Read Online Evil Red by Nikki Jefford - Free Book Online

glanced down at a leather-bound book, lit
by a single copper desk lamp. Her smile reached her cheeks when she
looked up.
    “Welcome back, Mr. Donado. Right this way.”
    Welcome back? How many women had Fane taken to this
restaurant before? Valerie felt an insane urge to rip their hearts
out.
    Being led to a window table calmed her somewhat. An
unobstructed view of Cook Inlet rolled out across the pane. Fane
held her chair out for her.
    “Bottle of red?” he asked when their waiter came by
to inquire about drinks.
    Wine? How fancy and, once again, not what Valerie was
accustomed to. She nodded her head. “That’s fine by me.” She was
dying to try out her new ID.
    Fane looked at the waiter and asked for Cabernet
Sauvignon.
    “ Good choice,
sir. ”
    He returned shortly, making a show of displaying the
wine label, uncorking it, and pouring a small amount inside Fane’s
glass. Fane swirled it, sniffed it, and took a sip before nodding
his approval.
    Valerie observed in fascination. It was like watching
someone speak sign language.
    The waiter filled her wine glass halfway before
returning to Fane’s. He didn’t ask for either of their IDs. Valerie
always had looked older.
    Once the waiter left, Fane raised his glass. “I’d
like to make a toast to a Saturday night out with a beautiful
woman.”
    “Flatterer,” Valerie said. They clinked glasses.
    Valerie took a large sip of wine, one that enflamed
her throat as it went down. She coughed softly.
    Fane grinned. “ Rich, isn ’t it?”
    She nodded and set her glass down. When their waiter
returned, Valerie ordered steak, medium rare. Fane got King
Salmon.
    She tried another taste of wine, taking a smaller
sip.
    A grin appeared on Fane’s lips as he watched her.
“You’re getting the hang of it. Each taste should be savored as
though it were a rare delicacy.”
    The way he said “savored” and “delicacy” made Valerie
quiver with pleasure. If he ever started really talking dirty,
she’d be in trouble.
    The dim lighting brought out Fane’s features—the ones
that made Valerie squirm in her seat. Ever since he’d shed the
coat, Valerie could only think about running her nails over his
pecks every time the flickering candle cast shadows across his abs.
The faint light accented Fane’s strong jawline and proud nose. His
fingers wrapped around his wine in a way that made Valerie envy the
glass stem.
    The irony wasn’t lost on Valerie that this was
supposed to be her seduction, not Fane’s.
    She took a quick look around the restaurant before
her gaze settled on Fane. “You must be loaded to afford a place
like this.”
    Fane shrugged. “I invested wisely.”
    “ Invested, ” Valerie said with a snort. “You’re only
eighteen.”
    As soon as the words were out Valerie remembered why
she was here. For a minute she’d forgotten her assignment. She’d
even forgotten that Fane was much older than eighteen in terms of
his years on earth.
    Fane looked slightly baffled at her comment. He
dropped his chin and studied her face a moment before saying, “It’s
never too early to start investing.”
    “Great. I’ll have to remember that next time I have
an extra hundred bucks lying around,” Valerie said with a
snort.
    Fane’s expression softened. “More wine?” he asked.
After she nodded, he poured a half serving into Valerie’s
glass.
    Dinner arrived shortly thereafter. Valerie ate the
best steak of her life, the meat deliciously tender, not chewy.
Fane seemed to enjoy watching her eat more than eating his own
meal. After nibbling on his food, he left half the salmon on his
plate. Was he watching his figure or something? Because it looked
fine to Valerie.
    More than fine. He looked smoking hot.
    Valerie took another sip of wine, loving the warmth
it spread across every crevice of her body.
    “That was delicious,” Valerie said after Fane paid
the bill.
    “I’m happy you approve,” Fane answered.
    Valerie giggled. Alcohol did that to her.
    Fane