Dark Attraction: The Corde Noire Series by Alexandrea Weis Read Free Book Online

and Sam shifted on her stool, pretending to drink her coffee.
    He put the fork down and pushed the plate to the side. “I have some questions for you.”
    She took another swig of coffee, expecting she would need the caffeine boost to keep her on her toes.
    “I’m all ears.”
    His eyes examined her face, as if he were studying every facet of her features. “I thought we should know more about each other. I know you’re single, live here in this building, and are a nurse, but little else. Where are you from?”
    “Where am I from?” She shook her head, expecting something a bit more confounding. “Ah, I’m from Dallas. I was born and raised there. I came to New Orleans as a result of a travel contract in nursing. I figured I would see the country.”
    “What about your parents?”
    “Um, they live in Dallas, with my sister, Beverly. I told you my dad is a Methodist minister. He has a big congregation in the city. Mom’s a housewife, and my sister is a beauty queen.”
    He raised his dark brows, intrigued. “Beauty queen?”
    She put her coffee mug on the bar. “Yeah, she won some local pageants. Ms. Farmers’ Market, Ms. Downtown … things like that. She’s trying out for Ms. Dallas next year. Bev eventually wants to become Ms. Texas.” She rolled her eyes. “My parents think it’s a wonderful idea.”
    “I take it that doesn’t appeal to you.”
    “It’s Bev’s thing. She was always the pretty one. I was the … I was just different.”
    He leaned into the counter. “You don’t think you’re pretty?”
    She sat back on her stool, uncomfortable with the question. “I’m pretty enough.”
    “Enough?” He snickered. “What do you think you look like?”
    Sam was undone by the question. How did she answer that? How did anyone answer that?
    “Let me put it this way,” he reached for his coffee, “what do you like about your body and what don’t you like?”
    She thought about the question. Sizing up her list, Sam wasn’t surprised to find the things she didn’t like outnumbered the things she did. “I don’t like my legs. They’re short and kind of sausage-looking.” She bit her lower lip, thinking. “I guess my face is okay, and I like my eyes. My chin is too small, but then again so are my boobs.” Realizing what she’d said, Sam blushed.
    Doug laughed at her embarrassment. “I like it when you’re blunt. Don’t be shy around me. I want to hear these things.”
    “What for?” she asked, emboldened by his encouragement.
    “It lets me get to know you.”
    “What’s the point of getting to know me, Doug? I mean, we’re just neighbors, right?”
    He went around the breakfast bar to her. “In my world, talking about what you like and don’t like is important. It’s the cornerstone of the relationship.”
    “What relationship? Like a business relationship?”
    “If you like.” He took a quick sip of his coffee. “Tell me, do you have any physical problems that I should know about.”
    Sam froze. Did she tell him about her ability? “Do you mean like illnesses? In case you need to call 911 for me?”
    His sly grin was mesmerizing. “Yeah, something like that.”
    “I’m fine. Just a bit accident prone.”
    “I got that part already.”
    She stared at him, sizing up his intentions. Why did she feel like she was interviewing for a job? “Is there anything else you would like to know?”
    He took a moment to drink his coffee. “There is one thing. How many lovers have you had?”
    Okay, this is not a job interview !
    He put his coffee on the bar and tilted closer to her. “I want to know about your sexual experiences.”
    “What are you, some kind of pervert?”
    He stood for the longest time, observing her. “I’m not a pervert. I’m asking you these questions for a very specific reason,” he finally replied.
    “What possible reason could that be?”
    His sharp eyes stayed locked on hers, and after he finally uttered a long, slow sigh, he asked, “Have you ever