Read Online Licked (L.A. Liaisons Book 1) by Brooke Blaine - Free Book Online

then?”
    “Sure thing. I’ll just check with Mitch and make sure it’s good with him too.”
    “Thank you, but what’s this ‘we’ business?”
    “You can’t just go pick out whatever you want with no regard to my side of things—”
    “ Your side of things?” I interrupted.
    “Well, my business eye. Plus, I can get you a better rate if I’m there.”
    “Right. You’re right. And this place can do what I envision for the pieces? Like unusual flairs—”
    “Even better, no doubt.”
    I looked at him warily, but he seemed confident about it, and he hadn’t steered me wrong yet. I blew out a breath. “Thank you. You’re saving my ass yet again.”
    With a shrug, Hunter said, “Not a problem. It’s a nice ass.” When my mouth fell open, he chuckled. “But I should probably get back to it.” He slid out of the booth and looked down at me. “You need any help?”
    “What, standing up? Nah, I think the urge to dive into a tub of whipped cream has passed.”
    A sinful look crossed Hunter’s face then. “That’s too bad,” he said quietly, rapping his knuckles on the table before walking away.  
    What the hell was that supposed to mean? He wanted me to drown myself in whipped cream or he wanted to see me in—
    Oh. Oh damn. This guy was potent, and if that sexy glint in his eyes was anything to go by, it was pretty clear he knew it, too.  

    THE NEXT MORNING as I was walking in the shop after having made a run for coffee beans, Hunter strolled through the tarp.
    I gave him a sharp look as I rounded the counter and shook my head. “Nope. No way. Don’t even say it.”
    He stopped, holding his hands up, and I tried not to look at the way the red shirt he wore with his company’s logo across the front sculpted to his muscles.  
    “What’d I do?” he asked.
    “Nothing yet, but I’m sure you’re coming to tell me something I don’t want to hear.”
    “Now why would you think that?”
    “Is it the plumbing this time? Or the furniture guy has closed his business permanently and I’ll have to get those plastic chairs after all? Or is it termites? Please don’t say termites. I think I could handle anything else.”
    “It’s not termites.”
    “Oh thank you, God. The plumbing?”
    “Is fine,” Hunter said as he came around to the front register.  
    “So this is just a friendly hello?”
    “It is.”
    “Oh. Well, hi.”
    “Hey.” He smiled, and while his wasn’t the beaming smile of Cameron’s, it was something worse. Much worse. It was sexy with a side of cocky, one that no doubt had women flinging their panties in his direction. But not me. Nope. I was holding on to my hipsters, thankyouverymuch.  
    “Can I get you and your guys drinks or anything?”
    “No, thanks. We don’t usually have vodka until after lunch.”  
    “What?”
    He laughed. “Not on duty, of course.”
    “Right.” The feeling in my stomach could only be described as anxious, the casual hellos scaring me more than the possibility of termites. Okay, now that was a problem.
    He cleared his throat and glanced up at the menu. “So, I’ve had to smell your shop for a week now, and I have to say”—he looked at me and leaned in closer—“fucking delicious.”
    “Um.” Dammit, why was my face getting hot? This was why I needed a tan. Pasty-white girl who blushes easy gave me away too much. Great. “Thank you.”
    “I thought maybe I could have a taste?”
    My eyes were on his lips, which were closer than they were a few seconds ago. Or was I imagining things? “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I mumbled.
    “Why not? No one’s here.”
    “Because…” My mind tried to come up with a logical reason, but I couldn’t seem to focus on anything but his damn lips. “Because Cameron’s your roommate.”
    “What does that have to do with trying out this famous ice cream I’ve heard so much about?”
    When I looked away from his mouth, it hit me what he was saying. Oh come on —
    “What did