To Seduce A Siren by Jane Cousins Read Free Book Online Page B

head. 
“Interesting outfit.”  He finally commented.
    What! 
Oh, of course it was Nate.  She needed to get used to the fact that he
didn’t slobber all over her or shower her with compliments.  No, when he looked
at her, he no doubt saw a woman with fizzy hair wearing an imminently sun
practical, if rather hideous outfit.  Oh Goddess, she hadn’t even run a
brush through her hair this morning before pulling it into a pony-tail. 
And this colour did nothing for her complexion but make her look like death
warmed over.  This was so embarrassing.  No wonder the man was busy
looking around the rock rather than continuing to look at the hideousness that
was her.
    Nate
hadn’t come down in the last solar flare.  He knew that whatever had its
claws sunk deep into Charisse loathed the way his attention was captured and
held by that ridiculous blanket thing she wore, the gusty breezes making it
cling to those narrow hips, fantastic long legs and full breasts of hers. 
He could actually see the black creature tightening and squeezing her psyche
when his focus shifted from her gorgeous body to that enticing wide mouth of
hers. 
    With
a determined effort he’d yanked his gaze from her completely and scoped out his
surroundings.  Something any warrior of Maat should have done first when
arriving at a new location, rather than spend his time wondering how long it
would take him to cut all that material off of the gorgeous woman in front of
him.
    The
rock was large, bordering on small island proportions.  Even at high tide
he doubted the sea did no more than lap over the very edges.  The centre
of it was covered with sand like a beach and that was where it looked like
Charisse did most of her work.  He noted the easel and canvas set up under
the shade of a billowing colourful sheet of tarpaulin.  One end attached
to a tall pole, the other attached to what looked like a small metal shack with
windows, that someone had painted a glossy red.
    “Is
that a… ship’s cabin?”
    “Yes. 
One of the larger industrial fishing vessels ran aground out here about ten,
no, eleven years ago during a storm.  It was easier to dismantle it than
try and tow it back to the docks so I offered to purchase the main cabin.”
    “And
they just said yes?  What about the fisheries and wildlife departments,
they’re just okay with you squatting out here?”
    Charisse
laughed, it came out low and husky and did not so surprising things to the
lower half of his body, thank Maat his trousers were practically dry already.
    “I
petitioned the local Council for permission.”
    “Of
course, and just how many family members of yours sit on the Council?” 
Nate began striding across the rock.  Something about that painting had
caught his eye.
    “Hey
don’t touch that… the paint’s still wet in places.”  She came to a halt
beside him, breathing hard.   Goddess, the
man moved like lightning, no wonder Darcy couldn’t keep up with him.
    “This
is good.”  Nate eyed the canvas with interest.  “And familiar.” 
The scene was of the ocean horizon, waves cresting, seagulls wheeling overhead
as a storm hinted in the distance.  Nate leant over to get a better view
of the signature.
    Behind
him Charisse squirmed in place, soft colour filling her cheeks.  She
wasn’t used to people, especially men, paying attention to her work whilst in
her company… usually they were too busy waxing lyrical about the shape of her
eyebrows, the shell like proportions of her ears or some such other nonsense.
    “You’re
C.Hariss?  The painter?”
    “Umm…
well yes.  Would you like a drink?”  She twirled and headed inside
the cabin without waiting for his response.  Outside again she wasn’t
surprised to find he’d made himself comfortable in one of the two collapsible
striped chairs she kept under the shaded veranda she’d rigged to the front of
the cabin.
    Nate
took the cold can of soft drink from her, popped the top and gave a