Tug of Attraction by Ashlyn Chase Read Free Book Online Page B

that?”
    “There’s a person who deconstructs whatever they can—”
    “A person!” Fayleen jumped up and down, clapping her hands. “Perfect. Can we speak to him or her?”
    “She’s not here right now.”
    “Of course not,” Hanna mumbled.
    “When will she be here?” Fayleen asked and elbowed Hanna.
    “Tomorrow morning. About eight-thirty.”
    Hanna nodded to her fellow witch and sometimes friend. Fayleen sidled up to Henry.
    “Thank you for your help, Henry. It’s a shame you won’t remember our being here. Now go on with whatever it was you were about to do before you saw us.”
    Henry looked confused for a moment, then scratched his head and wandered back to the pile of plastic. Then he carefully pulled the tarp across the floor, closer to the conveyor belt.
    Hanna took Fayleen’s hand and was back in her hotel suite before she could blink.

Chapter 3
    E than strolled into the Dolphin Stryker and spotted her sitting at a table in the back of the bar. She wore a violet dress that matched her eyes, and she looked absolutely gorgeous. Okay. So she was taking the date seriously. Good. He’d half expected her to show up in jeans and a t-shirt.
    He wore some nice khakis and boat shoes, and a dark green button down shirt, open at the collar. Something to say he cared about his appearance, but not a suit he couldn’t work in if he were called in on a job.
    She smiled when she saw him. He strode right over and gave her a kiss on the cheek. He figured he could be glib and call her ‘darling’, but he wanted to keep everything between them as uncomplicated as possible.
    “I’m sorry if I’m late.”
    “You’re not,” she said. “I’m a little early.”
    “I made reservations. We could move to a table in the dining room...”
    “I’m fine right here,” she said. “No need to make a big fuss over me.”
    “It’s not a big fuss, Bridge.” He wondered why she acted as if she didn’t deserve to be treated decently. “Even if nothing comes of this, you’re my friend. If you hate the idea of dating me so much, you can just—”
    She raised her hand. “No. It’s not that at all, Ethan.”
    He joined her at the small table for two. “Then what is it?”
    She shrugged. “I’m asking you to do me a favor. It seems wrong for you to take me out and spend money on me when I’m the only one benefitting.”
    He didn’t know what to say to that. If he wound up honoring the contract, she would be the only one walking away with anything. He’d be left with nothing but a smile on his face. It should work for a bachelor who wanted to stay that way. So why didn’t it feel right?
    “You’re missing out, Brigit.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “The seduction.” He trailed a finger up her arm, and she shivered. “The romance. I know how to treat a woman.” He leaned in and trailed his lips over her collarbone. Her breath hitched. He took that as a good sign and continued up the column of her neck. He paused at her pulse point, gratified to notice her heart was beating a fast and furious staccato.
    “Stop,” she said breathlessly...and not very convincingly.
    He nibbled his way up to her ear and whispered. “Are you sure you want me to stop?”
    She tipped her head, but didn’t answer. The angle only gave him better access. Brushing her hair behind her shoulder, he licked the shell of her ear and sucked on her earlobe.
    “Fuck,” she mumbled. She still hadn’t told him to stop.
    The waitress chose that moment to check on them, and instead of taking the hint that they were busy she cleared her throat. Brigit pulled away and her face reddened. The romantic mood was broken, so he sat back and sighed.
    “Do you guys know what you want, yet? Besides each other?”
    Brigit laughed nervously.
    “Order anything you want, Bridge.”
    “I—I just want a glass of iced tea.”
    What the heck? Just tea? Is she on some cockamamie diet or something? “Make that two,” he said.
    The waitress left, then