Free Right Through Me (The Obsidian Files #1) by Shannon McKenna Page B

headset. “There’s a woman from Bounce Entertainment who says . . . . oh. I see.” Her expression became fractionally warmer. “Twenty-fourth floor.” Her crisp professionalism never faltered.
    The office suite upstairs was quiet, but there were still people there. A white-haired lady in her sixties, glasses hanging around her neck, greeted her at the reception desk and introduced herself as Harriet Aronsen . Probably not the martial arts champ. But you never knew.
    “Mr. Gallagher is waiting,” she said briskly. “Follow me.”
    Caro intended to ask if she could change in the same unused office she’d used earlier, but the words froze in her throat. She followed Mrs. Aronsen, who stopped at a door and spoke into a wall-mounted intercom after pressing a button. “Mr. Gallagher? Your appointment has arrived.”
    She opened the door for Caro, gesturing for her to enter.
    Caro walked into the shadowy room, clutching the duffel bag against herself. Mingled fear and anticipation rattled her as she caught sight of him, silhouetted against the glittering cityscape.
    “Is there anything else, Mr. Gallagher?” Mrs. Aronsen asked.
    “Not right now, Mrs. Aronsen, thank you.” It was that deep, controlled voice again, the one that had made her clutch at the phone. “I appreciate you and Karen and Aurelia staying longer. Stanley will drive you home, of course.”
    “Thanks. I’ll be in my office if you need anything.” The door clicked shut.
    What a set-up. It was supposed to make her feel safe, but it didn’t, not quite. It felt too deliberate. Staff expertly nudged into position. Herself, coaxed into coming.
    But please. That was bullshit. She’d chosen to come. She made the call herself.
    Standing, Noah Gallagher was a shadow against the dusky gray sky, tall and broad. Perfectly proportioned.
    “Hello,” he said quietly.
    Oh, boy. She had never been so aware of a man’s sexuality in her entire life. And he wasn’t even doing anything. Just standing there on the other side of a very large room. Wearing a dangerously sexy suit and tie.
    He flicked a switch on the wall. A row of small lights near the ceiling beam started to glow, warming the gloom to the level of candlelight.
    “Excuse the low lighting.” He took off his glasses. “I had a head injury a while back, and I can’t stand too much light without protective lenses. But by the end of the day, I can adjust if I keep the lights low. I hope you don’t mind.”
    “It’s fine.” Her voice sounded muffled. Talk to the man, she lectured herself. Ask for a place to change. Commence Operation Shake It as of now. Go, go, go.
    The words would not come. He was walking toward her. Coherent thought disintegrated. She was close enough now to make out his eyes. They looked different. That luminous, startling flash. Like a wild predator’s eyes. A panther, or a wolf.
    “Let me take your coat.” His voice was so silky. Caressing.
    But I don’t have my costume on. The words stayed trapped in her mouth as he lifted the garment, weighted by artfully sewn padding. It slid from her shoulders with only a tug of encouragement.
    Noah Gallagher took a few seconds to look at the hidden layers, then pushed open a wall panel and hung up her coat.
    She felt exposed. “Why did you do that?”
    “Just curious. It’s an unusual coat.”
    Well, hell. That sucked. The coat was supposed to be quiet and unremarkable, a wall to hide behind. “It’s only a coat,” she mumbled.
    “It goes with the hat and that wig. And that thing in your mouth.”
    Her mind had been blank walking in, and now, it was blanker still. Wiped clean by the catlike gold flash of his eyes. Wait. Gold?
    It hit her with a rush of startled wonder. “Your eyes,” she blurted. “They’re a different color from this morning.”
    Not a muscle moved on his face, but she sensed the tension that gripped him.
    “Are they?” he asked.
    “This morning, they were black,” she said. “Now they’re