Night Hunter by Vonna Harper Read Free Book Online Page B

informed her that he wasn’t here and to leave a message. Although she was delighted to have “found” him, she didn’t bother. However, she did listen to his message three more times.
    Lordy but the man had a sexy voice.
    She got up, wandered over to the minuscule closet and grabbed the outfit she’d chosen for her meeting with the man interested in carrying her line of jewelry. It seemed a lifetime ago that she’d given herself a headache trying to decide on the perfect ensemble. Now she couldn’t care less. However, when she’d told Laird why she was here, he’d encouraged her to keep her appointment.
    “I can’t take over your life,” he’d said as she fought, less than successfully, to bring herself back to some semblance of sanity following her powerful climax.
    “No,” she’d retorted. “Just my body.”
    She’d thought he might laugh and agree. Instead, his form had begun to shimmer and grow less distinct.
    “What’s happening?” she’d demanded. “What’s wrong?”
    “It doesn’t matter.”
    “How can you say that? Of course it does!”
    Instead of responding, he’d shrugged his unbelievably well-honed muscles. Then, slow and fading, he’d sent her another message.
    “I need to get back. Learn what they want with me.”
    “No! It’s dangerous,” she’d insisted.
    “I can take care of myself.”
    “How can you say that? You don’t know what’s going to happen…”
    “I’ve always taken care of myself,” he’d “said” as he faded into nothing .
    Laird Jaeger, stud to the max, was a loner. She might not be sure of much that had happened since she first spotted him and his motorcycle, but she had no doubt of that.
     
     
    Ralph Korn’s office wasn’t what she’d expected. Instead of something overflowing with arts and crafts in an older, funky part of town, the meeting took place in a third story, bare-bones office dominated by a state-of-the-art computer. As she soon learned, the computer contained a myriad of 3-D images of his clients’ work. She wasn’t sure how she felt about being considered a client. However, as they’d waited to be invited into the office, Sandy had assured her that that’s the way successful crafts’ people managed their careers these days. What better way to showcase one’s work than instantly and around the world via the Internet.
    “Jewelry shows particularly well this way,” Ralph explained as she stared at a slowly revolving image of one of her rings. “I took the liberty of inputting a number of your pieces for your portfolio.”
    Ralph, who Mala guessed was about fifty and reeked of spicy cologne, leaned close. She wasn’t sure his shoulder brushing hers was accidental until she glanced over at him. From the way he was looking down her cleavage, she knew it wasn’t.
    “You did this before I signed a contract?” she asked, determined to keep their conversation businesslike.
    He clamped a scrawny arm around her shoulder. He was so close she could smell his mouthwash in addition to the cologne. Her stomach rebelled. “Mala, Mala, let’s don’t play games,” he muttered. “You and I both know how hard it is to succeed as an independent jeweler. How many offers like mine have you had?”
    None, she thought but didn’t tell him. Instead, she looked at Sandy for guidance. However, Sandy only nodded from her position on the opposite side of the desk. Holding her breath, she straightened and stepped away from Ralph.
    “I appreciate this,” she said, although she’d dearly like to give the old fart a piece of her mind. “And you’re right. Enlarging my work and giving it a 3-D quality really shows it off.”
    Ralph pushed the five-page contract toward her. “This is going to be successful for both of us,” he said. His voice was too smooth, intimate. “Not only are you gifted, but I can market you along with your work.”
    “Me?” The thought of having to shake his bony hand made her slightly ill. “What do you