Free Dangerous Proposition by Jessica Lauryn Page B

and let him know that their prisoner had escaped.
    No, Colin wasn’t responsible for her father’s disappearance, Julia assured herself, tapping her fingernails against the counter. He was hiding something for sure, but the man wasn’t a killer. Not based on what she’d seen, at least. If he was her father’s killer, or even his kidnapper, he never would have brought her to the City with him. Wasn’t that right?
    The thought was replaced by a shiver as a man with curly black hair stepped beside her. His eyes were dark, and he was wearing a suit to match. Tall and lanky, the Dracula look he had going on was complemented by a collared shirt and a crooked smile.
    Clutching her purse, Julia shot him a dirty look. “This seat is taken.”
    As though he hadn’t heard her, the man smiled and draped his arm across the back of her chair. “Do you believe in love at first sight?” he asked. “Or should I walk by you again?”
    Shifting in her seat, Julia inched forward as far as she could. “Please. Does that line ever work on anyone? This isn’t exactly a frat house.”
    “I should say it isn’t. I own this penthouse. Though it’s seldom I actually sleep here. I do a lot of traveling. For business. But enough about me. It’s a party. I’d much rather focus on more fascinating subject matters. Griffin.” He gave her hand a squeeze.
    An icy feeling lingered against Julia’s skin. She needed to steer the conversation back on course. Hoping to do just that, she cleared her throat. “Delilah. And as it happens, I find talking about business stimulating. What do you say, slick? Cut a girl in on some fast cash?”
    Griffin’s charcoal irises went wide. He looked briefly over his shoulder then back again. “I’m not sure what you’ve heard, but I’m not exactly in the stock business, sweets.”
    “Then I’ve come to the right place. Because I’m not looking to make a purchase.”
    His bushy brows furrowed. “What are you looking to do, then?”
    “I want to become a manager,” Julia said. Taking a deep breath, she faced her target with a head-on glare. “They say drug dealing makes a killing in the US every year. I’m just looking for my piece of the pie.”
    A sinister smile formed on Griffin’s lips. He slid from his barstool, offering her his hand. “You know, the view from the bedroom is even better. We can get a lot more comfortable in there. Delilah .”
    Julia swallowed. Fiddling with the zipper on her knapsack, she wondered just how long it was that Colin planned on playing Hardy Boy by his lonesome. Exactly how was it ‘teamwork’ when they spent the duration of the party apart? “Can’t. I’m actually here with someone. I’m sure he’s probably wondering where I am, so, if you’ll excuse me.”
    “My bad,” Griffin said, catching her by the arm. “Who’s the lucky guy?”
    There was little sense in lying about this part. Julia slipped free of his grasp. “His name’s Colin.”
    “Westwood,” Griffin muttered under his breath. “What’s a sweet thing like you doing with a guy like him?”
    Julia tapped her foot against the ground. There had to be something nice she could say about Colin. He was a decent dresser. Certainly smelled better than most men. He had an incredible smile and smoky-blue eyes. He had an amazing chest…
    She cleared her throat. “Colin’s an…interesting guy. You got something against him?”
    Griffin smiled. Leaning in close, he cupped a hand around the side of his mouth. Clamping down on her shoulder, he said, “Watch yourself, sweets. Colin Westwood isn’t someone you want to make friends with.”
    With that, he disappeared into the crowd.
     
    * * * *
     
    By the time he reached the hallway, Colin’s blood pressure had risen to an unhealthy level. It was no use. The image of Julia’s slender figure surrounded by every scumbag who had eyes was eating him alive.
    With that tight little T-shirt she had on, and jeans that hugged the contours of her