Seduced by Crimson by Jade Lee Read Free Book Online

the needles out." She stroked her hand over where his fingers had a death grip on an herb packet. "Take a breath, Romeo. I swear this won't hurt."
    "I'm just doing this for my mother," he said sullenly. God, could he sound any worse?
    He didn't feel the needles slip out, but he heard them drop onto a tray. Out of his neck first. Then his shoulders. Then a long caress moved lower down and had him growling.
    "Okay, okay." She lifted her hand off him. "But I couldn't resist." She leaned down to look him in the eyes. "You're lovely, too." Then she winked, and he heard four more needles hit the tray. "Rip over. We'll do the front."
    "Not a chance in hell," he snapped.
    She laughed. It was a real, honest-to-goodness laugh and not a mocking one. It was light and airy and sounded like freedom, whatever that meant. It just sounded
right
, and he would have given a whole lot to hear it again.
    "Tell you what," she said. "While you get dressed, I'll get my purse. I know a great place for dumplings. It's perfect for surfer dudes who love their mothers."
    He'd been staring at her after the laugh. Now he openly gaped.
    "That's right, Professor," she added. She spoke really, really slowly, just so he understood. "I'm saying yes. You want a date? Well, yes, I will go out with you."
    He nodded, thunderstruck. "Why?"
    "Why not?" she shot back. Then she shrugged. "You made me laugh, Professor. And on today of all days, that is no small thing."
    He frowned. "I don't understand."
    "I've decided that I should go on a date today. What if the world ended tomorrow and I hadn't had any fun? What if the last guy I shared dumplings with was my father eight years ago? I don't want to die that way."
    Alarm shot through him. Did she know about the demons? "Do you expect to die tomorrow?"
    She looked calm. "I expect to start living, Professor. And if that means going out on a date with you tonight, then so be it. Any objections?"
    "No! None at all, but…" His words faded away. She had already ducked out of the room. He stared at the closed doorway for a long moment before abruptly pulling on his clothes.
    Wow. Who'd have guessed. Druid mojo did work.
     
    From Patrick Lewis's journal
     
    July 4, 1985
    Jason'
s
tutoring me in math. Mom and Dad are paying him, but what the hell? He's my best friend. The butthead is such a money-grub. But it's okay, because algebra's easier when he explains it. It takes us five minutes, and then we look at magazines.
    He wants a little red Corvette, the Prince wannabe. I told him he could get chicks on a good surfboard. A short fiberglass with a kick-ass tail and short wings. He's such a dork, though, he wouldn't even know how to wax it right.
    Hour's up. Arcade time!
     

Chapter Three

     
    Who'd have thought regular life continued in a war zone? People still went to work, still ate dinner at restaurants, still had a great time munching dumplings with weird, funny professors of botany. Patrick was not only sexy, but he had Xiao Fei laughing at the bizarrest things, like the way the bao chef's eyebrows collected steam when he lifted the dumplings free, and the simple gusto with which a certain nearby toddler attacked his fried rice despite less than perfect chopsticks skills. He was never cruel in his observations, just aware of the details of his surroundings in a way that coaxed her to relax and enjoy. After all, he seemed to see everything around them. She could trust him to watch for danger even if she let her attention lapse.
    Her ha gow stilled halfway to her mouth. When had she ever trusted anyone to watch out for her? She'd just met the man, and already she was acting as if he were her protector. The thought was as startling as it was terrifying. She would have to be extra cautious around him, or who knew what might happen while she was busy losing herself in his swirling green eyes.
    "You know, you just don't seem like a botany professor," she said. "Shouldn't you have thick glasses and a pocket protector?"
    "You're