Free Just His Taste by Candice Gilmer

downtown at a fundraiser.”
    â€œA date?”
    Jason almost said “sort of”, but caught himself in case Lucas was close. “Yeah. At Hardwin Hotel.”
    â€œBe there in fifteen,” his dad said.
    â€œGot it.” Now, Jason just needed to find his date.

Chapter Fourteen
    Thursday Night
    Ava watched her charge talking to his date. Meandering around the party in human form had been probably the most boring job ever, and she really hated having to be in that state.
    Twice she’d been approached by men at the party, so she decided to make herself male for the party—short, stubby and a little fat. At least then she’d be able to meander around without too much attention.
    And she could watch Jason better. He looked incredibly handsome in his black tux—basic, simple and sexy as sin, unlike so many others who wore bling like it was another outfit layer. Jason made her think of James Bond—subtle and striking.
    She had to make herself focus several times, and not let herself get sucked into the beauty of her charge.
    Good grief, this was why she didn’t take on men—they were far too handsome.
    And good kissers.
    She shook off the thoughts.
    He obviously wasn’t affected by it as much as she was—he’d hardly thought about it in fact. At least, not that she could outright tell in his aura. She couldn’t read his thoughts, but if they affected his aura, she could see that. And he hadn’t shown any sign of being attracted to anyone except his HEA.
    Jason approached Tessa, and Ava, still dressed as a man, crept over, trying to be subtle as she listened.
    â€œTessa, I’m sorry,” Jason said. “It’s work.”
    â€œHow do you think that’s going to look?” Tessa said through gritted teeth. “My date sneaking off before the evening’s over?”
    â€œI’m not sneaking off. It’s my job. It’s not a nine-to-five one. You know that.”
    â€œYou’re not a cop anymore, Jason. You don’t have to run off when a call comes in.”
    Jason tensed. “No, I’m not. But if I expect to get paid, I do. Unlike a cop, I don’t get a salary. I have to earn my money.”
    She let out a harrumph and turned, walking back toward the crowd. Tessa turned and flashed a fake smile, then disappeared into the crowd.
    Jason smiled back, though he doubted she saw him, turned and almost ran into Ava. “Oh sorry, man,” Jason said.
    â€œNo problem,” Ava replied, hoping she sounded male.
    Jason continued.
    She let out a sigh. He didn’t pause, so she must have been convincing.
    â€œOkay,” she whispered to herself. “Now I need to figure out where he’s going.” She raised her hand to pull out her wings, and caught herself before she burst them out of her jacket in front of everyone.
    Some habits were hard to break. Even for her.
    Instead, she headed, slower than she wanted to, toward the exit to follow Jason out the door.
    Just as she reached the entrance, she saw Jason hopping into a dark-blue sedan, and the car taking off.
    Shit.
    â€œOkay, I can’t fly. So now what?”
    She looked back and forth, and saw a yellow taxi idling at the curb.
    Ava hopped inside, barely giving the driver a second to think. “Follow that Chrysler at the corner, and I’ll pay you double your rate.”
    â€œYes, sir.”
    â€œAnd don’t look back here again.”
    â€œYes, sir.”
    Gah, how do mortals get anything done when they spend all their time driving around?
    Ava shook her head, the magic still making her look like a short, round guy. It felt like she’d been in the cab for eternity. Really, though, it was only long enough for Jason to drop off his dad, and now he was pulling into a coffee shop.
    â€œPark here,” Ava said.
    Jason parked and climbed out, still dressed in his fancy penguin suit, and headed inside. If he noticed the cab, he