Bad Mouth by Angela McCallister Read Free Book Online

his worn jeans and navy T-shirt, the color’s intensity
     turning his irises a deep crimson. His hot glare went back and forth between her and
     Graham, and then his eyes narrowed on their joined hands on Graham’s arm. “You assholes
     gonna stand out here all day, or shall we get this shit over with?”
    Heat infused her cheeks, though she couldn’t be sure whether his language or his possessive
     gaze caused her uncharacteristic blush. “I’d rather you keep that language to yourself.”
    “I’d rather you found someone other than me to work with.” He stepped forward, towering
     over her as if to intimidate. Her gaze went straight to the hollow at the base of
     his throat where the V of his shirt’s neckline framed smooth, taut skin. Would it
     be cold against her tongue or warm like his hand the night before?
    She cleared her throat. “There is no one else.” She didn’t care if he thought she’d
     prefer anyone other than him.
    “Then get used to the language, sweetheart.” His words formed a low, sexy rumble near
     her ear. Oh . More shivers. Big surprise that her body continued to betray her. Kade stalked toward
     the elevators without a backward glance. Graham nudged her forward.
    “I thought I was the one dealing with him today,” Graham whispered in her ear. His
     voice was deep and rumbly, too. Why didn’t it give her the same thrill? Her friend
     was an incredibly handsome man with a wealth of charm. For the first time, she wished
     she could see him in that light. Her life would be so much easier.
    “You are.” She brushed his arm again, this time with an edge of nervousness. She didn’t
     know what to make of Kade, having become accustomed to working with more polished
     men, lawyers, businessmen, and politicians. Something about his crude humor made her
     want to laugh inappropriately. He was anything but polished.
    Her father, Kade’s polar opposite, would not be proud.
    They didn’t speak on the trip down to the lobby. Kade held the door open for her.
     Strange that he’d be chivalrous when he seemed like such a degenerate. A limousine
     awaited them, the driver standing by the open door. Kade held his hand out to help
     her into her seat, and she hesitated only a moment before taking it. Warm again. She
     thought older vampires were supposed to be cold, their heartbeats slowed to a near
     stop.
    He crowded in beside her, leaving Graham to sit opposite them, which her friend seemed
     none too happy about, judging by his heavy frown. Kade’s muscular thigh brushed against
     her slender one. His large frame took up most of the seat.
    “Where?” Kade aimed his clipped tone at Graham.
    “Wallingford.” Graham’s manner matched Kade’s as he handed the vampire a business
     card with an address on the back. Somehow, he didn’t pull off the alpha-male bit as
     well as Kade. Within moments, the limo pulled away from the curb and she wondered
     how the driver knew where to go.
    “Who are we interviewing?” Kade looked at her, but Graham answered the question, his
     hard expression making it clear he was in charge this time. She squirmed, finding
     it hard to give up her accustomed control, but Graham had been the one to initially
     interview this witness.
    “A Legion named Eva Langley. She’s young, less than a hundred years old. She found
     the body of a human male at Gas Works Park.”
    Kade’s face went blank and cold, his thigh moving away from hers. “Very well.”
    “Do you know Eva?” She couldn’t help herself. She couldn’t sit silently with her curiosity
     roused. And he’d roused it to Everest proportions with his sudden withdrawal.
    “No.”
    He said nothing more before they pulled up in front of a row of vividly colored three-story
     townhomes. They reminded Val of pictures her father had shown her of the massive apartment
     buildings in Singapore.
    Kade led them up the steps toward one of the homes. The night had grown misty, but
     the low fog and drizzle were