Read Online [Southern Arcana 1] Crux by Moira Rogers - Free Book Online Page A

“Towels are in the closet and it takes a minute for the hot water to get hot…”
    She remained quiet long enough to make him fidget nervously before she offered him what looked like an honest smile. “Thank you, Jackson. I appreciate it.”
    “Hey, don’t mention it.” He backed out the door. “How do you like Italian food?”
    “Sounds wonderful.” She was already fiddling with the taps on the tub. “I—wait. I need to call Nick. She’ll be expecting me—”
    “I’ll handle it. I have to make a couple of calls.”
    “Okay. Thanks.” She smiled at him again as he pulled the door shut, and he could hear the water almost at once.

    Jackson cursed softly as he tried to hold the phone against his ear and fumble through the refrigerator at the same time.
    “Come on , Alec…”

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    It took four rings for Alec’s familiar voice to answer.
    “Aren’t you supposed to be having your hot date?”
    “Would that I was.” Jackson pulled a hunk of cheese from the crisper. “Turns out, I ran into a bit of trouble.”
    “Oh yeah?” Jackson could hear the sudden tension in Alec’s casual question. “Found out what’s going on with your new friend, I take it?”
    “Someone’s after her,” he confirmed. “Persistent too, whoever it is. Sent a spell caster and some muscle after us, probably a shapeshifter. They tracked her magically and attacked us out behind Nick’s bar. I’d appreciate it if you’d check in on her, make sure they didn’t cause her any problems after we split.”
    “Shit.” He heard a rustle of paper in the background and Kat’s voice demanding to know what was going on. “Yeah, I’ll swing by, see if they left a trail I can follow. The girl okay?”
    “Physically, she’s fine. She’s just trying to process the fact that she’s a shapeshifter and had no clue until half an hour ago.”
    There was a long pause before Alec said hesitantly,
    “Cougar?” He sounded almost guilty.
    “Yeah.” Jackson dragged a large wooden cutting board from the shelf. “Thanks for the heads-up, by the way.” 78
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    Crux
    “Well, Jesus, Jackson. Last time I saw a cougar was about twenty-five, maybe almost thirty years ago. I thought I was imagining it, and it didn’t make sense to send you off on the wrong track.”
    In the background, Kat’s voice came clearly again.
    “Jackson’s girlfriend’s a cougar ?” Jackson decided to ignore it for the time being, but his ears heated. “The goons working for Mackenzie’s stalker said she has something priceless, something he needs, and I’m guessing they’re not talking about the Hope diamond. Cougars are rare enough that this could be nothing more than—”
    “A guy who’s damn determined to have little cougar babies,” Alec finished, his voice hard. “You and I both know there are shifters out there who’ll do just about anything to keep the bloodlines pure.”
    “Yeah.” Jackson figured his partner knew that better than anyone. “I guess flowers and chocolates didn’t work, so he’s taken to stalking, which doesn’t seem likely to land him a mate, but…” He let the words trail off, not wanting to voice the obvious. “One of the guys called her by another name.
    Jessica Evans. See what Kat can pull up on that, would you?”
    “Sure. It’ll give her something to do other than listen to my damn phone conversations. You need any extra protection over there, or are you hunkering down behind the wards for the night?”

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    Moira Rogers
    “Starting some marinara sauce as we speak.” Alec groaned. “Oh hell, Jackson. You’re making Italian food? Is this really the best time for seduction?” Now his face was flaming. “It’s not seduction,” he insisted, lowering his voice. “It’s a job.”
    “It’s Italian food,” Alec countered in an amused voice.
    “You always make Italian food when you want to impress a woman.”
    “Or