Soul Seducer by Alicia Dean Read Free Book Online Page A

Ms. Chapman...” The lulling effects of the wine fled, and she shuddered, remembering how real he’d seemed, how there . How she almost felt his touch. Or maybe she had felt it. “I’m not sure if I suffered some kind of brain injury or what. I don’t know whether I should consult a neurologist or a psychiatrist. What do you think I should do?”
    “Wow, you’re really serious.”
    “Yeah. I am.”
    Uncurling her legs from beneath her, Riley scooted to the edge of the sofa. “Well, I’m not a medical professional, so it seems you’d be in a better position to decide what you should do. Now, if you end up marrying one of these hallucinations and you need a divorce, I’m your gal.”
    Audra flashed back to the intensity in the dark one’s blue eyes, the sizzle of air when he’d touched her skin. The sensual pull as her nerve endings crackled with the yearning to feel his hands on her bare flesh. Her face burned, and she tried to hide it by lifting her glass and gulping wine.
    Riley’s brows rose. “Oh, my God. You’re blushing. You have a thing for one of these guys or what?”
    “For God’s sake, of course not. It’s just all so insane.” Audra gazed solemnly at Riley. “Am I crazy?
    The humor left Riley’s expression. She leaned forward, patting Audra’s knee. “No. Of course not. I mean, if you were crazy, you wouldn’t dream up hot ghosts, right? You’d dream up a couple of smelly old fat bald guys.”
    Audra forced a laugh. Riley smiled back, but Audra could see concern lurking in the depths of her green eyes.
    ~*~
    The next evening, just before Audra’s shift ended, Shane called and asked her to meet him for a drink. She and Jaxon had planned to watch a movie together that night, but Jaxon now had to work late, so she was free. When she suggested The Red Door, a bar down the street from the hospital, Shane readily agreed.
    On the drive, she mulled over his invitation. Was it a date or an update on the case? Whichever it was, she was looking forward to it. She hadn’t had either in a long time.
    Audra entered the club and peered through the haze of cigarette smoke. She searched for Shane and in a few moments, spotted him straddling a barstool.
    He smiled as he watched her approach, studying her with frank appraisal. She flushed. Maybe she should have changed out of her pale blue hospital scrubs and into something more alluring. She at least wished she could tug the ponytail holder from her hair to let it hang loose, but that might be a little too obvious.
    “It’s good to see you,” Shane said. A glass filled with clear liquid sat on the bar in front of him. She guessed it was club soda or water, rather than something alcoholic. Shane wore his uniform—a Khaki color that suited his dark good looks—and was therefore probably still on duty. So, maybe this wasn’t a date.
    The bartender, Ron, winked at her when she settled on a barstool next to Shane. Ron was broad-shouldered and squarely built with a shaved head, a skull tattoo on his neck, and a soul patch. He looked like a biker or ex-con—and she had no idea if that were the case—but she did know that he was an excellent bartender.
    Without asking, he slid a glass of Chardonnay in front of her. “How’s it hanging, Audra?”
    “Not bad. Thanks.” She sipped the wine, then twisted the stem between her fingers as she looked up at Shane. “Did you learn anything?”
    “No. I’m sorry.” He shook his head. “Sorry if I got your hopes up. I just wanted to see if you’d thought of anything to add. Remembered anything new. I know it sounds unlikely, but sometimes, even after this much time has passed, victims start to recall details they didn’t remember before.”
    She tried to hide her disappointment by taking another sip of the wine. “No. Nothing new.”
    “I know it’s frustrating. Scary.”
    “I try not to think about it.”
    He reached out and placed his warm hand over hers. “I’m here if you need me. Don’t