Johnson Family 2: Perfect by Delaney Diamond Read Free Book Online Page B

as they get me away from you,” she whispered back. His mouth was inches away from hers, and her bottom lip tingled with the inexplicable urge to kiss him.
    “Well, I guess I’ve been told. I should slink away with my tail between my legs, since I’ve been utterly defeated.” The corners of his mouth curved even higher. “Enjoy the rest of your meal.”
    Before she guessed his intent, Cyrus placed a firm hand at her waist and pulled her into him. The impact with his hard body sent a shockwave of hunger straight to her core. Placing a hand on his arm, she leaned back from him.
    “Cyrus.” Her voice should have been a firm dismissal. Instead it came out breathless and trembling.
    He pressed his mouth to hers and she gasped, taken by surprise. Cyrus didn’t make public displays of affection. He’d never held her hand or even given her a peck on the cheek in the presence of others. The most he’d ever done was place a hand at the base of her spine, a comforting gesture meant to show they were together or to guide her in the direction he wanted so he could introduce her to so-and-so from such-and-such a company.
    This was not about affection, though. The kiss informed her and Roland of his intentions toward her. It was nothing but a stamp, forcing her to accept to whom she belonged. His mouth pressed hard into hers, and then he swiped the tip of his tongue just inside her lips before lifting his head.
    She barely noticed the other customers openly staring at them. Her swamped senses buzzed from the contact. The kiss was so short. It couldn’t have lasted more than two seconds, three at the most. Yet every single cell in her body screamed for more.
    “How dare you,” she said, trying to save face. She lifted a hand to her throbbing mouth.
    Cyrus let his hand slide along her waist and down her hip before letting her go. He didn’t take his gaze from her, and she saw the moment something shifted and unshakeable resolve entered his eyes. “Time’s up,” he repeated, his voice rough around the edges.
    He walked away and left her standing there, a bit disoriented, a bit confused. He was out of sight before she realized she’d been holding her breath. What alarmed her even more was her own lack of action. Not once had she considered, much less tried, to pull away.
    “Are you all right?”
    She jumped when Roland touched her arm. She’d forgotten he was there, completely consumed by Cyrus’s presence. She could still feel the heat from his hand on the curve of her hip.
    “I’m fine,” she mumbled.
    He’d said her time was up. If she didn’t do as he demanded, he would retaliate against her. But how? What could he possibly do?
    Now was a waiting game. One where she had to wait to see what the ramifications of her actions would be.

Chapter Seven
    Daniella unlocked the doors to Beaux-Arts Galleries, located along a tree-lined street in downtown Ballard where historic storefronts remained intact. She had managed to carve out a popular showroom that over the past few years had emerged as a coveted venue for both new and established artists.
    Walking down the avenue, a visitor easily gained an impression of what the area might have been like back in the late 1800’s when it was first settled and filled with lumber mills. The quaint neighborhood contained stylish boutiques, restaurants, coffee shops, and other galleries. Every second Saturday, a Chamber of Commerce-sponsored art walk brought visitors to the neighborhood and provided exceptional foot traffic which had helped her business grow. Beaux-Arts not only sold prints and original paintings to the general public, she and her two salespersons consulted with businesses that wanted to freshen their décor. They also worked with private collectors who viewed art as not only a decoration, but an investment as well.
    Her business was couched between a glass-blowing studio on one side and a handmade jewelry store on the other. Across the street, an independent