Fire & Ice ~ The Drake Legacy: Book One by Kari Wray Read Free Book Online

little,” she said, honestly. This was one of the things I loved most about her; the fact that she always called things how she saw them. “But I have to admit, even though I’ve never met him, it wasn’t impossible to believe that he might have a thing for you. I mean, you’re gorgeous, Cassie. And you’ve got that cute half-English thing going on. Men like him would love that.”
    “Shut up,” I said, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks. “I’m pretty average, really ...”
    “You’re pretty ,” she said with a grin, “but your certainly not average …”  
    Just as I was about to reply, my attention was drawn to the door to the bar, in particular to a tall, blonde guy, striding into the place in a perfectly-fitting white suit and an air of superiority. He moved like he thought he was a real big deal, like he was some sort of celebrity. Maybe he was. It was certainly the kind of place for it. It was odd; there was something about his face that was familiar, that reminded me of someone, but I couldn’t think who … Again, I wondered if he was famous; on TV perhaps, or in the movies.  
    “What’s got into you?” Lauren whispered, turning in her seat to follow my line of sight, and then she turned back towards me, her eyes glinting. “Oh, I see …” she said, raising one eyebrow.  
    “Does he remind you of someone?” I asked her. “I feel like I’ve seen him somewhere before.”
    “He looks a little like a blonde Tom Cruise?” she replied.  
    I was about to say something else when he turned his head, his cold blue eyes looking directly into mine for a split second, and I felt a white hot flash of electricity.  
    “Shit,” I blurted out, quickly turning my head and looking down at my half-finished drink. “He just caught me staring at him …”
    I ducked my head a little and took a sip of my spritzer, feeling my cheeks burning from embarrassment.  
    “He’s still looking at you,” Lauren hissed back. “You sure you don’t know him?”  
    “Positive,” I said.  
    “Well, he’s looking over here like he knows you … Or at least would like to know you!”
    I picked up my glass again, lifted it to my lips, took a large gulp, tilting the delicate glass object, gulping down the rest of my drink in one long draught.  
    “Let’s go,” I said.  
    There was something odd about that guy; something I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but I knew that he was trouble, and I wasn’t hanging around to find out what kind.  

    §

    I got into my apartment, kicked off my shoes, hung my coat up on the hook by the door and walked tipsily through to the bedroom. I could see the little red light flashing on my answer phone, and knew that, more likely than not, it would be my mother: calling once again to pester me or nag me about one thing or another, asking whether I was done with my ‘little adventure’ in the city yet. I lazily pressed the play button on the answer phone as I began to unzip my dress.  
    “You have one new message …” the robotic voice chimed out into the room.  
    I tugged on my zipper.  
    “Left today at seven forty nine p.m. …”
    I let my dress fall to the floor.  
    “Oh, hi Cassie, it’s me …”
    Hearing the voice, a delicious flash of excitement jolted through me. What the hell! It was Xander! I couldn’t quite believe what I was hearing. I stood there, frozen, in the centre of my bedroom, clad only in my underwear, my dress now laying in a rumpled circle at my feet. What in the world did he want, and why was he calling me at my home?
    “… I know it’s not exactly professional, calling you at home like this,” he continued, as if able to read my thoughts. “Only … Well …” There was a long pause, during which I could hear soft music playing in his apartment. I wondered what it was like. Sleek and designer, I imagined. A penthouse, built by his own company, perhaps. With an expansive view of the city. “… Never mind.”  
    And then, just