Read Online Playing Against Type: Soulgirls, Book 4 by Heather Long - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Heather Long
Ads: Link
Finn held out his hands for the items. She eyed him curiously and handed them over. Bypassing her, he carried them up to the counter.
The clerk gave him a bright, sincere smile. “Did you find everything you need?”
“Not exactly.” He set each item on the counter, one at a time, so he could check them. No hum or itch struck his senses. They weren’t charmed. But he did sense something magical nearby.
“I’m sorry to hear that. What can I do to help?”
“My lovely companion needs an outfit to match…” He glanced at Pepper for confirmation on the pair of shoes in question. Wide-eyed, she pointed to the green pair. “These.” He tapped them. “She also needs all the requisite accessories.”
The clerk hustled around the shop, Pepper in tow. From the cashier’s desk, Finn had a direct line of sight to the front door. He spotted a silver-haired man staring in the front window who pretended to survey the contents, but his gaze lingered on Pepper. The man saw Finn watching him, nodded briefly and moved on—the moment he turned, Finn could have sworn he saw the hilt of a sword, but he couldn’t follow him. If he did, he’d have to leave Pepper behind. Whoever he was, he was from the casino. It could wait.
Twenty-five minutes later, Finn carried two large bags and led the way down the Strip. They stopped in several more shops and she lost herself time and again. Even the most mundane of kitschy items captured her attention as if they were the very first time she’d seen them—from snow globes to oven mitts and more.
It was soon after lunchtime and they still hadn’t reached his original goal. Sweat trickled down his back and he carried nearly ten bags worth of items. His credit card would hate him, but the simple joy shining in her wide eyes every single time she picked out an item far exceeded any materialistic cost.
“Hungry?” He motioned to a shaded café attached to the MGM Grand and she followed him inside. They found a table, sat and placed their orders. So far, it had been an altogether ordinary date and Finn relaxed. Away from the Arcana and the constant presence of magic, spells and double-dealing, he could afford to be less vigilant.
“You know…” Pepper stirred a lemon into her iced tea. “You’ve been very indulgent with me today.”
“If that’s your way of saying thank you, then you’re welcome.”
Leaning forward, she clasped her hands together. “Actually, it’s my way of saying… most people don’t do something for nothing.” The simple, radiant joy she wore all morning sobered. “We just met. You were delightfully gallant last night, and you’ve been wonderful today. I’m having a great time. But things like this don’t happen to me. Life isn’t that kind…or random.”
The waitress delivered a mug of freshly brewed coffee and Finn used the distraction to buy some time. She left a fresh stack of napkins, a basket of fries and a bottle of ketchup. Pepper picked up one of the fries and nibbled it. Her assessing gaze held traces of suspicion.
“You’re worried about what I want from you?” he asked, pouring a measure of creamer into his mug.
“A little. I know I joined you for dinner, uninvited, but today? Today, you’re calling the shots.” Discomfort rippled across her face. “I’m sorry, I feel so rude even asking this.”
“You shouldn’t. Yes, you invited yourself to dinner, but it was a bright spot in an otherwise gloomy evening.” And he hadn’t even spoken to Fairuk at that point. “As for today, I wanted to get you out of the hotel, spend some time with you in the light of day.”
“Why?” She opened the ketchup and poured some onto her plate.
The urge to tell her, to fill her in on all the backroom shenanigans and darkness housed in the casino, tempted the hell out of him. Breaking their code of silence wouldn’t hurt him—far from it. They couldn’t touch him. But Pepper was human. Beautifully fragile and innocent. They
The clerk gave him a bright, sincere smile. “Did you find everything you need?”
“Not exactly.” He set each item on the counter, one at a time, so he could check them. No hum or itch struck his senses. They weren’t charmed. But he did sense something magical nearby.
“I’m sorry to hear that. What can I do to help?”
“My lovely companion needs an outfit to match…” He glanced at Pepper for confirmation on the pair of shoes in question. Wide-eyed, she pointed to the green pair. “These.” He tapped them. “She also needs all the requisite accessories.”
The clerk hustled around the shop, Pepper in tow. From the cashier’s desk, Finn had a direct line of sight to the front door. He spotted a silver-haired man staring in the front window who pretended to survey the contents, but his gaze lingered on Pepper. The man saw Finn watching him, nodded briefly and moved on—the moment he turned, Finn could have sworn he saw the hilt of a sword, but he couldn’t follow him. If he did, he’d have to leave Pepper behind. Whoever he was, he was from the casino. It could wait.
Twenty-five minutes later, Finn carried two large bags and led the way down the Strip. They stopped in several more shops and she lost herself time and again. Even the most mundane of kitschy items captured her attention as if they were the very first time she’d seen them—from snow globes to oven mitts and more.
It was soon after lunchtime and they still hadn’t reached his original goal. Sweat trickled down his back and he carried nearly ten bags worth of items. His credit card would hate him, but the simple joy shining in her wide eyes every single time she picked out an item far exceeded any materialistic cost.
“Hungry?” He motioned to a shaded café attached to the MGM Grand and she followed him inside. They found a table, sat and placed their orders. So far, it had been an altogether ordinary date and Finn relaxed. Away from the Arcana and the constant presence of magic, spells and double-dealing, he could afford to be less vigilant.
“You know…” Pepper stirred a lemon into her iced tea. “You’ve been very indulgent with me today.”
“If that’s your way of saying thank you, then you’re welcome.”
Leaning forward, she clasped her hands together. “Actually, it’s my way of saying… most people don’t do something for nothing.” The simple, radiant joy she wore all morning sobered. “We just met. You were delightfully gallant last night, and you’ve been wonderful today. I’m having a great time. But things like this don’t happen to me. Life isn’t that kind…or random.”
The waitress delivered a mug of freshly brewed coffee and Finn used the distraction to buy some time. She left a fresh stack of napkins, a basket of fries and a bottle of ketchup. Pepper picked up one of the fries and nibbled it. Her assessing gaze held traces of suspicion.
“You’re worried about what I want from you?” he asked, pouring a measure of creamer into his mug.
“A little. I know I joined you for dinner, uninvited, but today? Today, you’re calling the shots.” Discomfort rippled across her face. “I’m sorry, I feel so rude even asking this.”
“You shouldn’t. Yes, you invited yourself to dinner, but it was a bright spot in an otherwise gloomy evening.” And he hadn’t even spoken to Fairuk at that point. “As for today, I wanted to get you out of the hotel, spend some time with you in the light of day.”
“Why?” She opened the ketchup and poured some onto her plate.
The urge to tell her, to fill her in on all the backroom shenanigans and darkness housed in the casino, tempted the hell out of him. Breaking their code of silence wouldn’t hurt him—far from it. They couldn’t touch him. But Pepper was human. Beautifully fragile and innocent. They
Similar Books
