh said diplomatically and managed to scratch Blue between the ears without flinching. With her sitting down, the dog was as tall as she was.
    Blue turned his big head to look into her face. Then, without warning, he licked her from chin to forehead and rested his head on her arm.
    “That’s enough,” Niles snapped, glaring into the dog’s face.
    “Leave him,” Leigh said. Dogs always had an inside track with her. “He’s a sweetheart.” She felt as