Seduction’s Canvas (Crimson Romance) by K.M. Jackson Read Free Book Online Page A

ear, a seductive hiss over the music.
    Mark grinned as the sting of pain radiated through his stomach to his outer extremities. Okay, so maybe she could have taken Size Nine. The women had a hell of a punch.

Chapter 4
    “What in the world was that all about?”
    Samara had made her way back to their banquette and was now looking into the dark wide eyes of a shocked Gabrielle Russell. Gabby tugged on her mini as she scooted over for Sam to sit.
    “Who the hell was that?” Lauren Chambers, her friend and the owner of the gallery where she would be having her show, chimed in.
    “And where can we get one?” Kara added, her dark curls bouncing a bit too eagerly, causing Lauren to flip her blond waves and give her a pointed frown.
    Samara flopped down. “That, ladies, is my new neighbor.”
    Gabby picked up her drink and took a long swallow. “What? The biker boy? Life is so unfair. You get him and I get Mrs. Branders and her four cats.”
    Kara shot a wistful glance Thorn’s way. “Hmm, boy? I don’t see nothing about him that says boy. There is
man
written all over that one.”
    Samara leaned back as the women talked over and around her, but she half tuned them out and instead watched Mark Thorn as he eased his large body against the bar and reached for his beer. She knew she didn’t hurt him one bit with her punch. If anything, she had only hurt her hand. Sam rubbed her knuckles and narrowed her eyes as she felt her lips thin. A petite blond in tight black pants and a low draped silver tank came up to Mark. The blond was clearly trying to give him her number, but the whole while he kept looking Sam’s way, his eyes half-lidded and trained toward where she was. Heat ran from her thighs to her cheeks and she let go of a deep breath and crossed her legs.
    Just then, the blond turned and shot her a look as she boldly handed Thorn a piece of paper she’d taken from her cleavage. Sam snorted to herself.
Hmm, prepared much?
But she couldn’t help but inwardly grin when Thorn folded the paper and placed it on the bar like a discarded napkin.
    So, pushy blonds weren’t his type. She shrugged and leaned forward to refill her drink, shaking the empty champagne bottle. She gave a frown to her girls, and went for a fresh water bottle instead. It was getting late anyway. She looked back toward Mark. What did it matter? She didn’t care if brown skinned brunettes were his type either. There was no way she was getting involved with him. For one: he was her neighbor. How awkward was that? And for two: she didn’t need to deal with a man right now. Bad enough she had to juggle Peter to her parents’ liking. No, right now it was all about her painting and that was it. It’s what had to be.
    Sam swallowed the lump forming in her throat. Her painting. It was what had brought her out to this stupid dive with its awful music and cut rate champagne in the first place. Her headache threatened to return full on as she was forced to admit that this night of mixing cheap champagne with shots was a clear mistake. But she was the queen of mistakes. Something she should be used to by now.
    She was all quick, rash decisions and later regrets. When would she ever learn? Sam blinked back threatening tears. Why were her lessons always a half hour too late and combined with a hangover? She should have never called the girls to have them meet her at this no name club, but she thought it would give her a chance to blow off some steam — and this time out of the usual prying eyes of the paparazzi. Not to mention out of the general radius of her new neighbor, but here he was in all his badass glory and just in time to see her groped by some asshole. Sam tipped the water to her lips as she looked at Mark over by the bar.
    She had to get out of the apartment tonight. Looking up and seeing that image that was so clearly influenced by him had unnerved her — and what was worse was the realization that her work was better for it. Better than anything