Darken (Siege #1) Read Online Free Page A

into that kind of thing.”
    She started to protest but clamped her lips shut. Anything she said would only feed into Keeley’s wickedly-dirty sense of humor.
    A wise decision, since Gavin chose that moment to strut back into the bar, a soda canister and keg slung over each shoulder. She studied him as he placed the containers on the ground and started hooking them up. He was so different than when they first met ten years before.
    Physically, he’d filled out, transforming from a tall, lanky teen to an Adonis. Lean muscles, a solid scruffy jaw and yes, nice ass, made it impossible to mistake him for anything but a man.
    Yet the sorrow he carried in his eyes marked the greatest change as it dimmed the intensity that once drew her to him. He’d always thrown himself so completely into the aspects of his life he considered important. When Lela died, he crumbled.
    “Cora.”
    She jumped at Logan’s voice behind her and fumbled with the forks she held, hoping he hadn’t noticed her watching Gavin.
    “Hey, what’s up?”
    “Just checking in.” Though he spoke to her, his gaze followed Keeley as she walked over to unlock the front door, then he shook his head and glanced at Cora.
    “We’re expecting a big group from TanTech at happy hour. I told Merrick we’d hold the two end tables.”
    “That’s Keeley’s section.”
    “Well, pass the message,” he said even as Keeley made her way back to them. “I’ll see you tonight.”
    He disappeared into the staff area, nodding curtly at the flirty smile Keeley gave him.
    “Tonight?” Keeley looked at Cora. “Are you poaching?”
    “No,” Cora denied, rolling her eyes. “He’s training me to do receiving and purchase orders.”
    “Well, good,” she said and cracked a smile. “I’m meeting Sky for dinner, want to join us?”
    Sky was the only Walker sister. Cora got along with her but they never really hung out, mainly due to the five-year age gap.
    “Yeah, sure.”
    She finished the cutlery, pushing aside the bin, and then went back to the fridge to grab a bowl of lemons for drink garnish. Gavin was clearing the spray nozzle when she came back, carrying the bowl along with a cutting board and knife. She dropped the items on the workspace beside him and pulled a lemon from the bowl, tossing the fruit in the air for him to catch.
    “Cut,” she ordered.
    “Can’t Mateo do this?” Gavin called after her as she headed toward the staff area.
    “He could.” She glanced over her shoulder at him. “Except it’s not his job to prep your bar. Start cutting. Celery and limes are coming next.”
    His eyes narrowed, and her chin lifted in challenge. Backing down would only fuel his belief he controlled things between them.
    “Fine,” he said. “My bar, my job. I’ll get it.”
    Cora trailed him through the kitchen to the walk-in fridge and watched as he searched the shelves for celery. Eventually, he gave up and looked at her.
    “Wrong fridge. This is for kitchen supplies only.” She led him to the smaller walk-in fridge in the back across from the dry liquor storage.
    “Wouldn’t it make more sense to keep food in the kitchen?”
    “Different budget, different inventory.” She opened the heavy door.
    Boxes of beer, wine, and clear liquor were stacked along the sides nearly to the ceiling, and she moved past them to pick up a small one full of garnish from the wire shelf at the back of the fridge. She twisted around to find Gavin only a foot away. He snagged the box from her and turned toward the exit. She followed behind and almost ran into him when he abruptly stopped.
    “Where’s the handle?” he asked.
    “What handle?”
    “For the door.”
    “It’s the latch on the side. Just push.” She poked his back to prod him along, but he didn’t move forward. “Push it harder.”
    He twisted to glare at her. “I did. It’s not opening.”
    To prove his point, he put the box on top of a shelf beside him and leaned his entire body against the