Free THE CHAMELEON by Kelly Ilebode Page B

lost on Aisling as she quickly scanned the email.
    New job if you are available. This is personal and sensitive in nature. Let me know.
    Stephanous Petros
    Glancing at the still closed door, she wondered what job he had in mind. It had to be pretty important if it was on his mind while on a date. Her mother was right. Men’s priorities were fickle for sure. Her fingers flew over the keyboard on her phone.
    Absolutely. Send file at your convenience and whatever you need accomplished. Once I have reviewed the information, I can give you the cost and timeframe.
    —Chameleon
    Aisling hesitated before she hit Send. Walking back to the living room, she pushed the button just as she entered the room. Stephan sat at the bar that was situated against one side of the wall. She heard his phone vibrate against the wooden top, message received, but he didn’t give it a second look; instead, he rose to greet her. He had changed also and now wore jeans and a black tee shirt. He still wore a jacket; she wondered whether he was carrying. Sidling up to him, she placed her hands on his waist, watching his expression carefully. He definitely became guarded the moment she touched him. As she slowly slid them around to his back, Stephan quickly gripped her hands tightly before she could embrace him completely. Smiling up at him, she allowed him to entwine his fingers in hers before he pulled her arms behind her back, holding them with one of his, as he took his other hand, gripping her chin, not unkindly.
    “Can I help you?”
    Aisling shivered with the thought of how he could so help her right now.
    “Just wanted to thank you for calling me.”
    Surprise flicked in Stephan’s eyes before they became guarded again, but he loosened his grip on her hands, still not willing to let her go. Dropping his head, his mouth captured hers in a deep kiss that left her breathless and caught her by surprise. Stephan pulled away and released her before she could even respond.
    “You’re welcome,” he replied gruffly, not unaffected from the kiss. “Ready?”
    Nodding, she followed, trying to sort out the many emotions that flowed through her. It was going to be hard to keep her heart guarded with him if she wasn’t careful.
    As she stepped into the elevator, Aisling watched him as he checked the messages on his phone, knowing that he would be seeing hers. It was an odd feeling to see him working, knowing that he was going to respond to her. Guilt rushed through her, shocking her to the core. Aisling never felt guilt before, and she realized that she didn’t like it.

CHAPTER 10
    “This place is packed!”
    Stephan nodded at Aisling’s comment. This was the busiest he had ever seen the Thinking Cup, a small coffee shop near Boston Common.
    “It will be worth it,” he mumbled under his breath, hoping he was right, as the door struck him by another patron trying to enter. Not a fan of routines, this was the only indulgence he allowed himself every day. The Thinking Cup, in his opinion, made the best coffee, hands down.
    “Damnit.” Stephan swore loudly as a person squeezing by knocked Aisling with her bag hard enough to cause her to wince. “Do people not even know about personal space? Are you okay?”
    Even though her back was to him and the café was loud with all of the patrons, he could hear her laugh lightly. He pulled her against him; she leaned back and rested her head on his shoulder.
    She looked up at him, liking the protective gesture on his part, but it didn’t help her raging hormones one bit to feel his lower half respond to the pressing of her buttocks against him. His cologne enveloped her like a soft blanket and she closed her eyes briefly, inhaling deeply.
    “I am now. This is kind of nice, Stephan. Could be an awkward date, though, if I didn’t like you.” Taking his hand, she lifted it over her shoulder until it was in front of her. Aisling hoped she could wear him down before tonight or she was going to go out of her mind