Dating for Demons by Alexis Fleming Read Free Book Online Page A

night.”
    “Nuh-uh, we’re here to do a job. I’m about to become your wing man.”
    “Well, if you’re sure… By the way, you never did explain to me what a wing man—er, woman—does.”
    She tossed him a grin. “Consider yourself lucky. There are women out there who charge the earth for what I’m about to do for you.”
    “Ah, and that would be?”
    “Help is at hand for chick-magnet lame ducks.” She burst out laughing at the scowl on Jedd’s face. Before he could comment, she rushed on, “I’m about to become your dating decoy. I’ll sweet-talk the women for you. Then you’ll come up to whatever group I’m with and I’ll introduce you. Basically, I’m your sidekick. I’ll break the ice for you. Then the rest is up to you.”
     
    * * * *
     
    Jedd signaled to the bartender to pour him another beer. Then he downed it in one long swallow as soon as the guy deposited it in front of him. Damn it, he couldn’t take much more of this. He was ready to go home, but Mina wouldn’t hear of it. For crying out loud, he already had a fistful of phone numbers and email addresses crammed in his pocket. Why the hell would he need any more?
    Knowing he had to get with the program, he ran his gaze across the club until he spotted Mina. After slamming the beer glass down on the bar, he headed in her direction until he was close enough to hear what she was saying.
    She approached a group of four women and gently tapped the arm of the most attractive of them. “Excuse me for butting in, but I just had to come and tell you how much I adore your shoes. They’re fantastic.”
    Jedd looked down at the woman’s shoes. Well, yeah, guess they were all right, if you were into that kind of thing. Shiny black patent leather with bright red lipstick marks on the front. A talking point maybe, but that was all.
    Nevertheless, the woman fell for it and started telling Mina where she’d purchased them. Then, before Jedd could draw breath, all four women introduced themselves and were talking as if they’d known Mina for ages.
    Swallowing his sigh, Jedd prepared to do his part. He moved closer, resting one hand lightly on Mina’s shoulder. “Mina?”
    She spun toward him. “Jedd! How lovely to see you.”
    Reaching up on tiptoes, she gave him a quick peck on the cheek. “Hey, ladies, this is my very good friend, Jedd.”
    Mina introduced him around and slid over a little, dragging him into the gap between her and the woman with the lipstick shoes. Then she instigated a conversation with the remaining females, effectively leaving the two of them alone to converse.
    There was no doubt the woman, Felicity by name, was interesting. An intern at the local hospital, she was a font of humorous stories designed to entertain. And there was no doubt Felicity was attractive. Just the type of woman he normally went for. Under different circumstances Jedd may well have been intrigued enough to take things to the next level.
    Unfortunately, his mind and attention kept sliding away. He knew the exact moment Mina excused herself from the group and left him to do his thing. Problem was, his thing just happened to be the very determined Ms. Araminta Tempest.
    Every woman he’d met paled into insignificance beside the flamboyant package that was Mina. At least, this Mina. It had been all he could do to keep his hands off her tonight.
    He frowned as he caught sight of Mina over near the bar. A group of men surrounded her, had her backed up against the timber surface of the counter. A flash of what looked suspiciously like panic swept across her face, before she tightened her lips and slapped out at the hand that reached for her.
    Damn it, this wasn’t the first time he’d watched some Neanderthal try to crack on to Mina tonight, but before now, it had been on a one-to-one basis and Mina had dealt with it without a problem. Even so, every encounter had left him grinding his teeth when jealousy had knifed through him. Jedd Madison, incubus