Read Online Tempting the Dragon by Karen Whiddon - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Karen Whiddon
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his hold on the glass and slid it away from him. “I don’t actually drink,” he said. “Could I get a ginger ale instead?”
“No problem.” Dumping out the beer, the bartender, whose nametag read Earl, refilled the glass with a can of Canada Dry. “You’re kind of a local hero today. Do you want to see a menu?”
A local hero. Deciding food trumped hearing gossip, Rance shook his head. He’d ask why later. “No need. One burger and fries is what I need.”
“Double or triple?”
Since he needed meat, Rance opted for the triple.
“Coming right up.” Earl left to go put in the order.
The guy on the bar stool to the right of Rance swiveled around. “Lucky bastard,” he said, grinning. “Not sure how you managed it, but every single guy in town wishes they were you.”
Now Rance knew he had absolutely no idea what this man meant. He took another pull on his ginger ale and shrugged. “Thanks, I guess. Though to be honest, I have no idea what all of this is about.”
The other guy’s eyes widened. He opened his mouth to say something, but just then Earl appeared with Rance’s dinner.
“Here you go,” Earl said, sliding the plate in front of him. “The cook had started making one for my meal, but I’m letting you have mine. Hope you enjoy. And, Ted—” he shot Rance’s neighbor a warning look “—let this guy eat in peace, will you?”
Mumbling what sounded like a disgruntled affirmative, Ted turned back to his beer.
Mouth watering, Rance grabbed the burger and dug in. He tried to make himself eat slower, but the food tasted so good and he was so hungry he practically inhaled it. Luckily, he had the soft drink to help wash everything down.
When he’d cleaned his plate and drank all his ginger ale, Earl brought another. “This one’s on the two guys at the end of the bar.” He jerked his head toward them and they waved.
“Okay.” Rance began to wonder if he’d inadvertently wandered into a gay bar. “Listen, Earl. Why is everyone buying me drinks?”
Earl scratched his head. “You really don’t know?”
“I have no idea.”
Ted snickered.
Ignoring him, Earl leaned on the counter. “Two words. Jade Burnett.”
Chapter 5
S ince he still didn’t understand, Rance took another sip and waited.
“Every guy in this town has been wanting to date her. You’ve been seen hanging out with her on more than one occasion. Most of the guys are taking bets that you’ll be the one who finally breaks through.”
Though he knew he shouldn’t, Rance had to ask. “Breaks through?”
Earl’s grin widened. “You do know she’s a witch, right?”
“I’ve heard that, yes,” Rance answered cautiously.
“She has...powers. If you get my drift.” And Earl actually winked.
Though Rance now had a good idea where this was headed, he figured he might as well make the bartender spell it out.
“What kind of powers?”
Next to him, Ted tried to stifle a laugh and ended up spewing a mouthful of beer all over the bar.
Earl tossed him a rag. “Clean it up,” he ordered, before turning his attention back to Rance.
“Listen,” Earl said, lowering his voice. “There isn’t a single guy in town who hasn’t tried to tap that. And her rumored powers are the main reason why. Sure, she’s gorgeous and sexy as hell, but if the stories are true...”
“Stories?” Despite the anger beginning to simmer inside him, Rance deliberately kept his face expressionless and cocked his head. “What kind of stories?”
Grinning, Earl shook his head.
Apparently, Ted couldn’t take it anymore. “Sexual powers, you idiot,” he said, unable to contain his glee. “And we’re counting on you to let us know if it’s true.”
Rance had to suppress the sudden, strong urge to punch the guy in his face. All of them, in fact. Poor Jade. He couldn’t help but wonder where all this had come from if no one had gotten near to her.
“Does Jade, er, know about this legendary power of hers?” he asked, jaw
“No problem.” Dumping out the beer, the bartender, whose nametag read Earl, refilled the glass with a can of Canada Dry. “You’re kind of a local hero today. Do you want to see a menu?”
A local hero. Deciding food trumped hearing gossip, Rance shook his head. He’d ask why later. “No need. One burger and fries is what I need.”
“Double or triple?”
Since he needed meat, Rance opted for the triple.
“Coming right up.” Earl left to go put in the order.
The guy on the bar stool to the right of Rance swiveled around. “Lucky bastard,” he said, grinning. “Not sure how you managed it, but every single guy in town wishes they were you.”
Now Rance knew he had absolutely no idea what this man meant. He took another pull on his ginger ale and shrugged. “Thanks, I guess. Though to be honest, I have no idea what all of this is about.”
The other guy’s eyes widened. He opened his mouth to say something, but just then Earl appeared with Rance’s dinner.
“Here you go,” Earl said, sliding the plate in front of him. “The cook had started making one for my meal, but I’m letting you have mine. Hope you enjoy. And, Ted—” he shot Rance’s neighbor a warning look “—let this guy eat in peace, will you?”
Mumbling what sounded like a disgruntled affirmative, Ted turned back to his beer.
Mouth watering, Rance grabbed the burger and dug in. He tried to make himself eat slower, but the food tasted so good and he was so hungry he practically inhaled it. Luckily, he had the soft drink to help wash everything down.
When he’d cleaned his plate and drank all his ginger ale, Earl brought another. “This one’s on the two guys at the end of the bar.” He jerked his head toward them and they waved.
“Okay.” Rance began to wonder if he’d inadvertently wandered into a gay bar. “Listen, Earl. Why is everyone buying me drinks?”
Earl scratched his head. “You really don’t know?”
“I have no idea.”
Ted snickered.
Ignoring him, Earl leaned on the counter. “Two words. Jade Burnett.”
Chapter 5
S ince he still didn’t understand, Rance took another sip and waited.
“Every guy in this town has been wanting to date her. You’ve been seen hanging out with her on more than one occasion. Most of the guys are taking bets that you’ll be the one who finally breaks through.”
Though he knew he shouldn’t, Rance had to ask. “Breaks through?”
Earl’s grin widened. “You do know she’s a witch, right?”
“I’ve heard that, yes,” Rance answered cautiously.
“She has...powers. If you get my drift.” And Earl actually winked.
Though Rance now had a good idea where this was headed, he figured he might as well make the bartender spell it out.
“What kind of powers?”
Next to him, Ted tried to stifle a laugh and ended up spewing a mouthful of beer all over the bar.
Earl tossed him a rag. “Clean it up,” he ordered, before turning his attention back to Rance.
“Listen,” Earl said, lowering his voice. “There isn’t a single guy in town who hasn’t tried to tap that. And her rumored powers are the main reason why. Sure, she’s gorgeous and sexy as hell, but if the stories are true...”
“Stories?” Despite the anger beginning to simmer inside him, Rance deliberately kept his face expressionless and cocked his head. “What kind of stories?”
Grinning, Earl shook his head.
Apparently, Ted couldn’t take it anymore. “Sexual powers, you idiot,” he said, unable to contain his glee. “And we’re counting on you to let us know if it’s true.”
Rance had to suppress the sudden, strong urge to punch the guy in his face. All of them, in fact. Poor Jade. He couldn’t help but wonder where all this had come from if no one had gotten near to her.
“Does Jade, er, know about this legendary power of hers?” he asked, jaw
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