Read Online Sweetblood 02.5 - Enchanted by Blood by Laurie London - Free Book Online Page A

room downstairs, but I’m not sure what’s in it.”
    “A storage room?” She shivered. Normally, she enjoyed taking inventory of what a client had that she could use, but for some reason, the mention of a downstairs storage room gave her chills.
    As if sensing her discomfort, he added, “I’ll have one of the staff bring all the holiday boxes upstairs.”
    She relaxed and opened up her planner. “Perfect. I’ll go through the boxes when I come back tomorrow and make a list of things we need. Don’t worry. I’m very resourceful. Then the following day, I’ll hit a few places in town before the Xtark Software holiday party, and if I can’t find what we need, I’ll—”
    His head jerked up, his eyebrows two dark slashes above his eyes. “Xtark Software?”
    “Yeah. I didn’t handle their party—they’d already had it contracted—but they did invite me.”
    “And who are you going with? Do you have a date?”
    The strain in his voice pleased her for some reason. Was it a tinge of jealousy? “I’m meeting up with a couple of girlfriends there.”
    “Including the one who left you at the club?” he asked.
    “Kari? Yes. She works for Xtark.”
    “Well, there’s been a slight change in plans.” A determined light shone in his eyes, as if he automatically expected her to agree with whatever he was about to tell her.
    “What do you mean?”
    “You’ll be going to the party with me.”

    CHAPTER SIX
     
    BY THE TIME CHARLOTTE and Trace had arrived at the Edgemont Hotel, the event was in full swing.
    He hadn’t told her any details about his concerns with Xtark, citing confidentiality issues, only that he didn’t trust them. What did he suspect they were doing? Selling body parts? Shanghaiing partygoers? Even though she wanted to be ticked off at the forceful way he’d invited himself, it thrilled her to know he cared. She was pretty sure if someone else had spoken to her in the same manner, she’d have told him where he could stick it, but then Trace had a knack for getting away with things other men couldn’t.
    The ballroom was brimming with activity. Twinkle lights hung from the ceiling, illuminating the dance floor, and the band was playing a rock version of a holiday classic. Columns of gold and silver balloons were positioned randomly between the fifty or so linen-covered tables. She liked the simplicity of the centerpieces: large crystal bowls filled with silver ornaments and small gold-wrapped boxes. Probably takeaway favors for guests at the end of the evening.
    Too bad she wasn’t as pleased with her outfit as she was with the decor. Why was it that some people had a natural knack for knowing what to wear while others didn’t? She looked down at her black cocktail dress, then glanced at Trace’s jeans and sport coat. Everyone else wore jeans, as well, making her feel self-conscious and overdressed. She should’ve guessed that “cocktail attire” for a software company meant a button-up shirt and a clean pair of sneakers.
    “You look very beautiful, by the way,” Trace said softly, sending tingles down her spine.
    She looked into his face to find his eyes dark, yet sincere. The pulse at the base of his throat flickered, drawing her attention. And as she exhaled, she found herself wondering how it would feel to have her lips pressed there.
    “Thank you,” she managed to say, marveling again at how perceptive he was. The fact that he’d picked up on these subtle cues of hers that no other man would’ve noticed made her feel relevant and important to him. And she rather liked it.
    She paused to talk to a few people she knew while Trace went to get them drinks.
    “Whoa, girl, he’s really hot,” Kari said, scrutinizing him as if he were a piece of meat in a butcher’s display case. “Where on earth did you find him?”
    “I didn’t. He found me.” She quickly explained how she’d almost been mugged.
    “That’s sooo chivalrous.” Rose Marie covered her heart with one