Read Online The Salvation of Vengeance (Wanted Men #2) by Nancy Haviland - Free Book Online
Authors: Nancy Haviland
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offered.
Unable to stop it, his focus came to rest on her again. That flaming hair of hers flowed like a molten river, contrasting beautifully with the black material covering her shoulders. He noticed this because he did not look any higher than her slender neck. A neck he wanted to bury his face in and just breathe.
Caleb’s sister. Remember? In case you’ve forgotten, again, he’s standing right beside you. And you and your shitty life are not what this chick needs.
“That’s okay, Red.” He cleared his throat and wondered where the gold dress had gone. She was in green now—making her striking eyes pop. “Where’s your old man?”
She blanched at the bald question but recovered quickly. He didn’t miss the subtle tightening of her features as she brought a fragile shoulder up in a shrug. “He had other plans.”
Vincente made a sound to let her know he’d heard her. And stared. So did she. Man, she was so beautiful he could barely stand it. Soft and delicate, and even though she had to be a good five ten in her bare feet, her femininity was undeniable.
And didn’t that bring his protective instincts roaring to the surface like nobody’s business. Without meaning to, he took a step closer, which brought his thighs against the table, and nearly groaned when her lips parted on a quiet breath.
Step back, dude. You forgetting something?
The ringing of Caleb’s cell was a welcome distraction. Both he and Nika looked at her brother as he dug the instrument out of his pocket.
“Sorry, guys,” the biker muttered, then said into the receiver, “Yeah. Aw, fuck off. When did he call?”
Their chaperone walked off as he talked, and Vincente wanted to grab him and yank him back.
“I can see why you chose to be out here,” Nika said, looking around. “It’s quiet. Your home is lovely, Vincente.”
So are you. “Thanks.”
Something small flapped overhead too fast for them to see, but it was clear enough to be heard. He looked at Nika, waiting for her to duck and shriek, but all she did was smile a little.
“Bats?” she questioned, walking out from under the overhang to look up.
“Yeah. That time of year.”
“Cute little things.”
His brow quirked. “Cute?”
She glanced over and then away. “Eva and I used to work at her mom’s dress shop during the summers. One day we came to work and found a bat had somehow gotten in overnight. We went to the sushi place across the street to decide what to do, and the owner heard us talking about it. He came with a broom and a clear plastic take-out container and caught the thing. Perfect, close-up view—his face was a cross between a mouse and a tiny dog.” She came back to stand next to the table again. “The bat, I mean.” She smiled and bowed her head as if to hide the million-dollar expression, and he wanted to curse because she’d robbed him of seeing it for more than a split second. “Don’t get me wrong. I’d scream the place down if one flew into my hair; they do have teeth. But”—she shrugged—“they’re relatively harmless.”
He jammed a hand into the front pocket of his pants to rattle his spare change, and with his free hand, stuck a finger in and yanked on the collar of his goddamned shirt. “You an animal lover?”
“I’ve never met one I didn’t like. Other than that skunk that accosted me, Eva, and her mom one night as they walked me home from their house. He was aggressive and horrible. And porcupines I also admire from a distance, though they usually won’t do you damage unless they get spooked. Caleb and I always had dogs growing up, but I haven’t had a pet since I’ve been on my own.”
“You’re not on your own,” he reminded her. Or was he reminding himself?
Her head ducked again, no smile this time. “No, I’m not,” she agreed in a subdued voice.
“If they do show, call.” Her brother’s voice broke through, and he hung up, shaking his head and walking back over to him and Nika. “Our boy at
Unable to stop it, his focus came to rest on her again. That flaming hair of hers flowed like a molten river, contrasting beautifully with the black material covering her shoulders. He noticed this because he did not look any higher than her slender neck. A neck he wanted to bury his face in and just breathe.
Caleb’s sister. Remember? In case you’ve forgotten, again, he’s standing right beside you. And you and your shitty life are not what this chick needs.
“That’s okay, Red.” He cleared his throat and wondered where the gold dress had gone. She was in green now—making her striking eyes pop. “Where’s your old man?”
She blanched at the bald question but recovered quickly. He didn’t miss the subtle tightening of her features as she brought a fragile shoulder up in a shrug. “He had other plans.”
Vincente made a sound to let her know he’d heard her. And stared. So did she. Man, she was so beautiful he could barely stand it. Soft and delicate, and even though she had to be a good five ten in her bare feet, her femininity was undeniable.
And didn’t that bring his protective instincts roaring to the surface like nobody’s business. Without meaning to, he took a step closer, which brought his thighs against the table, and nearly groaned when her lips parted on a quiet breath.
Step back, dude. You forgetting something?
The ringing of Caleb’s cell was a welcome distraction. Both he and Nika looked at her brother as he dug the instrument out of his pocket.
“Sorry, guys,” the biker muttered, then said into the receiver, “Yeah. Aw, fuck off. When did he call?”
Their chaperone walked off as he talked, and Vincente wanted to grab him and yank him back.
“I can see why you chose to be out here,” Nika said, looking around. “It’s quiet. Your home is lovely, Vincente.”
So are you. “Thanks.”
Something small flapped overhead too fast for them to see, but it was clear enough to be heard. He looked at Nika, waiting for her to duck and shriek, but all she did was smile a little.
“Bats?” she questioned, walking out from under the overhang to look up.
“Yeah. That time of year.”
“Cute little things.”
His brow quirked. “Cute?”
She glanced over and then away. “Eva and I used to work at her mom’s dress shop during the summers. One day we came to work and found a bat had somehow gotten in overnight. We went to the sushi place across the street to decide what to do, and the owner heard us talking about it. He came with a broom and a clear plastic take-out container and caught the thing. Perfect, close-up view—his face was a cross between a mouse and a tiny dog.” She came back to stand next to the table again. “The bat, I mean.” She smiled and bowed her head as if to hide the million-dollar expression, and he wanted to curse because she’d robbed him of seeing it for more than a split second. “Don’t get me wrong. I’d scream the place down if one flew into my hair; they do have teeth. But”—she shrugged—“they’re relatively harmless.”
He jammed a hand into the front pocket of his pants to rattle his spare change, and with his free hand, stuck a finger in and yanked on the collar of his goddamned shirt. “You an animal lover?”
“I’ve never met one I didn’t like. Other than that skunk that accosted me, Eva, and her mom one night as they walked me home from their house. He was aggressive and horrible. And porcupines I also admire from a distance, though they usually won’t do you damage unless they get spooked. Caleb and I always had dogs growing up, but I haven’t had a pet since I’ve been on my own.”
“You’re not on your own,” he reminded her. Or was he reminding himself?
Her head ducked again, no smile this time. “No, I’m not,” she agreed in a subdued voice.
“If they do show, call.” Her brother’s voice broke through, and he hung up, shaking his head and walking back over to him and Nika. “Our boy at
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