Read Online Seduction’s Canvas (Crimson Romance) by K.M. Jackson - Free Book Online Page A

to meet Sam’s eyes. “Calm down, it was just a ride. No need to get yourself all in a twist, Miss Leighton.”
    With that, her chin hitched up on its own accord. “Who said I was in a twist? I’m perfectly fine.”
    For that she got a smooth, but no less infuriating nod. What the hell did that mean? But before she could ask, the elevator stopped, coming to a lurching halt and sending her swaying, her body teetering toward Mark’s. All too quickly his arms were out and he was solidly steadying her on both sides. But not before she was close, too close, his face to hers, their mouths mere centimeters apart, if only she would just … fall in.
    Again.
    She glanced up. His dark eyes melted her, that warm liquid feeling slowly easing through her body. She licked suddenly dry lips. What he was putting out with those dark eyes was more than she could take. They were all fierceness and fire mixed in with a softness, a vulnerability, and a longing for something more, something she knew she’d never be able to deliver. It pierced at her. In him, she saw herself reflected back. Slowly she closed her lids and as her body stiffened she forced herself into an upright position, at the same time he tenderly eased her back to standing. On instinct, she clutched her arms around herself.
    Sam blinked and looked around, breaking the short spell. “Shit. What now? Are we stuck?”
    Mark turned to the control panel and gave a low cough. “I’m sure it’s nothing. Give it a minute.”
    Samara watched Mark press a few buttons as she went to her bag and pulled out her cell. “Seriously? All the money I pay for service and no signal in a stupid elevator.”
    Mark turned from the elevator phone and quirked a sharp brow. She gave him her own quirk back. He mumbled a few words then hung up. “Don’t worry, this should be short. According to Carlos, this elevator’s been acting up a lot lately. A repairman is on the way.”
    Her eyes went heavenward. “They need to hurry it up. I just want to get out of these shoes and in my own bed.”
    Well, that got the sexy smirk she was used to. “Funny, you didn’t seem all that tired when you were tearing it up on the dance floor in those shoes or when you were going after Nine.”
    “Nine?”
    “That guy at the club.”
    She stared at him a minute, not thinking it was all that smart to engage in this line of conversation, but how could she resist? “Okay, I’ll bite. Why Nine?”
    Mark leaned back and gave her an up and down, lingering a while on her black leather ankle boots then slowly making his way back up her legs, his dark sooty lashes fanning open, breezing across her chest and finally hitting her sharply between her eyes. She would not reel back.
    “It was his real shoe size, though he was faking it at the club with an eleven.”
    She couldn’t help bursting out laughing. “That is funny as all hell. Men do that? How is it you think he was padding?”
    Mark shrugged. “He was slipping a little so I knew. I just know these things.”
    “So what are you, some kind of secret agent or something or do you just have a men’s foot fetish?” She raised a brow.
    “No, nothing like that. I’m just … ” And there was that look. Sam swallowed and instinctively crossed her legs. “Observant.”
    Samara cocked her head to the side, sizing him up. She could find out exactly what he did from her mother if she really wanted to, but that would be taking liberties and just like something her father would do. Besides, she kind of liked this whole man of mystery thing he had going on at the moment. Sure, he looked tough, but to make the rent here he was probably some closet fight club slash investment banker slash secret millionaire slash trust fund baby just playing at being a tough guy. A background check could really be a disappointment. Guys like the one that actually sent her stomach fluttering were only in her dreams. And the better to leave them there.
    “So, Mr. Observant, let’s put