Read Online Skin Walkers: Gauge by Susan A. Bliler - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Susan A. Bliler
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hand shot out and grabbed the shakers first before smiling and shaking her head, “I don’t think so, young lady .”
In seconds, Cindy was back with their drinks and two menus. “Here ya’ go. I’ll be back to take your order in a few.”
Gauge perused his menu, but Ella eyed the pub. “Isn’t this table too small?” She pointed to a line of tables in the center of the room. “We could put a few together.” She made to stand, “I’ll get the bar maid to help.”
Gauge’s hand caught her elbow and she turned to face him.
“Crow will be late. He said to eat without him.”
“Oh.” Ella reclaimed her seat, “Okay.” Something didn’t feel right.
Cindy returned too soon, “Are we ready?”
Ella blushed as she took up her untouched menu.
“I can order for us if you’d like?”
Ella nodded sheepishly and placed her menu back on the table.
“My pretty girl will have the six ounce fillet with mashed potatoes and gravy, and,” he looked at Alysa, “carrots or broccoli?”
She bounced in her seat, “Carrots!”
He chuckled. “Carrots it is. And her mother and I will both have the seared duck with apple cabbage compote and roasted potatoes.”
“Great,” Cindy penned down the order, “I’ll get this in right away.”
When she left, Ella muttered a thank you.
“Do you enjoy seared duck?”
She shrugged, “Never tried it.”
He smiled, “Then you’re in for a treat.”
Aside from Alysa’s incessant chatter and non-stop questions, they waited in relative silence. Every time Ella sneaked a peek up at Gauge, it was to find him studying her curiously. She wondered if he was regretting kissing her. Once he actually appeared angry as his lips thinned into a grim line and she couldn’t help but feel like she was in trouble. Luckily, Cindy returned with their food and she was delighted to discover that Gauge had been right. Seared duck was quite the treat.
Ella couldn’t keep her eyes from darting to the clock that hung over the bar. She didn’t want Mr. StoneCrow to arrive to them eating, so she ate quickly and several times admonished Alysa to do the same.
“It’s fine,” Gauge commented. “Take your time. There’s no rush.”
Dread began to pit in her stomach. What did he mean there was no rush? They had a business meeting planned. Didn’t they?
Cindy returned to clear plates and to re-fill Ella’s wine. She typically wasn’t a drinker, but she needed something to take the edge off her nerves.
As she took a sip of her wine, she saw Gauge’s rigid shoulders relax as she eyed the doorway. Setting her glass down quickly, she turned to greet CEO StoneCrow, but was shocked to find he wasn’t the source of Gauge’s sudden ease. A large man, carrying a toddler, and holding the hand of a beautiful brunette entered.
“Where is everyone? ” Ella fought down her panic. “You said there was a meeting.” Her eyes scanned the room and she wrapped a protective arm over Alysa’s shoulders.
“Mr. StoneCrow isn’t coming.” Gauge’s eyes narrowed on her. “I wanted to talk to you outside of work and knew that after last night, you’d be reluctant to grant me any second opportunity.”
Her eyes rounded, “You lied?” The incredulity in her tone was quickly replaced by anger, “How dare you!” She was just about to get up from her seat when a large foreboding figure stepped up to the table and had Ella leaning back in her seat and pulling Alysa tighter to her side. It was the man who’d entered with his family. He was huge and had a nasty scar that ran from his hairline, over one eye and the bridge of his nose to slash across the opposite cheek. He looked fierce and intimidating. Ella swallowed hard.
“This is Commander Drago.”
The Commander smiled and while it made him seem slightly less menacing, it didn’t have Ella relaxing any.
The Commander held up his arm and his tiny female walked up to
In seconds, Cindy was back with their drinks and two menus. “Here ya’ go. I’ll be back to take your order in a few.”
Gauge perused his menu, but Ella eyed the pub. “Isn’t this table too small?” She pointed to a line of tables in the center of the room. “We could put a few together.” She made to stand, “I’ll get the bar maid to help.”
Gauge’s hand caught her elbow and she turned to face him.
“Crow will be late. He said to eat without him.”
“Oh.” Ella reclaimed her seat, “Okay.” Something didn’t feel right.
Cindy returned too soon, “Are we ready?”
Ella blushed as she took up her untouched menu.
“I can order for us if you’d like?”
Ella nodded sheepishly and placed her menu back on the table.
“My pretty girl will have the six ounce fillet with mashed potatoes and gravy, and,” he looked at Alysa, “carrots or broccoli?”
She bounced in her seat, “Carrots!”
He chuckled. “Carrots it is. And her mother and I will both have the seared duck with apple cabbage compote and roasted potatoes.”
“Great,” Cindy penned down the order, “I’ll get this in right away.”
When she left, Ella muttered a thank you.
“Do you enjoy seared duck?”
She shrugged, “Never tried it.”
He smiled, “Then you’re in for a treat.”
Aside from Alysa’s incessant chatter and non-stop questions, they waited in relative silence. Every time Ella sneaked a peek up at Gauge, it was to find him studying her curiously. She wondered if he was regretting kissing her. Once he actually appeared angry as his lips thinned into a grim line and she couldn’t help but feel like she was in trouble. Luckily, Cindy returned with their food and she was delighted to discover that Gauge had been right. Seared duck was quite the treat.
Ella couldn’t keep her eyes from darting to the clock that hung over the bar. She didn’t want Mr. StoneCrow to arrive to them eating, so she ate quickly and several times admonished Alysa to do the same.
“It’s fine,” Gauge commented. “Take your time. There’s no rush.”
Dread began to pit in her stomach. What did he mean there was no rush? They had a business meeting planned. Didn’t they?
Cindy returned to clear plates and to re-fill Ella’s wine. She typically wasn’t a drinker, but she needed something to take the edge off her nerves.
As she took a sip of her wine, she saw Gauge’s rigid shoulders relax as she eyed the doorway. Setting her glass down quickly, she turned to greet CEO StoneCrow, but was shocked to find he wasn’t the source of Gauge’s sudden ease. A large man, carrying a toddler, and holding the hand of a beautiful brunette entered.
“Where is everyone? ” Ella fought down her panic. “You said there was a meeting.” Her eyes scanned the room and she wrapped a protective arm over Alysa’s shoulders.
“Mr. StoneCrow isn’t coming.” Gauge’s eyes narrowed on her. “I wanted to talk to you outside of work and knew that after last night, you’d be reluctant to grant me any second opportunity.”
Her eyes rounded, “You lied?” The incredulity in her tone was quickly replaced by anger, “How dare you!” She was just about to get up from her seat when a large foreboding figure stepped up to the table and had Ella leaning back in her seat and pulling Alysa tighter to her side. It was the man who’d entered with his family. He was huge and had a nasty scar that ran from his hairline, over one eye and the bridge of his nose to slash across the opposite cheek. He looked fierce and intimidating. Ella swallowed hard.
“This is Commander Drago.”
The Commander smiled and while it made him seem slightly less menacing, it didn’t have Ella relaxing any.
The Commander held up his arm and his tiny female walked up to
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