Free Shades of Gray by Maya Banks Page A

arm and she managed a weak smile. “Thank you. You frightened me.”
    “You are American,” he said in a heavily accented voice. A voice that was heavy with
     approval. His eyes gleamed, and she could almost see him rubbing his hands together
     like she was some choice steak he was about to devour.
    “Y-yes,” she stammered out.
    She had no basis for her assumptions, but with the predilection for young girls his
     boss had, and that he likely had as well, she imagined him going for young and innocent.
     Even when he went for legal-aged women.
    She stared up at him wide-eyed and nervous, and even as she did, his arm came around
     her protectively as he herded her back toward the ballroom.
    They paused a moment as he collected drinks for them both. While she stood there,
     Nelson looked across the room. She followed his gaze to find Brumley staring intently
     at both of them. If Nelson’s earlier frank assessment had made her uncomfortable,
     then Brumley’s very blunt gaze made her feel naked in a room full of strangers. Then
     his eyes gleamed and he gave Nelson a short nod that made P.J. grow cold.
    Nelson didn’t give her time to ponder the meaning behind Brumley’s acknowledgment.
     He urged her toward the patio doors and then out onto the terrace. The night air was
     chilly on her bare arms and legs. It was an excuse for him to get even closer to her,
     and he took it, wrapping a beefy arm around her, all but hauling her up to his side.
    She positively itched to knee him in the balls and then kick his ass on the spot,
     but she managed to control those urges and instead glance shyly up at him.
    “What’s an American girl like you doing here?” he demanded.
    She raised an eyebrow. “Are Americans not welcome?”
    He chuckled. “No, of course they are welcome.” He stared at her a long moment, obviously
     studying her with avid curiosity. “You’re different from the other girls. The man
     you came in with. You belong to him?”
    “I don’t belong to anyone,” she said crisply. “I met him outside. I heard about the
     party and that it was a swanky affair. Thought it would be fun to crash. There were
     other women picking up dates at the gate.” She shrugged. “I figured why not? I made
     him look good coming in and now I’m free to mingle, eat good food and have as much
     as I want to drink.”
    “You even sound American,” Nelson said with a chuckle. “So independent. I like American
     girls. They have fire.”
    * * *
    “DAMN, she even has me convinced,” Dolphin muttered.
    The rest of the team had gathered outside a bar just half a block from the house where
     the party was being hosted. They were dressed casually. Like a group of guys out for
     a good time.
    “She’s good,” Renshaw said. “Thinks quick on her feet. Smart girl.”
    Steele held up his hand as the conversation between P.J. and Nelson resumed. Cole
     stood in the dark, hands shoved into his pockets as he listened in disgust while the
     creep came on to her with all the finesse of a rutting bull.
    P.J. said and did all the appropriate things. She was believably hesitant and she
     sounded shy at his forceful proposition.
    Nelson turned cajoling, seemingly more excited the more reluctant P.J. came across.
    Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they came to an agreement that they would
     travel back to her hotel room.
    “On my way out,” Donovan said in a low voice they could hear from the transmitter
     he carried. “I’m giving them a head start, so you’ll see them first. Tag them and
     make damn sure you keep on her tail. I don’t want anything going wrong.”
    Cole swiveled sharply, looking for them to make their appearance.
    “He’s taking her out the back. He likely has a car parked behind the house,” Donovan
     reported.
    Cole started to clench his first, and as if sensing his agitation, Steele focused
     on him. “Stand down. We know where they’re going. We have her on GPS. Get in your
     vehicles and