Free Sweet Seduction Shadow by Nicola Claire Page B

having ditched the car at the first opportunity, well before then.
    The night progressed and even though Carl was enchanted with my physical assets, he wasn't that bad of a sport. He bought a few rounds, even bought some chips as the evening grew longer, and carried the conversation fairly well.
    But he could not hold his liquor. Those pretty boy muscles tired easily, and made alcohol more effective than the rest of the hard-worked for muscle-bound crowd.
    By eleven he was slurring his words, weaving in his chair, and making frequent trips to the toilet. His mates hadn't faired better, but at least they'd stopped checking on us and making a scene every time they passed by. It got easier and easier to slip my drinks into his, to make him believe I was consuming as much alcohol as him. Where in fact it was more like one to three.
    By just on midnight I watched him stagger to the toilets one last time. The room was rocking, the bartenders all busy, and his mates too drunk to notice the brunette who'd entertained their friend all evening, slip out the swinging front doors. Carl's keys jingled in my hand as I jogged down the street and around the corner, keeping a wary eye out over my shoulder for any pursuers.
    I waited five minutes in the shadow of a nearby tree, but when nothing stirred, I approached the car. Carl drove a Nissan Pulsar. I had to blink a few times at that. The alarm beeped merrily and the indicator lights blinked twice to announce the deed was done.
    And just as I was about to open the front driver's door a shadow beside me moved. The smell of his cologne sending an unwanted shiver down my spine.
    "I really hope you're not gonna drive while under the influence, red," a deep, gravelly voice said as the shadow approached. "Oh, wait. You're no longer a redhead." I didn't miss the sarcasm. "What will I call you now?"
    I swung around to face him, sucking in air as though I was drowning and all hope was long lost. How much more adrenaline could my body handle today?
    "Ben, the man who walks in shadows, I presume?" I somehow managed to numbly say.
    He flashed me a smile, I sucked in more air. And then he simply reached forward and gently tugged Carl's keys from my hand.

Chapter 6
Feeling Like My World Was Tipping Over Sideways
    "Always savin' your arse, red," Ben grumbled from only an inch or two away. Clearly not giving up on his chosen nickname for me, despite noticing my brunette colour change.
    "I'm not drunk," I insisted, still in shock that he'd found me, that he was here, and that he smelled so damn nice.
    "Not sober either. I spotted you downin' at least fifteen shots, three beers and barely any chips."
    "Eight shots, two beers and I'd already eaten," I threw back.
    "This ain't a negotiation. You can't drive when you've had that much piss."
    I glared at him. "Who the fuck are you?" I demanded. If he was Roan's, then why the lecture? If he wasn't Roan's, then what the hell?
    "Well, I ain't your fairy fuckin' godmother, that's for sure," he said, sounding a little angry. He shook his head, as though dumbfounded about something. He was quite clearly insane, and now would have been a good time to knee him in the balls again and run away.
    I stood still and just looked at him.
    "OK," I said eventually, wrapping my arms about my body. "How much is he paying you? Maybe I can better the offer?"
    Ben's granite chipped eyes came up to stare at mine. For a moment he seemed to lose all train of thought, then with another shake of his head, he said, "You can't pay me what he pays me. I'm outta your league."
    And OK, so I didn't have much money left, but still, a couple of thousand's got to be more than he'd get on this one retrieval job.
    I started reaching into my satchel, hunting around for my wad of cash. A tearing sound broke the stillness of the air, as I opened up one of the hidden compartments where Dad's money was kept.
    "What are you doin', red?" he drawled beside me.
    "Finding you some money, so you can get on