Free Veiled Target (A Veilers Novel) by Robin Bielman Page B

magnified by the intensity of the situation. She saw beyond the whites of his eyes to something that made her feel like she’d swallowed the tiny white, twinkling lights found in trees during the holidays. For a split second, she thought he might lean in and kiss her. She wanted him to lean in and kiss her.
    Instead, his warm breath tickled her ear and he whispered, “Let’s focus on getting out of here alive.”
    Blinking away the pleasant sensations circulating through her body, she silently cursed her trembling knees back into kickboxing mentality.
    “No problem,” she said, her tone serious and tough.
    What an idiot she was. He had no interest in her whatsoever. He’d flirted with her some, yes, but that was because he thought she might know something about Trey. Now that he knew she didn’t, as soon as he could ditch her at her car, she’d never see him again.
    Until she started investigating him, that was. And then it would be all about the job. She’d decide on a course of action and without his knowledge, get her hands on information to prove he wasn’t as nice as he appeared. P.I.E.’s clients always had good reasons for hiring the company, so this time shouldn’t be any different.
    Even though it felt different.
    She pushed herself away from the shelving, forcing him back. “What’s the plan?”
    “The plan is you’re going to get out of here, and I’m going to deal with the Banoth. If you go back the way we came in and—”
    “Oh no—”
    “Oh yes—”
    “Oh hell no.” She put her hand over his mouth as he was about to speak. “I am not running away from this thing. It tried to take a bite out of my backside. Sorry, but I’m staying, and I’m going to make that SOB pay for its actions. So you can just tell me how we kill it, and the sooner we get the deed done, the sooner you’ll be rid of me.”
    He grabbed her wrist and pushed her hand from his mouth with a firm, yet gentle hold. His jaw clenched, his eyes narrowed. A low growl escaped his pursed lips. “I don’t have time to argue with you.”
    “That’s right. So how do we kill it?”
    “You’re no ordinary private investigator.” He placed her arm at her side and released his grip. His steely gaze said he was trying to intimidate her, get her to tell truths she didn’t share.
    “Maybe I’ll fill you in sometime, but not right now. I think tall, dark and hairy is coming to get us.”
    As if on cue, the shelving unit beside them toppled over, boxes falling to the floor with a thunderous crash. Banoths obviously weren’t keen enough to hit their target unless it stood right in front of them.
    “Run!” Hugh yelled, shoving her away from the jagged pieces of clay pot littering the floor.
    “Would you quit saying that? I know.”
    They took off again, Tess leading them through a maze of aisles. After tearing around a corner, she halted abruptly when she noticed the shaggy savage waiting for them at the other end.
    For a creature that had to weigh at least five hundred pounds, it sure traveled quietly. And if she wasn’t mistaken, its thick botoxed lips were pursed in a smile that said “come and get me, baby.”
    Not sure what to do, she looked over her shoulder for help from Hugh. He wasn’t there. Great. She turned her head back to her enemy and plastered her sweetest closed-mouth smile back at him. They glared at each other for what seemed like an eternity before she wondered if he understood English and she could talk her way out of this.
    “Hi. I’m Tess. And you are?”
    The beast snorted and scraped one of its feet like it was getting ready to charge.
    “Okay, so talking is out of the question.” Instead, she might have to play matador. The super-sized Cousin It looked ready for a bullfight. Steam even came out of the area she assumed housed nostrils. It was hard to tell underneath all the hair.
    “You colorblind?” she called out, referring to the color of her dress. Red, blue, she supposed on the color wheel